The timeline below provides general guidance on the dates on which documents should be submitted by the unit and NCATE. Specific dates for the visit are established after the preconditions have been met. Specific timelines by semester are located on the NCATE website.

Two Years Prior to Visit

The institution submits the Intent to Seek First NCATE Accreditation form to NCATE.

By submitting the Intent to Seek NCATE Accreditation form, an institution declares its intention to pursue NCATE accreditation within a two- to three-year time frame. The form, which must be signed by both the chief executive officer of the institution and the head of the professional education unit, requests basic information about the institution and its professional education unit.

Once an institution has submitted its “Intent to Seek” form, the professional education unit is considered a precandidate for accreditation. Precandidates must pay an annual fee to NCATE and will receive newsletters and other correspondence that are sent to all NCATE-affiliated institutions. Precandidates must meet preconditions before becoming an official candidate for NCATE accreditation and must submit the Joint AACTE/NCATE Annual Report.

18 Months (Three Semesters) Prior to Visit

The institution submits preconditions to NCATE.

After the meeting of the Annual Report and Preconditions Audit Committee, NCATE sends a preconditions report to the institution. If not all preconditions are met, the institution will be asked to resubmit preconditions in a subsequent review cycle.

One Year Prior to Visit

The unit submits the date preference email indicating the proposed dates for the NCATE on-site visit. Institutions in a partnership state must coordinate the date of the visit with the state agency before submitting the email to NCATE.

The on-site review must begin on Saturday and finish by Wednesday noon. In some cases, a visit may be extended because of the number of off-campus programs or other unique circumstances. A visit must be scheduled during a time that students and faculty are on campus and participating schools (field sites or professional development schools) are also in session.

One to Three Years Prior to the Visit (September 15 or March 15)

The institution submits electronic program reports, which respond to NCATE program standards as required for precondition #5 (Preconditions 2009), unless the institution is located in a partnership state in which the submission of program reports is optional. Previously, NCATE required that program reports be submitted in the semester one year prior to the unit site visit. Over the next few years NCATE will transition to requiring that they be submitted three years before the visit. Please visit Program Submission Due Dates to find out when program reports are due for your institution.

Seven Months Prior to Visit (by February 1 or July 15)

If programs were submitted for national review, NCATE notifies the institution of the availability of the national recognition reports for programs.

Six Months Prior to Visit

The institution publishes an announcement of the upcoming visit to invite third-party testimony.

NCATE sends a final preconditions report to the institution. (This may occur earlier if all preconditions are met sooner. If all preconditions are not met, a visit cannot take place.)

Five to Six Months Prior to Visit

NCATE sends to the institution the name and address of the assigned BOE team chair who will conduct the on-site review.

Four to Five Months Prior to the Visit (by March 15 or September 15)

The institution submits to NCATE revised program reports responding to concerns raised in the national recognition reports. (Note: submission is optional.)

Two to Four Months Prior to Visit

NCATE sends to the institution the names and addresses of the assigned BOE team members who will conduct the on-site review.

Two to Three Months Prior to Visit

NCATE sends third-party testimony to the institution for comment and to the BOE chair.

60 Days Prior to the Visit

The professional education unit sends a Draft version of the Institutional Report (Online IR) to the BOE chair for comments and suggestions. The institutional report provides a context for the visit and indicates how the standards are being met.

30 to 60 Days Prior to Visit

The team chair, state chair, and state consultant visit the campus for the previsit.

The professional education unit submits, within the institution's workspace in AIMS, the Final version of the institutional report.

Beginning of Semester of the Visit (by September 1 or February 1)

If revised program reports were submitted for national review NCATE notifies the institution of the availability of the national recognition reports for programs.

Date of Visit

NCATE BOE team and state team (in most partner states) visit the campus.

Within 52 Days After the Visit

The BOE team chair submits the BOE report electronically to NCATE. The team (including state team members) and NCATE staff provide feedback on a draft, after which the institution has the opportunity to submit factual corrections. The chair forwards the final report through AIMS to the unit with instructions for preparing a rejoinder and completing evaluation forms. If the institution is located in a partner state, the BOE report is available to the state agency through the NCATE website.

Within 30 Days After the Institution has Received the BOE Team Report

The institution submits the institutional rejoinder electronically to NCATE. The institutional rejoinder to the BOE report is a vital part of the evidence that the UAB considers as it makes its determination about whether standards are met and the unit is accredited. The purpose of the rejoinder is to clarify information presented in the BOE report. If the conclusions of the BOE team are disputed by the unit, the rejoinder must indicate the grounds for disagreement with the team’s findings and include documentation to support that claim. This documentation must have been available to the BOE team at the time of the visit.

The areas for improvement cited in a BOE report have an impact on the accreditation decisions made by the UAB. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the unit respond to all unmet standards and areas for improvement cited in the BOE report. In addition, the unit should respond to any statements in the BOE report that are perceived as erroneous or in need of clarification, even if they were not formally cited as areas for improvement. If the unit is in full or substantial agreement with the BOE report, it may submit a waiver in AIMS indicating its concurrence.

Seven to Ten Days After Receipt of the Rejoinder

If the unit rejoined any of the findings in the BOE report, the BOE team chair has the opportunity to submit a response to the rejoinder.

April (for Fall Visits) or October (for Spring Visits)

The Unit Accreditation Board renders an accreditation decision.

Within Two Weeks After the UAB Meeting

NCATE sends an action letter and action report to the chief executive officer of the institution, the unit head, and the state agency if the institution is located in a partnership state.

One Month After Accreditation Aecision has been Received by the Institution

Unless a decision is being appealed, NCATE mails public disclosure notices to the state education agency, NEA and AFT state affiliates, and state school boards association.