Program leaders ask me some version of this more than anything else: "We're interested, but I'm not sure we're ready." It's a reasonable place to start — and "not ready" can mean very different things depending on where you actually are.
SSH Accreditation is built around a set of Core Standards that all programs must meet, plus Focus Area standards that programs select based on their specific work: Teaching/Education, Assessment, Research, Human Simulation, Systems Integration, or Fellowship Program. Full Accreditation requires the Core Standards plus at least one Focus Area.
Start by reading those standards — not to inventory what you have, but to honestly assess where your program operates at the required level and where it doesn't. SSH provides the standards documentation publicly, and our accreditation team is available to talk through them with you before you commit to an application. That conversation is free and doesn't obligate you to anything.
Self-assessments almost always surface gaps, especially for programs going through the process for the first time. That's expected. The useful question isn't whether gaps exist — it's how significant they are. Some can be addressed with focused work over a few months. Others reflect structural realities that take a full planning cycle to resolve. The self-assessment is something that should be done carefully because that distinction determines your realistic timeline.
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Accreditation Prep Courses
SSH offers online accreditation preparation courses designed to help programs understand the standards in depth before applying. Reviewing these courses is one of the most practical first steps a program can take.
When gaps are real but the commitment is there, Provisional Accreditation is the right entry point. It recognizes programs that meet the Core Standards and can demonstrate a credible plan for full compliance within a defined timeframe. It's a two-year pathway toward Full Accreditation — not a lesser version of it.
SSH's online accreditation preparation courses are designed to help programs work through the standards in depth before applying. For many programs, completing those courses before submitting is the difference between a strong application and one that needs significant revision. And, if you want to talk through where your program stands before deciding, reach out directly at accreditation@ssih.org.
Kristyn Gadlage, BSE
SSH Director of Accreditation