CAEP Policies and Procedures with Amendments January 2026

HIGHLIGHTS

Amendments to Accreditation Policy and Procedures to Take Effect January 1

December 2025

This document highlights amendments approved by the Board during the December 2025 Board of Directors meeting to Accreditation Policy and Procedures, following a public comment period and Accreditation Council adoption in October 2025. The amended Accreditation Policy and Procedures will take effect January 1, 2026.

Amendments address the following:

Changes to Part III, Policy III.1.02 clarify eligibility criteria for an EPP seeking Initial Accreditation and provide further details and transparency on the application process – changes make clear that an EPP’s Part 1 application submission must include any information needed to demonstrate eligibility.
Changes to Part III, Policy III.1.03 detail CAEP’s review of an EPP’s Part 1 application. These changes establish that the review leads to either acceptance or denial of the Part 1 application.
Changes to Part III, Policy III.1.04 extend the timeline for completion of Part 2 to 365 days from the date work on Part 2 commences.
Changes to Part III, Policy III.1.05 clarify the CAEP process for determining whether an EPP meets the requirements for Approved Applicant status – applicant EPPs must restart an application if the EPP does not obtain Approved Applicant status within 365 days of the date on which it submits a Part 2 application.
Changes to Part III, Policy III.2.05 align policy with current practice relating to the Formative Feedback Report and the AIMS 2.0 Formative Feedback Report template – the Formative Feedback Report is to include the Evaluation Team’s preliminary articulation of any Areas for Improvement (AFIs) and Stipulations.
Changes to Part III, Policy III.2.08 require the Evaluation Team to confirm that the EPP provided evidence and information which can be used to resolve or revise any preliminary AFIs and Stipulations prior to making any recommendations for Accreditation Council consideration.
Changes to Part III, Policy III.2.09 require the Site Review Report to include any deficiencies in the EPP’s compliance with Standards in the form of proposed Areas for Improvement (AFIs) and Stipulations – these changes reflect current practice and the AIMS 2.0 Site Review Report template.
Changes to Part III, Policy III.2.13 require the Initial Review Panel to confirm or modify recommendations made by the Evaluation Team regarding Areas for Improvement (AFIs) and Stipulations.
Changes to Part V, Policy V.3.01 remove the option to allow EPP’s Annual Accreditation Reports to be reviewed by volunteer Annual Report Reviewers and the EPP Transparency, Accountability, and Improvement Committee (ETAIC) of the Accreditation Council – all such reports are to be reviewed and evaluated by CAEP staff.
Changes to Part V, Policy V.5.01 require that EPPs seeking a good cause extension (GCE) of more than one (1) year must provide states with notice of intent to request a GCE and an opportunity to ask questions or object to the request – EPPs will no longer be required to provide CAEP with written evidence of state agency support.
Changes to Part VI, Policy VI.2.01 update requirements regarding the application, qualification, and eligibility of CAEP Evaluators for assignment – individuals applying to CAEP are to disclose involvement in any ongoing investigation and interrogation of the individual’s professional or personal conduct; and individuals will be required to disclose any civil or criminal convictions.
Changes to Part VI, Policy VI.2.02 repeal policy providing for the election and reelection of Reviewers.
Changes to Part VI, Policy VI.2.03 relating to training of Evaluators include using successful completion of training and requiring those Evaluators assigned to review an international EPP to engage in training to address competence to engage in international accreditation activities.
Changes to Part VII, Policy VII.1.02 and Policy VII.1.03 eliminate reference to legacy-accredited EPPs, NCATE Standards, and TEAC quality principles, as this is no longer needed because all EPPs that previously held NCATE or TEAC accreditation have either obtained CAEP Accreditation, withdrawn, or allowed their accreditation under CAEP to lapse – there are no longer any NCATE or TEAC-accredited EPPs transitioning to CAEP accreditation.
Changes to Part VII, Policy VII.4.01 clarify committee composition and committee chair and vice-chair responsibilities for each of the Accreditation Council’s standing committees.