Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada

Guidelines for Good Practice

The AAAC has developed Guidelines for Good Practice in professional education accreditation. AAAC Members adhere to these Guidelines.

Date: April 2010
Revised: March 22, 2024

  • The accreditation process incorporates the principles of quality assurance and continuous improvement, including transparency, fairness, objectivity, incland confidentiality.
  • The accreditation process is applied consistently between programs.
  • The purpose of the accreditation process is to evaluate the quality of academic programs against a set of standards and to promote continuous quality improvement.
  • The accreditation agency and its processes are autonomous from the educational programs under accreditation review.
  • The accreditation agency has representatives and/or appointees from relevant interested and/or affected parties.
  • The accreditation agency administers its affairs with prudent fiscal and human resource management to ensure the accreditation process is effectively and consistently conducted.
  • The accreditation process includes a review of an educational program's documentation, facilities and resources.
  • The accreditation review includes input from relevant interested and/or affected parties.
  • Qualified reviewers, as defined by the accrediting agency, conduct the accreditation review.
  • A mechanism for training reviewers is in place and implemented.
  • A mechanism for reviewer evaluation is in place and implemented.
  • A clear description of the accreditation process is publicly accessible, including the goals and specific steps and actions to be taken.
  • Time-defined accreditation status and requirements to maintain the status are publicly available.
  • Publicly published recognition of accredited programs is in place.
  • Accreditation standards are in place that are grounded in principles of quality, equity, inclusion, and justice, including a commitment to reconciliation with the Indigenous Peoples.
  • Accreditation standards are publicly published and relate to the following:
    • Requirements of the educational institution;
    • Administrative structure of the educational program;
    • Goals and objectives of the educational program;
    • Expected outcomes of the educational program;
    • Requirements for financial, human, technical, learning, and non-academic resources, and information technology, including, for example, the use of artificial intelligence and social media;
    • Evaluation mechanisms of both students and the educational program.
  • Appropriate procedures for the appeal of accreditation decisions is in place.
  • A process for continuous improvement of the accreditation standards and processes is in place.

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