Get Accredited

Becoming an Accredited Planning Program

There are two application stages for seeking accreditation by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB); both stages of the application process may together take up to three years. Programs interested in applying for Candidacy Status are advised to contact PAB staff at the earliest opportunity to discuss the review process and timeline. Complete details on the process are available in the PAB Policies and Procedures Manual.

Stage One: Application for Candidacy Status

A Planning Program (Program) must first apply to become a candidate for accreditation.

• Step 1 – Submit a Letter of Application for Candidacy Status confirming your Program meets the five (5) preconditions to accreditation.
• Step 2 – Once PAB’s Executive Committee confirms these preconditions have been met, the Program will produce a Self-Study Report that documents compliance with PAB’s standards and criteria. [The Self-Study Report Manual provides a template and instructions on how to prepare the report.] Applications for Candidacy Status are due August 1 and January 15.
• Step 3 – Program will submit a candidacy application fee along with the completed Self-Study Report.
• Step 4 – PAB will review the Self-Study Report submitted and meet with the Program’s administrator.
• Step 5 – PAB will determine if Candidacy Status will be awarded to the Program. If the Program moves on to the second stage of the accreditation process, it will be assigned a Fall or Spring Site Visit. Prior to the Site Visit, the Program will submit a revised Self-Study Report (due June 15 for Fall Site Visits or September 15 for Spring Site Visits)

Stage Two: Application for Initial Accreditation

After a Program has been granted Candidacy Status, it can then apply for accreditation.

• Step 1 – PAB will send a 3-member Site Visit Team to perform an on-site evaluation. Each Site Visit Team is composed of two planning educators and a planning practitioner. The Program is responsible for all costs and logistical aspects of the visit, including arranging for the team to meet with the Program’s faculty, students, alumni, the institution’s administration and members of the local professional planning community. [The Site Visit Manual contains detailed information on the required and recommended elements of the Site Visit schedule.]
• Step 2 – After the visit, the Site Visit Team will produce a report evaluating the Program according to the PAB Standards and Criteria. The Program will have an opportunity to comment on the Site Visit Report.
• Step 3 – The Program’s administrator will appear before the PAB Board to respond to questions derived from the Self-Study Report and Site Visit Report. The PAB Board then makes a decision regarding accreditation.

Questions

If you have questions about the application processes for accreditation, please contact Jesmarie Johnson, Executive Director, at 773-334-7200 or jjohnson@planningaccreditationboard.org.