Regulatory Considerations in National & Worldwide MobilityRegulatory Considerations in

National & Worldwide MobilityJoseph E. Brimhall, D.C.

President, Council on Chiropractic Education – U.S. Moderator and Panelist

What is the role of accreditation?What is the role of accreditation?

• Certify quality of education by:

– Development of valid criteria (CCE Standards)

– Direct accreditation of programs & institutions (COA actions)

– Endorsement of actions and standards of other accrediting agencies (formerly via Reciprocal Agreements)

Who accredits the accreditor?Who accredits the accreditor?

• United States Department of Education – in accordance with federal law and regulations

• CHEA (Council on Higher Education Accreditation) – adherence to established criteria

• ASPA (Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors) – compliance with “Code of Good Practice”

• CCE-I – conformance with “Model Standards”

What is gained from mutual endorsement and recognition of

international CCEs?

What is gained from mutual endorsement and recognition of

international CCEs?

• Transferability of credits among accredited colleges

• MAY facilitate licensure mobility in jurisdictions outside the region

“Professional licensure is the responsibility of jurisdictional

regulation, not the duty of accreditation.”

“Professional licensure is the responsibility of jurisdictional

regulation, not the duty of accreditation.”

• Accreditation may be a resource for licensing bodies, much like professional testing is used by regulators.

“Accreditation is voluntary”“Accreditation is voluntary”

• Probably essential to a college, but is a choice, not an imposed requirement.

• Similar to professional licensure, Accreditation is a privilege, not a right.

WHY RECIPROCITY DOES NOT WORK…

WHY RECIPROCITY DOES NOT WORK…

• Only 2 entities involved, by definition

• “Leap frog” phenomenon

• Presumes equivalence of the two sets of Standards to each other.

• Does not consider regional differences

WHY RECIPROCITY DOES NOT WORK…(cont.)

WHY RECIPROCITY DOES NOT WORK…(cont.)

• Who maintains assurance of equivalence?

• What happens when there are substantial differences between the two Standards (i.e. non-equivalence)?

What are the alternatives to international recognition?

What are the alternatives to international recognition?

1. Each agency accredits colleges outside its region/country (e.g. CCE-Canada directly accredits U.S. colleges)

– Requires each college to maintain multiple accreditations if students want mobility

– Requires the college’s adherence to different sets of programmatic accreditation Standards.

Another alternative….Another alternative….

• Mutual recognition and endorsement of other CCE agencies through compliance with CCE-I core Model Standards

• CCE-I = The Councils on Chiropractic Education – International– Membership organization formed by the CCE

agencies of the world– Each CCE world-wide approves the Model

Standards and has representation on CCE-I– CCE-I is responsible to assure compliance of each

CCE with the Model Standards

How does this work for regulation?How does this work for regulation?

• Licensing bodies and other third parties may rely on the mutual endorsement and recognition provisions….

• …as an effective and comparable approach to resolving questions regarding equivalency of international accreditation requirements and actions.

In other words…In other words…

• Regulatory bodies may choose to rely on the recognition and endorsement of each regional CCE (via compliance with CCEI Model Standards) as a means to facilitate international mobility.

PLEASE OBSERVE…PLEASE OBSERVE…

• It should be noted that CCEI endorsement and recognition of equivalency represents compliance and conformity with CCEI Model Standards and does not necessarily express identical equivalence with CCE-US Standards. Determination of compliance with individual jurisdictional requirements may require review on a case-by-case basis.

TO REITERATE:TO REITERATE:

• The decision of how much weight, if any, to give CCE’s mutual recognition and endorsement of other CCE agencies must remain with the licensing and regulatory organizations.

• CCE’s intent is to provide a model, through the CCE-I provisions, that will be of assistance to the licensing bodies in facilitating international mobility of licensure.

Mutual Recognition and Endorsement Mutual Recognition and Endorsement

CCEUSA

CCECanada

EuropeanCCE

CCEAustralasia

Core requirements

CCE-I Model

Standards

CCE-I Model

Standards