Here at Clean Catalog, we believe your institution’s catalog software should simplify the accreditation process, not present additional hurdles. Clean Catalog software not only has built-in tools to assist in catalog preparation, but we also help decipher what exactly your accrediting institution requires of your catalog. If your school is seeking new accreditation or is up for renewal with The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), then you’ve come to the right place! Use our checklist below to ensure your course catalog has the correct information included prior to submitting your application.

General Catalog Requirements:

The following information must be clearly stated in your academic catalog:

• Institution name, physical address, telephone number, and website URL
• Date that your catalog was published or printed
• The facility type (main campus, non-main campus, separate educational center) for each location covered by the catalog
• Statement of history and ownership of your institution
• Names of the officers
• Mission statement
• A list of your approvals, licensures, memberships in professional or trade associations.
• A list of agencies that accredit your institution, including the address, telephone number, and website.
• An academic calendar that includes program timelines, breaks, and holidays.
• A list of all administrative staff and faculty that includes each faculty member’s level of education, degrees, and employment status (full-time, part-time, consultant, or adjunct).
• Admission requirements and procedures. If there are any unique requirements for distance education programs or courses, they must be clearly stated.
• If you offer any avocational or professional development courses taken by non-matriculated students who are not seeking academic credit, you must state in your catalog that these courses are not included within an institution’s grant of accreditation
• Definition for credit (quarter or semester and its equivalent to clock hours) and clock hours, as applicable.
• A general description of the facility, including classrooms, laboratories, and equipment.
• Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Grading scale system.
• Student services describing available services to students, such as academic advising, tutoring, career advising, placement assistance, and facilities, specifically regarding accessibility for disabled students.
• Cancellation and refund policies and policies for refunds to Title IV programs.
• Tuition breakdown, including registration fee, tuition, and any other fees charged for each program. Any other costs such as books, supplies, and any/all costs of equipment and materials required to complete the program must be listed.
• Tuition payment plans, financial aid information and policies.
• A clear statement that an institution does not guarantee employment.
• Nondiscrimination statement.
• Rules and regulations (may be included in a student handbook with proper references made in the catalog).
• A policy and published criteria addressing advanced placement and credit for experiential learning
• Full and complete disclosure of any portion of a program that is delivered in a language other than English.
• A policy for transfer of credit that requires consideration of credit or clock hours earned at another institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Catalog Requirements Per Program:

Within your course catalog, each program must clearly state:

• Goals for the program
• Type of instruction
• Level of occupation for which training is intended
• For whom the training is intended
• The courses and academic standards required for successful completion of the programs
• The credentials given for successful completion
• The program schedule, including the number of total weeks and contact hours for the program.
• Course descriptions that define the scope and sequence, hours, and credit awarded, if applicable.
• The type of instructional delivery (i.e., residential, distance learning, or a combination of both).

If your institution uses Clean Catalog, you can take advantage of our built-in accreditation tools to ensure your catalog includes all of the content outlined above. Our software even allows customizations to tailor your catalog around your accrediting institution, whether it be ABHES or another bureau. We’ve teamed up with several ABHES-accredited institutions in the past, each of which has had great success in renewing their accreditation statuses with their new catalog systems.

For the most up-to-date information and requirements around applying for accreditation with ABHES, you can visit the Accreditation Manual page of their website.