How accreditation works

1. 01

   Designate an Accreditation Manager

   The Chief or Sheriff appoints someone organized, computer literate, able to draft policy, and willing to work with every level of the agency. Without visible support from the top, the job is very difficult to do.

2. 02

   Submit a Letter of Intent

   A formal, non-binding notice that the agency has reviewed the program with its personnel and jurisdictional authorities. Signed by the Chief or Sheriff and the governing authority. Either party may abandon it at any time.

3. 03

   Complete the application package

   The Application, Participation Agreement, Department Profile, Agency Survey and Invoice, with the $300 fee paid in full.

4. 04

   Self-assessment

   Compare current written directives against every applicable standard and assemble proofs of compliance. Most managers find the agency closer to compliance than expected. There is a two-year window, and rushing is the most common mistake.

5. 05

   Mock on-site assessment

   Arranged and paid for by the agency, not by the Commission. Not required, but considered critical. Two mock assessments are recommended before the first official visit.

6. 06

   On-site assessment

   A team of trained peers spends two to three days reviewing files, touring the agency, conducting interviews and hosting a public call-in session. The Commission needs at least four weeks to assemble a team.

7. 07

   Commission review and award

   The team leader reports to the Commission, which votes on accredited status. A term runs 3 years, with annual reports due within 30 days of each anniversary.

In the Administrative Manual

• Chapter 1: Initial Steps — The Chief or Sheriff decides to pursue accredited status, designates an Accreditation Manager, and submits the Letter of Intent.
• Chapter 2: Organization — Setting up compliance folders and a filing system that an assessment team can navigate.
• Chapter 3: Standards — What the standards are, how they are numbered, what a standard contains, and when one does not apply.
• Chapter 4: Managing, Controlling and Proving Compliance — Building a tracking system, conducting the self-assessment, and the four kinds of proof of compliance.
• Chapter 5: The Mock On-Site Assessment — Arranging and learning from a rehearsal assessment. Strongly recommended, and arranged by the agency.
• Chapter 6: The On-Site Assessment — Scheduling, the Assessor Selection List, the three-day schedule, on-site protocol, and the exit interview.
• Chapter 7: Now What? — The three-year term, the Accredited Agency logo, annual reports, and maintaining your files.