How to Evaluate a Healthcare Accrediting Organization

Posted: November 9, 2026

Selecting a healthcare accreditor requires careful consideration of your organization's regulatory requirements, operational priorities, and long-term goals.

Although accrediting organizations (AOs) may offer similar programs, their approaches to survey preparation, ongoing support, communication, and pricing can differ. Whether your organization is pursuing accreditation for the first time or reconsidering your current AO, a structured evaluation process can help you identify priorities, ask meaningful questions, and compare your options.

Already accredited? Before exploring other options, consider evaluating your current accreditation experience. ACHC's Accreditor Fit Scorecard can help you identify what's working and where additional support or value may be beneficial.

Identify your accreditation priorities.

Before comparing AOs, establish what your organization needs from the accreditation experience.

Accreditation may be necessary to meet regulatory, contractual, or organizational requirements. However, an accreditor's services and resources can also affect survey preparation, ongoing compliance activities, and operational planning.

A newly established healthcare organization may prioritize expert guidance through its first accreditation survey. An organization with multiple locations may place greater importance on coordination, consistency, and access to ongoing support.

Begin by identifying three priorities your organization will use to guide the selection process. Consider:

• Applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Previous accreditation experiences and opportunities for improvement.
• Resources and support most valuable to your staff.
• Planned changes that may affect future accreditation needs.

Distinguish essential requirements from organizational preferences. This provides a consistent starting point for evaluating prospective accreditors.

Include key stakeholders.

Although executive leadership often oversees accreditation decisions, accreditation decisions affect teams across your organization, and their priorities may differ.

Quality leaders may focus on standards interpretation and survey preparation. Operations leaders may prioritize scheduling and communication, while financial leaders need clarity about costs.

Gather input from employees directly involved in accreditation activities. Ask what has worked well, what challenges they've encountered, and what they would expect from an accreditor.

Their feedback can help reveal needs that might otherwise be overlooked.

Evaluate accreditor responses.

Once you’ve established your priorities, begin gathering information from AOs.

Using a consistent set of questions allows for a more meaningful comparison. The goal is to understand how each organization's approach translates into your day-to-day operations.

Here are some key areas to evaluate:

• Accreditation requirements: Is your accreditation program appropriate for our services and applicable regulatory requirements?
• Survey experience: What should our team expect before, during, and after the survey?
• Ongoing support: Who can answer our questions between surveys? What educational resources are included?
• Accreditation cost and fees: What is the total cost over the accreditation cycle? Are travel, administrative fees, or other fees charged separately?
• Timelines and growth: What factors influence survey scheduling? How would adding locations or services affect our accreditation arrangements?

Look beyond general assurances. For example, if an accreditor offers ongoing support, ask how your staff can access it and what services are included.

Compare accreditation options effectively.

After gathering information, review each accreditor against the priorities established by your organization.

A meaningful comparison should consider how well an accreditor meets the required criteria and supports the organization's operational needs.

For example, a proposal with a lower initial fee may not represent the lowest overall investment if additional expenses apply. Similarly, an anticipated survey timeline should be considered alongside the organization's readiness and preparation responsibilities.

A simple comparison document can help organize findings.

For each accreditor, record:

• Whether required accreditation criteria are satisfied.
• How well the accreditor addresses your organization's priorities.
• Available services, resources, and associated costs.
• Outstanding questions requiring clarification.

Address outstanding questions before selecting an AO.

Before making a final decision, review the information collected and determine whether your organization has sufficient clarity about the accreditation process and agreement.

Confirm anticipated timelines, responsibilities, costs, and the resources available throughout the accreditation cycle.

If you are considering changing accrediting organizations, clarify the applicable transition requirements and timing before making changes to your existing accreditation arrangements.

Review the findings with the stakeholders involved in the selection process. A documented evaluation can help leadership understand the reasons for the decision and establish clear expectations for the accreditation relationship.

The right choice should reflect your organization's regulatory responsibilities, operational needs, and priorities for the future.

Is your current accreditor meeting your needs?

You've explored how to evaluate an accrediting organization. Now take a closer look at your current experience.

ACHC's free Accreditor Fit Scorecard helps you assess nine areas of your current accreditation experience, recognize what’s working, and identify opportunities for greater support and value.

Comparing accreditation options? Explore ACHC's How to Select an Accreditor resource for additional guidance on how to choose an accreditor, including key considerations and program-specific resources.