Since the March Commission on Accreditation (CoA) Update, the commission has met both in person and virtually to vote on several Implementing Regulations (IRs). These votes includes actions to sunset, revise and approve IRs.
Sunset IR
In an effort to ensure that the IR book is up-to-date and consistent with current policies, an audit of the book was done in early 2016. As a result of this audit, CoA identified IR D.4-4 as not applicable for the Accreditation Operating Procedures moving forward. As a result, CoA unanimously voted to sunset this IR effective immediately.
Revised IRs
CoA reviewed revisions to four existing IRs:
- Data IR for doctoral programs.
- Data IR for internship programs.
- Data IR for postdoctoral residency programs.
- Discipline-specific knowledge IR (for doctoral programs only).
At its April meeting, CoA voted to approve the Data IRs for each training level. These Data IRs will go into effect with the SoA. The revised discipline-specific knowledge IR was approved to go out for a period of public comment, ending July 10, 2016.
Newly approved IRs
CoA reviewed the public comment collected on the proposed trainee admissions, support and outcome Data IRs for accredited internship and postdoctoral residency programs at the April meeting. Upon review of the comment and the IRs, CoA voted to approve these IRs.
Each IR will be effective Jan. 1, 2017. Accredited internship and postdoctoral residency programs will be required to disclose this information in a uniform format, similar to the expectation for accredited doctoral programs. Internship programs will be required to update this information by Sept. 1 of each year; while postdoctoral program’s information will need to be updated by Dec. 1 of each year. Templates are provided as a part of each IR.
Other IRs Reviewed
CoA also reviewed potential revisions to the approved direct observation IR for doctoral programs and a consortium IR for each training level. CoA voted to review revised draft of the direct observation IR at its July meeting. It also voted to put the consortium IRs out for a period of public comment.
If you have any questions about the recent policy changes, please contact the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation.