For a new graduate speech language pathology program to be established, the program must go through a strenuous accreditation process by the CAA. This process, which lasts around 18 months on average, begins with submitting the initial application for Accreditation Candidacy Status. Once the application is approved, the new program will be officially called “Applicant for Candidacy” by the CAA. The approval is followed by a 2-day site visit by CAA representatives. If the results of the site visit meet the expectations of the CAA and prove that the new program is meeting all Accreditation Standards, the new program will be awarded Candidacy Status and can begin admitting graduate students. Candidacy Status lasts for 5 years, and the program will be evaluated annually by the CAA. If the program continues to meet all Accreditation Standards throughout the 5 years, it will be awarded Accreditation by its 5^th year.

Students graduating from an Accreditation Candidate program will be eligible for ASHA Certification, State licensure, and employment, and will have all the rights and privileges afforded to students graduating from an accredited program.

The AUM Department of Communication Disorders submitted the Accreditation Candidacy Application for the new M.S.-SLP program in July 2022. The CAA completed Level 1 Candidacy Application Readiness Review (CAA #375) and notified the program in September 2022 that it (the CAA) “approved the program’s readiness for submission of the official application.” The program will officially submit the application by February 2023. We anticipate the decision of the CAA by the Spring of 2024. If the new program is awarded candidacy status at that time, it will be operational in the fall of 2024.