Candidacy Milestones and Timelines for a Typical Program

The CAA has designated specific reporting milestones and time lines below to assist in planning for new programs that are seeking candidacy status with the CAA. New programs that are preparing an Application for Candidacy must submit its application at least 18 months in advance of the proposed student enrollment date.

Time Frame	Typical Activity - SLP Program	Typical Activity - AUD Program
At least 18 months before planned graduate student enrollment	Program submits signed application and eligibility statement with application fee for readiness review by CAA	Program submits signed application and eligibility statement with application fee for readiness review by CAA
	Review, comments, and readiness decision¹ by CAA; Program incorporates CAA recommendations into application Program re-submits application for readiness review within 6 months	Review, comments, and readiness decision¹ by CAA; Program incorporates CAA recommendations into application Program re-submits application for readiness review within 6 months
At least 12 months before planned graduate student enrollment	Official submission of application for candidacy after readiness approval by CAA²	Official submission of application for candidacy after readiness approval by CAA²
	Review and comments by CAA	Review and comments by CAA
Semester after official candidacy application submitted	Program submits possible site visit dates and identifies conflicts with possible candidacy site visitors Conduct of candidacy site visit Candidacy site visit report submitted by team Program response to the candiadcy site visit report to CAA SV team review of program response to candidacy site visit report; SV team comments to CAA as appropriate	Program submits possible site visit dates and identifies conflicts with possible candidacy site visitors Conduct of candidacy site visit Candidacy site visit report submitted by team Program response to the candiadcy site visit report to CAA SV team review of program response to candidacy site visit report; SV team comments to CAA as appropriate
Next CAA decision-making meeting after candidacy site visit (typically March or July)	Candidacy decision by CAA (term = 5 years)	Candidacy decision by CAA (term = 5 years)
First semester with students	Enroll students	Enroll students
February or August – determined by anniversary of decision	1st annual report	1st annual report
February or August – determined by anniversary of decision	2nd annual report	2nd annual report
February or August – determined by anniversary of decision	3rd annual report OR Application for Accreditation	3rd annual report
February or August – determined by anniversary of decision	Application for Accreditation (at least 12 months before end of candidacy term)	Application for Accreditation (at least 12 months before end of candidacy term)

¹ Opportunity to accelerate review if CAA approves with procession to candidacy site visit; if deemed not ready, program may submit a second version of the candidacy application for readiness review within 6 months of notice without penalty

² If approved for accelerated review, programs would not need to re-submit readiness application

CAA Accreditation Manual

Professional Services Accreditation (archive)

Clinical Specialty Recognition