Candidacy status is awarded to a newly developed entry-level graduate degree program that meets all institutional and programmatic eligibility requirements, including that the program has no students enrolled and that it has been granted authorization through the governance process of the parent institution and the appropriate state authority to offer the graduate degree program(s) for which candidacy is sought. Candidacy status requires compliance with the Standards in a logical sequence over several years. This allows new programs to evolve over time and to secure the necessary resources to administer the program while being closely monitored by the CAA. Candidate programs are monitored for continued development and compliance with the Standards through submission of annual progress reports. Candidacy status may be held for no longer than 5 years, subject to approval of the progress reports, at which time the program must meet all CAA Standards for Accreditation. Candidacy status cannot be renewed or extended.
The status of Candidate for Accreditation allows students enrolled in newly established education programs to be eligible to apply for the CCC upon graduation without penalizing students graduating from those programs.
