Enhancing quality in higher education through specialized and professional accreditation

ASPA Role, Function and Purposes

Role and Function

ASPA is the only organization whose members are specialized and professional accreditors. Our member accreditors set national educational standards for entry into approximately 60 specialized disciplines or defined professions.  ASPA, a 501(c)(3) association, works with higher education and government officials to enhance education and accreditation and functions as the only national voice for this important constituency.

Purposes

According to our Bylaws, the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors is an autonomous nonprofit corporation organized under the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act exclusively for educational, scientific, research, mutual improvement, and professional purposes and shall have the necessary and incidental powers to carry out its corporate purposes, among which shall be to:

  1. Promote quality and integrity in non-governmental specialized and professional accreditation of post-secondary programs and institutions.
  2. Provide a forum for discussion and analysis and a mechanism for common action for those concerned with specialized and professional accreditation.
  3. Address accreditation issues in educational, governmental, and public policy contexts and communicate with the public about accreditation.
  4. Facilitate collaboration among programs, institutions, and accreditation organizations.
  5. Provide a mechanism for continuing education for individuals and organizations with accreditation responsibility.