Accreditation Policies & Governance
AADP School Accreditation is governed through Board-established standards, Annual School Membership requirements, and administrative review processes designed to support consistency, fairness, and educational integrity.
The Board establishes accreditation standards and policy guidance. Administrative review and accreditation determinations may be conducted by authorized staff operating within those established standards.
This page outlines accreditation status definitions, participation expectations, and circumstances that may affect accreditation standing.
Accreditation Status Levels
Pending
Application has been submitted and is currently under review.
Schools in Pending status:
- Are undergoing evaluation
- May be contacted for additional information
- Are not authorized to market themselves as AADP Accredited Schools
- May not use the Accredited School Seal
Approved
The institution has met accreditation requirements and is awaiting activation.
Schools in Approved status:
- Have received accreditation approval
- Are awaiting activation or completion of participation requirements
- Are not yet listed publicly as Active Accredited Schools
Active
Institution maintains current Annual School Membership and remains in good standing.
Active schools:
- Are listed in the AADP Accredited School Directory
- May use the Accredited School Seal according to policy
- Participate in graduate pathway opportunities
- Remain eligible for promotional opportunities through AADP platforms
Expired
Annual School Membership has lapsed beyond the applicable grace period.
Expired institutions:
- Are removed from Active directory status
- Lose Accredited School Seal authorization
- May not represent themselves as maintaining Active accreditation status
Inactive
Inactive status may be assigned for administrative reasons, voluntary withdrawal, unresolved concerns, or other circumstances requiring suspension of Active participation.
Grace Period
Annual School Membership includes a 30-day grace period following the Paid Through date.
During the grace period:
- Accreditation remains temporarily Active
- Renewal may be completed without interruption of participation
After the grace period, accreditation status may transition to Expired.
Grounds for Accreditation Action
AADP may review, suspend, modify, or revoke accreditation status under circumstances including:
- Misrepresentation of accreditation status
- False or materially misleading information
- Failure to maintain Annual School Membership
- Significant undisclosed institutional changes
- Substantiated ethics concerns
- Failure to comply with accreditation standards or policies
Material Change Requirements
Accredited institutions should notify AADP regarding significant organizational or program changes, including:
- Institutional relocation
- Ownership changes
- School name changes
- Major curriculum revisions
- Delivery modality changes
- Significant operational restructuring
Certain material changes may require additional review.
Revocation
AADP reserves the right to revoke accreditation for severe or unresolved concerns that materially affect institutional integrity or accreditation standards.
Examples may include:
- Fraudulent representation
- Significant ethical violations
- Persistent failure to comply with accreditation requirements
Accreditation Disclaimer
AADP School Accreditation is a professional accreditation designation issued by AADP and does not constitute governmental, regional, national, or academic accreditation.
Institutions remain responsible for compliance with applicable laws and regulations.