Interesting obsevation re. a well known professional accrediting body

I recently made an interesting discovery regarding the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The majority of Sch. Psychology programs in the U.S. are accredited by NASP (only a tiny percentage are accredited by APA). Universally, these programs proudly advertise the fact that they are NASP accredited. I was shocked to discover however, that NASP is not recognised by CHEA as a professional accrediting body (check the CHEA website). It appears that most graduate programs in School Psychology at R.A. universities in the U.S. are accredited by an unrecognised accreditor. Strange situation.

 

OK, an interesting factoid. Go ahead now and take the next step. Don't just leave this factoid sitting there in the middle of the table. Do the research and tell us what this means.
(A degreeinfo junky in the making)
Jack

 

I quess it means the obvious: that it's possible for a professional accrediting body that's well recognized and highly respected in academia to operate without being recognized or approved by CHEA. It also means however, IMHO
that if some bogus accrediting body say The American Association of Readers and Adjusters of Auras is challanged as not being a ligitimate accreditor recognized by CHEA, they could point to the NASP example as someone in the same boat. I personally think this is a very bad situation for NASP to be in and think they should get on the stick and go through the steps to get CHEA approval. I will contact someone at NASP and inquire why this hasn't been done yet.

 

Reading this, I just had a frightening thought. Suppose someone like The Liberian Ministry of Higher Education were to use that as a defense?

 

Actually I think you are skipping over one very important fact. Just like an unaccredited school, an accrediting body unrecognized by CHEA is going to have to prove its worth on its own. From what you describe it has done just that to the body of U.S. School Psychologist. If it hadn't, they would not be recognized as the defacto accreditor of School Psychology programs. I see no loop hole or defense for bogus accreditors in this situation. Just my take.

 

What does it mean not to be accredited by CHEA? Nothing.

In the same way that NASP is the accreditor for school psychology programs, CACREP (the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) is the accreditor for professional counseling programs. CACREP accreditation speeds up one's ability to become board certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC, whose exam is used by many states for licensure purposes) by two years.

For several years, CACREP was approved by CHEA . . . but not by the U.S. Department of Education. Yet they were still the gold standard in accrediting counseling programs.

Ultimately, the standard for any professional organization is recognition in its field . . . period.