Current Status and Future Plans for Undergraduate Public/Community Health Education Program Accreditation

Abstract

Background: Quality assurance in health education professional preparation has long been a goal of the profession. A comprehensive coordinated accreditation process for graduate and undergraduate health education has been recommended. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the current status of, and future plans for, accreditation/approval of professional preparation programs in community health education. Methods: A web-based survey was sent to 93 programs chairs or coordinators listed in American Association for Health Education (AAHE) Program Directory of Institutes offering Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs in Health Education. Results: Fiftyeight programs responded yielding a 62% response rate. Sixty-two percent (n=33) of programs noted they would seek accreditation when CEPH accreditation of free-standing undergraduate programs becomes available. Seventy-nine percent (n=45) reported their administration was highly supportive or somewhat supportive of accreditation. Discussion: Results indicate that universities surveyed were supportive of accreditation and that professional preparation programs will move to obtain accreditation at the undergraduate level when available. Translation to Health Education Practice: Accessible education and technical assistance programs should be implemented to facilitate accreditation initiatives.