Full Certified Member AUPHA programs are recognized for having withstood the rigors of peer review wherein curricula, faculty, and educational outcomes are critically examined by external peer review. Certification places a seal of approval on programs successfully meeting these rigorous standards. External stakeholders look to this seal as a way to distinguish a program from its peers. Increasingly, prospective students are also looking for AUPHA Certification when searching for a program where they will invest in their future.
The standard for undergraduate programs in healthcare management is met by achieving certification by AUPHA. In a process comparable to other specialty program accreditations, programs seeking certification must submit an extensive self-study detailing the program's structure, educational processes, and assessment mechanisms in response to criteria established by AUPHA and the Undergraduate Program Committee (UPC). An external peer panel thoroughly examines the applicant program, with the process culminating in a face-to-face meeting at the AUPHA annual conference. The panel's report and recommendations serve as the basis for certifying the program and driving program improvement.
Certification, while similar in process and standards, differs from accreditation in that it does not require a site visit, thus allowing the costs incurred by the program to remain much lower than that of specialty accreditations. Additionally, certification is not required to meet external mandates, allowing the association to remain focused on the unique financial and educational needs of its undergraduate constituents.
As of November 2014, 46 undergraduate programs are certified by AUPHA.
The cost for Undergraduate Certification is $4,000 ($3,200 for recertification), payable at the time the application is submitted. Please see the Policies and Procedures for submission deadlines.
For additional information about certification or a current listing of certified programs, write to AUPHA, 2000 14th Street North, Suite 780, Arlington, VA 22201, email
lmeckley@aupha.org or call 703-894-0940 x122.