About NAACLS

Recommended Materials

• Guidelines for Accreditation

• www.naacls.org

Learning Outcomes• Describe the mission of NAACLS.• Differentiate between program accreditation

and program approval; identify the programs covered under each, and state the appropriate review committee.

• Become familiar with the organizational structure of NAACLS.

• Identify services to the profession provided by NAACLS office and website.

History

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is an autonomous, nonprofit organization established in 1973 to accredit and approve educational programs in medical laboratory science and related disciplines.

Mission Statement

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is committed to being the premier international agency for accreditation and approval of educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health professions through the involvement of expert volunteers and its dedication to public service.

Accreditation vs. Approval

Accreditation and approval are both processes of external peer review in which NAACLS grants public recognition to a program of study that meets established qualifications and educational standards.

•Accreditation: Self-study + Site visit •Approval: Self-study

NAACLS Program Accreditation

NAACLS accredits these programs:•Medical laboratory scientist (MLS)•Medical laboratory technician (MLT)•Doctorate in clinical laboratory science (DCLS) •Histotechnologist (HTL)•Histotechnician (HT)•Diagnostic molecular scientist (DMS)•Cytogenetic technologist (CG)•Pathologists' assistant (Path A)

Accreditation consists of a self-study review and an on-site visit to ensure that NAACLS standards are met.

NAACLS also independently approves these programs:•Phlebotomist (PBT) •Clinical assistant (CA)

Approval consists of a self-study review to ensure that standards are met, but does not include an on-site visit.

NAACLS Program Approval

NAACLS Organization• Three volunteer committees conduct program reviews:

– The Review Committee for Accredited Programs (RCAP) reviews MLS, MLT, HTL, HT, DMS, CG and Path A programs for accreditation.

– The Doctoral Review Committee (DRC) reviews DCLS programs for accreditation.

– The Program Approval Review Committee (PARC) reviews PBT and CA programs for approval.

• The Board of Directors is the governing unit of NAACLS and grants final accreditation and approval awards.

• The NAACLS staff facilitate both the accreditation and approval processes.

Board of Directors

NAACLSSponsoring/

Participating Organizations•ASCLS•ASCP•NSH•AGT•AAPA

Council of Higher Education

Accreditation (CHEA)

NAACLS StaffCEO

Administration ServicesFinancial Services

Publication ServicesProgram Services

Review Committee for Accredited Programs

(RCAP)

Program Approval Review Committee

(PARC)

Doctoral Review Committee

(DRC)

Standing BOD Committees•Executive•Bylaws•Finance•Nominations•Quality Assurance

NAACLS CollaborationWith Other Organizations

• The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) are sponsoring organizations.

• The American Association of Pathologists' Assistants (AAPA), the National Society for Histotechnology (NSH) and the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT) are participating organizations.

• NAACLS is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA)

Other NAACLS Services• Develops and maintains standards for medical

laboratory educational programs• Provides continuing education for professionals

– Workshops – Online educational documents– Web-based training modules

• Source of information for students, educational programs, employers, and health care consumers

• Consultation to assist educational programs– Guides to accreditation and program approval– Volunteer Mentors for Initial Program Directors (VIP program)

• Publishes NAACLS News, a comprehensive online newsletter, three times/year

www.naacls.org •Accredited and approved educational programs and contact information•Online educational programs and contacts•Guidelines for Accreditation, Guidelines for Approval•Volunteer Manual•Forms and documents•Self-study template•PDF educational materials•Online training modules for volunteers•NAACLS News•Links

Global Initiatives

NAACLS also accredits programs internationally, using identical standards as required for US-based programs.  

NAACLS Volunteers• Peer review is the foundation for NAACLS accreditation and

approval processes

• Volunteers serve as self-study (paper) reviewers, accreditation on-site visitors, on RCAP, PARC and DRC committees, and on the Board of Directors

• Committee/board membership

– Clinical laboratory science educator

– Physician pathologist

– Educator generalist

– Clinical laboratory science practitioner

• For requirements, see:http://www.naacls.org/news/announce.asp?link_id=22

• To volunteer, see Volunteer Information Form:http://naacls.org/search/docs.asp

NAACLS Staff

See staff roster at http://www.naacls.org/about-us/rosters/staff.asp

Numbers of Programs and Volunteers

• 513 programs are currently NAACLS accredited.

• There are 72 NAACLS-approved programs.

• NAACLS' volunteer list is over 500 and each year several hundred volunteers serve as self-study reviewers, on-site visitors, on NAACLS committees, task forces, and Board of Directors.

NAACLS Vision Statement

Medical laboratories will preferentially seek graduates of NAACLS accredited and approved programs to assure quality, value, and innovation for healthcare consumers.

Contact NAACLS

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences

5600 North River Road, suite 720

Rosemont, IL 60018

Phone 773/714-8880

Fax 773/714-8886

info@naacls.org

http://www.naacls.org

Assessment

1. A self-study report for an MLS program would by reviewed by which NAACLS committee?

a.  RCAP

b.  BOC

c.  DCLS

d.  PARC

Assessment

2. The final decision to accredit a CT program is made by

a.  NAACLS CEO

b.  NAACLS Board of Directors

c.  DCLS Committee

d. Board of Directors Quality Assurance Committee

Assessment

3. The difference between accreditation and approval of an educational program is that approval does not require a

a.  self-study report

b.  site visit to the program

c.  review by PARC

d. review by NAACLS Board of Directors

Assessment

4. A DMS program is a

a.  Doctorate in Medical Science

b.  Diplomate in Management Science

c.  Degree in Medical Health Service

d.  Diagnostic Molecular Scientist

Assessment5. The NAACLS website information provides

a.  requirements for certification

b.  application forms to accredited programs

c.  program directors and contact information for accredited programs

d.  ratings for accredited and approved laboratory educational programs