One of the biggest barriers to starting an accreditation application is simply not knowing what to expect. The unknown is almost always more intimidating than the reality.
The process begins with an application. Programs submit documentation demonstrating compliance with the Core Standards and their selected Focus Area standards. The application asks for evidence — not claims. Policies, procedures, data, and records that show your program operates the way your application says it does. Preparing strong evidence is 99 percent of the preparation work.
Once submitted, the SSH Accreditation team reviews the application for completeness and assigns it to a team of trained peer reviewers — simulation professionals from accredited programs who evaluate applications against the established standards. Reviewers assess the evidence, identify areas where clarification is needed, and provide findings to the Accreditation Council.
The Accreditation Council makes the final decision: Full Accreditation, Provisional Accreditation, or a request for additional information before a determination is made. Programs are notified of the outcome and provided with the reviewers' findings.
Timeline from application submission to decision varies based on the application cycle and reviewer availability. The SSH accreditation team provides current timeline estimates and communicates with your program throughout the review process.
SSH's online accreditation preparation courses, available through the Live Learning Center, are specifically designed to help programs understand the standards and prepare strong application documentation. For any program in the pre-application stage, these are among the most practical tools available.
For application deadlines, submission details, and preparation resources, visit ssih.org/full-accreditation and ssih.org/online-accreditation-courses. Our SSH Accreditation team can be reached at accreditation@ssih.org.
We want you to be SSH Accredited! Look through the information and start your process to joining the more than 320 SSH Accredited programs worldwide.
Talk to you soon,
Kristyn Gadlage, BSE
SSH Director of Accreditation