ABGC Approval of an Accrediting Body

The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) has identified the need to formally approve not only domestic but also international bodies that are reviewing and approving/accrediting master’s degree genetic counseling programs. Included in this document are the Criteria for Approval and annotations regarding documents that would demonstrate compliance. Additionally, a glossary of terms and definitions is included.

ABGC recognizes that the genetic counseling profession is at various stages of evolution globally with regard to training and practice. Due to this variation, the review process for accrediting bodies will have some flexibility and be scored on a rubric in determining compliance and approval. Documents will be evaluated based on their relevance to the training of genetic counselors in master’s degree programs.

In order to be approved by ABGC, accreditation bodies need to demonstrate compliance with the criteria as outlined in the Criteria for ABGC Approved Accrediting Bodies. Accreditation bodies should be reviewing programs within their own regional jurisdictions.

Please provide electronic documentation that demonstrates compliance. This can be in the format of electronic attachments or direct URL website pages with information regarding the specific element.

Once the material is received it will be reviewed by a committee and you may be contacted for additional information or questions. The review committee will make recommendations to the board for final decision.

Applications for approval of an accrediting body should be submitted by an official representative of an accrediting body organization. Approved organizations will be reviewed on a periodic basis.

ABGC’s approval of international accrediting bodies allows for a mechanism by which a graduate of an approved or accredited program who is also certified or recognized on an individual level by the appropriate genetic counseling governing body (e.g., EBMG, GCRB, etc.) to apply for the Certified Genetic Counseling (CGC®) examination.

Individuals interested in applying for the examination should review the ABGC Examination Bulletin in its entirety or contact the Executive Office for more information.

APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITING BODIES

Contact Information

Contact Name/Title: Click here to enter text.

Organization Name: Click here to enter text.

Address: Click here to enter text.

Phone: Click here to enter text.

Email: Click here to enter text.

Website: Click here to enter text.

Date of Incorporation or Formation: Click here to enter text.

Organization mission:

Click here to enter text.

Organization description: Enter below 200 words or less or attach word document

Click here to enter text.

Criteria for ABGC Approved Accrediting Bodies

Ensure quality education. Accreditors are required to have a clear definition of quality and clear expectations so that the institutions or programs they accredit have a process to determine whether quality standards are being met.

•The Accrediting Body (AB) establishes appropriate publically available standards for the educational (didactic) and clinical experiential components of the training of genetic counselors

•The AB ensures that the faculty (both didactic and clinical) are knowledgeable about genetics/genomics and genetic counseling and can provide educational endeavors that are of high caliber

•The AB has a method to evaluate adherence to the established standards

Within this category, there are 6 elements that will be reviewed:

Faculty – There are established criteria addressing the qualifications of the program faculty
Competencies - There are established competencies to guide clinical & didactic training
Curriculum - There are established guidelines regarding curriculum
Program Duration - There are established guidelines regarding the length & duration of programs to ensure adequate time is spent to attain degree
Clinical Training - There are established guidelines regarding the clinical and experiential components of the training programs
Program Evaluation - There is a published method to evaluate adherence to the established guidelines/standards

Please enter below or attach the appropriate documentation of your organization’s requirements for approved or recognized programs with regards to the numbered items above. You may also insert a direct link to the URL website address(s) where this information is posted on your website in the space below.

Click here to enter text.

Demonstrate accountability. Accreditors are required to have standards that call for institutions and programs to provide consistent, reliable information about academic quality and student achievement to foster continuing public confidence and investment.

Within this category, there are 5 elements to be reviewed:

Degree Granting Ability - Demonstration that the program is in a university that has the authority to grant a master’s degree
Application Process - The application process and requirements are published and readily available.
Utilization of Metrics - The accreditation body encourages accredited programs to evaluate programs' success on a variety of measures
Remediation Process - The accreditation body has a remediation process for identified problems with program applications or programs that fall out of compliance.
Accreditation Decisions are published - Accreditation status is transparent and made available to public.

Please enter below (or attach) the appropriate documentation of your organization’s requirements for approved or recognized programs with regards to the numbered items above. You may also insert a direct link to the URL website address(s) where this information is posted on your website in the space below.

Click here to enter text.

Promote continual improvement and quality. Accreditors are required to encourage planning for purposeful change and scrutiny for needed improvement through ongoing self-examination in institutions and programs.

•The AB monitors programs regularly to ensure that the programs are performing self-critique to remain current in the field of genetics/genomics and determine areas of improvement

Within this category, there are 4 elements to be reviewed:

Reaccreditation Process - Comprehensive periodic review of approved/accredited programs
Interim Regulation - There is a process for touching base with programs between comprehensive reviews
Program Content is current - There is a requirement that programs keep current in curriculum content and clinical training
Notification of changes - In order to ensure compliance with accreditation standard, there is a mechanism for programs to submit programmatic changes.

Click here to enter text.

Employ fair procedures in decision-making. Accreditors are required to maintain transparent, appropriate and fair organizational policies and procedures that include effective checks and balances. [Independent authority]

Within this category, there are 4 elements to be reviewed:

Governance – Governing board has decision-making authority and appropriate representation
Appropriate Qualifications – Bodies reviewing program applications have appropriate qualifications
Transparency – Application process is transparent and made available publically
Grievance Policies - There is a process for grievances in place.

Click here to enter text.

Continually reassess accreditation practices. Accreditors are required to undertake self-scrutiny of their accrediting activities.

Within this category, there are 2 elements to be reviewed:

Evaluation of the Accreditation Body – there is a process for evaluation of the organization’s approval/accrediting policies
Continual Improvement of the Accreditation Body – there is a process for improvement of the organization’s approval/accrediting policies

Click here to enter text.

Demonstrate sustainability. Accreditors must have and maintain predictable and stable resources if they are able to meet the expectations of institutions, programs and the public.

Within this category, there are 4 elements to be reviewed:

Bylaws – Written policies and procedures addressing operational issues such as governance, terms, and mission. Documentation of board structure and roles. Intention of bylaws made clear.
Operational Policies – Operational policies of the accreditation body are clear and appropriate to carry out its duties.
Appropriate Staffing Resources – The accreditation body has the appropriate amount of staffing resources needed to operate soundly.
Financial Stability - Accreditation body has financial stability to support activities.

Click here to enter text.

Glossary of Terms:

Accreditation Body – organization that issues the requirements for training programs in genetic counseling; may also grant credentials to an individual who meets a set of standards that designates competence as a genetic counselor

Accredited – An educational program that has met the criteria required by the accreditation body to grant a master’s degree

Certified – a term that signifies an individual has met the requirements needed to practice as a genetic counselor in their country

Recognized – similar to certified; a term that indicates an individual has met the requirements to practice as a genetic counselor in their country