Accreditation is an ongoing formal, independent verification that a program, organization, or institution meets established quality standards set by an independent body.
Accreditation matters because individuals and families impacted by autism deserve access to the highest level of care to help them reach their full potential and there is far too much variability in the quality of applied behavior analysis (ABA) services currently available.
In the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA), individual professionals become certified and licensed, whereas organizations and institutions become accredited. For example, many ABA providers hold a certification credential from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) and may also hold a license to practice ABA from a state licensure board. Likewise, some higher education training programs are accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International® (ABAI®) and service organizations offering ABA services to individuals with autism may choose to pursue accreditation with the Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ).
ACQ is a mission-driven non-profit accreditation body for organizations offering applied behavior analysis services to individuals and families affected by autism. Our mission is to continuously improve the impact of applied behavior analysis services for the autism community through education and accreditation of provider organizations.
The Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) is a known and trusted trade association representing over 300 provider organizations serving around 100,000 individuals with autism. ACQ is proudly supported by CASP; however, all essential accreditation decisions are handled independently from CASP. No single organization, including CASP, is permitted to have majority control over the Standards, Accreditation, and Appeals Committees that form ACQ.
CASP’s establishment of ACQ is a natural extension of its previous and current work ensuring access to quality ABA services and resources by publishing guidelines and standards, engaging in advocacy on behalf of ABA providers, and offering trainings on a multitude of relevant and timely topics to the community. CASP established ACQ because it identified the need for a community-supported, mission-driven, non-profit accreditation program.
Yes. ACQ is a single-member LLC that has inherited the nonprofit tax status of its single member.
Some people mistakenly believe that a designation as an LLC is inconsistent with being a nonprofit. However, in Massachusetts where ACQ is organized, there are no specific limitations on limited liability companies, which can “carry on any lawful business, trade, profession, purpose or activity.” As a single-member limited liability company, ACQ is a disregarded entity that receives the benefit of its single member’s tax exempt status.
ACQ is a mission-driven nonprofit accreditation body backed by CASP, a known and trusted entity. ACQ’s accreditation standards belong to the community it serves and are not owned by private individuals or groups. ACQ’s nonprofit status aligns with its commitment to transparency, especially as it relates to the financial support it receives.
ACQ accreditation is designed for autism service providers who recognize the benefits of accreditation for their organization and for the field. In other words, organizations concerned about the status quo who wish to join a community dedicated to continuous quality improvement of ABA services for all patients with autism receiving ABA services.
The duration of ACQ’s Accreditation is a two-year cycle from the date of certification issuance.
The Autism Commission on Quality’s (ACQ) fee schedule is specific to each applicant and is determined by the scope of the services provided by the organization. ACQ’s application pricing starts with a minimum fee of $4,500 for smaller organizations and scales up depending on the number of reimbursable service hours offered by the organization. Application pricing is subject to change as ACQ determines the cost and resources involved in managing a meaningful and efficient accreditation program. Organizations can request a price quote after scheduling a meeting with an ACQ Representative and answering some basic questions about their organization.
Completion of the accreditation process can take anywhere from less than 6 months to about a year, depending upon the applicant. This application window is heavily dependent on how prepared an organization is at the start of the process, whether they receive an interim corrective action determination, and whether they choose to exercise their due process rights.
ACQ has purposefully adopted a multi-step review process with generous deadlines because we believe the accreditation review process should serve an educational function that allows organizations a reasonable amount of time to demonstrate conformance with our standards, share important contextual information with our review team, and receive fair treatment in their application determination. This approach aligns with our commitment to improve access to quality services, not limit access to services that are already difficult to find.
During the review process, applicants have up to 90 days to send out their surveys and submit the self-directed portion of their application in the ACQ Portal. Once their application is submitted, Clinical Observations and Leadership Interviews are scheduled typically within 2-4 months with our review team. After these meetings, the organization is given 30 days to answer follow-up questions from the review team before their de-identified application is presented to the Accreditation Committee for determination at their next monthly meeting. If the organization is close to passing, the Accreditation Committee may give the organization up to 2 months to address any areas of nonconformance. Applicants are also given time to exercise their due process rights, which can add another 2-4 months to their application window.
ACQ’s application window is comparable to or shorter than the duration of other reputable healthcare accreditation entities. Our accreditation program is a good fit for organizations who are committed to participating in a fair comprehensive review process to improve their operations.
To be eligible for ACQ accreditation, an ABA service line must be (a) continuously active and consistent with the seven dimensions of applied behavior analysis articulated by Baer, Wolf and Risley (1968); (b) clearly and publicly defined and distinguishable from current or future service lines offered by the Organization; and (c) relevant to and overseen by a Clinical Leader who meets the requirements established in the most recent version of the ACQ ABA Accreditation Program Standards and Guide. Accredited service lines active for less than 1 year from the date the Organization starts its application for accreditation must participate in and pass a mandatory mid-cycle review to maintain their accreditation.
