Accreditation Overview

Atrium Ead 00002The purpose of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher education meet appropriate levels of quality that range from student outcomes to faculty qualifications. In order for students to receive Federal Student Aid or scholarships from the U.S. Department of Education for post-secondary study, the institution must be accredited by a national or institutional accreditor. In addition, the institution must be approved by a recognized state approval agency, be authorized by the state in which the institution is located, and receive approval from the Department through a program participation agreement.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is reviewed for accreditation by several agencies that perform external quality program review. The HSC receives regional institutional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Programmatic accrediting bodies include: American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), Accreditation Review Commission for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). In addition, other HSC at Fort Worth departments, such as the Division of Academic Innovation (DAI), HSC Police, Forensic DNA Laboratory, and Lab Animal Medicine have specialized accreditors.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of the The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Role of UAA in Accreditation

The Office of University Assessment and Accreditation (UAA) leads HSC Fort Worth in ensuring compliance with accreditation requirements. We do this through assisting the institution, schools/colleges, and departments with their accreditation needs through:

  • Familiarizing faculty, staff, and students with the accrediting policies, procedures, and standards.
  • Involving faculty, staff, and students comprehensively in the evaluation and planning of accreditation activities.
  • Serving as a resource for information, policies, procedures, and standards related to SACSCOC and THECB.
  • Assisting units with programmatic accreditation through:
    • ensuring self studies address the standards,
    • providing institutional data, information, and narratives,
    • aiding in the organization, planning, and management of accreditation activities. 

Accreditation Status

Accrediting Organizations HSC Unit Year Accredited Re-Accreditation Date
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) UNTHSC 2020 2030
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants (ARC-PA) School of Health Professions 2014 2024
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) School of Public Health 2014 2030
Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation-COCA
(TCOM)
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine 2018 2027
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) School of Public Health 2020 2027
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) School of Health Professions 2018 2028
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) System College of Pharmacy 2023 2031
Joint Accreditation: Interprofessional Continuing Education Division of Academic Innovation 2022 2026
American Osteopathic Association (AOA) –
Continuing Medical Education
Division of Academic Innovation 2017 2027
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Division of Academic Innovation 2017 2024
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ISO/IEC 17025:2017)
Center for Human Identification 2018 2027
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Center for Human Identification 2018 2027
Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) Lab Animal Medicine 2017 2024

Accreditation Calendar

Date Activity
March 2024 Begin Planning for SACSCOC Fifth Year Interim Report
April 22-23, 2024 ARC-PA (PA Studies) Continuing Site Visit
July 2024 SACSCOC Financial Profile Due
January 2025 SACSCOC Enrollment Profile Due
March 2025 Begin 1st Draft of SACSCOC Fifth Year Interim Report
March 1, 2026 SACSCOC Fifth Year Interim Report Due
June 1, 2026 SACSCOC Fifth Year Interim Visit

Contact: SACSCOC Accreditation

For inquiries related to SACSCOC:

Please do not contact SACSCOC directly. Direct any inquiries to:

  • Robert C. Haight, PhD, MPA; SACSCOC Institutional Accreditation Liaison (IAL) and Vice Provost for University Assessment and Accreditation (robert.haight@unthsc.edu).