Candidacy Program : At a Glance

Print This Page

CAHME is organized to establish criteria for the conduct of graduate education for healthcare management; to conduct survey programs which will encourage universities to maintain and improve educational offerings in healthcare management; to determine compliance with the criteria; to make available to the public, the findings of the Commission; to assume such other responsibilities and to conduct such other activities as are compatible with the operation of an educational accreditation program. CAHME is the only organization authorized to accredit Master’s level healthcare management programs in the United States and Canada.

*CAHME's recognition by the Secretary of the US Department of Education does not include candidate programs, or programs in Canada.

Purpose of the Candidacy Partnership

The Candidacy Partnership is designed to establish assistance and continuity between CAHME and programs in healthcare management desiring CAHME accreditation. The Candidate designation indicates that a program has voluntarily committed to participate in a systematic plan of quality enhancement and continuous improvement so that CAHME accreditation is a feasible and operational objective within 5 years. However, candidacy status does not indicate accredited status nor does it guarantee eventual accreditation. This set of policies and procedures has been developed to explain and facilitate this voluntary professional partnership.

Benefits of the Candidacy Partnership for the Program

A program in healthcare management which has been admitted to the Candidacy Partnership program is committed to quality enhancement and continuous improvement. The Program must focus on attaining accredited status. The Candidate Program will benefit from:

• CAHME Staff Consultation Visit and Advising
• CAHME Staff Procedural Consultation
• Multiple layers of review designed to make accreditation a feasible objective within 5 years
• Ongoing support from CAHME that fosters continuous improvement
• A process that minimizes non-productive or misdirected efforts by the program

Benefits of the Candidacy Partnership for CAHME

CAHME will benefit from the Candidacy Partnership by expanding its knowledge and reference base for quality enhancement and continuous improvement goals and practices. This base will provide helpful illustrations for use in the training and workshops offered to Programs, Accreditation Council members, and Site Visit Team Members.

Candidacy Process

The Program will proceed through a series of six stages during the Candidacy period leading up to the Initial Accreditation Decision:

1. Application
2. Preparation and Consultation Phase 1
3. Preparation and Consultation Phase 2
4. Preparation and Consultation Phase 3
5. Self Study Year
6. Initial Accreditation Site Visit and Decision

Click here for an overview of these stages

Considering Candidacy

Programs interested in CAHME accreditation must submit an application to the President/CEO of CAHME. A Candidacy period, not to exceed four years, will be used to conduct an initial assessment of the program and to prepare the program to develop an Accreditation Plan. During this time, the program should establish benchmarks for every criterion and assess its current level of efforts and processes for continuous improvement. The Candidacy period can be adapted to apply to a program's stage of development. Programs in the following stages of development may all participate as Candidates:

• The Program has admitted two classes but needs to refine various aspects; (such a program must submit evidence that it will have graduated two classes by the time of the site visit or within two years of the application, whichever comes first)
• The Program has been in existence for more than two years

Candidacy Application

The Candidacy application summarizes the ability of the Program to meet the accreditation criteria. The program should be able to present its qualifications in twenty five pages or less, not including appendices. The application will include:

• Declaration of Intent -A letter of intent to apply for Candidacy signed by the Program Director and the Chief Administrative Officer of the University or designated representative. The letter should include an expression of the program’s commitment and indication of institutional support to achieve accreditation
• The Candidacy Application Fee (See Schedule of Fees).
• Completed Eligibility Statement attesting that the program has met the following requirements: (See Self-Study Handbook)
• Specific documentation must be included for evaluation by CAHME staff and the Candidacy Committee. The following is a list of areas that must be addressed in the written application.

• Description of university setting, administrative structure, organizational chart, and accreditation status
• Description of  the organization of the Program and its relationships with the primary academic unit in which it is located.
• Program(s) and Degree(s) for which accreditation is sought;
• A statement of Program Mission with supporting goals and measurable objectives
• Information on class size, admission process, and student qualifications
• The organizational structure with assigned primary responsibility for curriculum development, admission standards, faculty selection and retention and fiscal planning;
• The program’s identified set of competencies
• Curriculum requirements, course sequence, and syllabi
• A curriculum plan, consonant with CAHME criteria, with a timetable for implementation;
• Policies for recruitment and selection of faculty and students
• List of all full-time and affiliated program faculty including qualifications
• List of scholarly activity by the faculty during last three years

(The program should refer to the Self-Study Handbook, which is available on www.cahme.org)

An application for Candidacy may be submitted at any time.  However, CAHME’s Board of Directors, which makes the final determination, does so at its face to face meetings in the Spring and the Fall.  To expedite approval, applications must be approved by the Candidacy Committee at least two months prior to the Board meeting.  Meeting dates may be obtained from CAHME staff. 

Resources

CAHME Criteria for Accreditation Fall 2008

CAHME Self Study Handbook Fall 2008

CAHME Handbook of Policies and Procedures (Article 10 Candidacy)

CAHME Fee Schedule (Please note that all fees are subject to change according to an annually approved Fee Schedule)

Denial or Removal of Candidacy

Candidacy will be denied if the Accreditation Plan does not lead to a performance level that satisfies CAHME standards. Candidacy can be removed for failure to demonstrate acceptable progress toward the Accreditation Plan or for the misuse of candidacy status (e.g., to imply accredited status). A Program denied or removed from Candidacy shall be notified of the reasons within 30 days of the action by the Candidacy Committee. The Program may request reconsideration. The decision of the Candidacy Committee after reconsideration is final.