Certification

Certification is the first tier or level of our program. It is highly recommended that an agency exits self-assessment in our program by first attaining Certification. The standards established for the Certification program allow an agency to transition from self-assessment in a measured way with a reduced totaled number of standards based on essential functions and areas of focus for the agency.

Certification is not a lesser program. Obtaining Certification first can aid an agency in assessing the increased number of standards required to attain Accreditation. Once Certification is achieved, the decision if or when to move from Certification to Accreditation is based on that individual agency’s specific needs or limitations.

Accreditation

Accreditation is the second tier or level of our program. It encompasses all the Certification standards along with additional mandatory and a percentage of optional accreditation standards. Accreditation is best accomplished upon completing an agency’s Certification to meet all readiness and program-related requirements.

If an agency wishes to enter directly into Accreditation from self-assessment, they may request to do so in writing to the Executive Director. They will provide an application for initial Accreditation to MPAC Staff that focuses on verification and confirmation of readiness by the agency to skip Certification. If approved, a department would then be assessed for Accreditation on all the Certification standards, additional mandatory accreditation standards, and a percentage of optional standards.

Re-assessments for Accreditation will occur every three years during the month of the agency’s last on-site. So, for example, if an agency had its last on-site in January of 2023, its next assessment would occur in January of 2026.

Achieving Accreditation upon Certification

Agencies are not required to achieve Accreditation upon Certification. Instead, they may be re-certified at the end of their three-year re-assessment period; however, if an agency elects to pursue Accreditation upon Certification, it may do so under the following potential timelines:

  • Complete a three-year re-assessment period while certified and come into compliance with accreditation requirements at their next scheduled on-site assessment, or
  • Request an accreditation assessment at any point during a three-year re-assessment period.

NOTE – a request for an accreditation assessment before the end of the three-year re-assessment period is not guaranteed to occur within the time requested. These requests will only be granted based on consideration of the availability of an Assessment Team and other previously scheduled assessments.