Page 159 - JRCERT Update Articles

JRCERT Update

JRCERT Continues Its

Long-standing Recognition by the

U.S. Department of Education

Laura S Aaron, PhD, R.T.(R)(M)(QM), FASRT

or 47 years, the Joint Review Committee on accounting for 28% of its total number of allied health
Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) programs. In 1992, the AMA announced it was dis-
has been committed to excellence in education solving CAHEA, and a freestanding accreditor was
Fand the quality and safety of patient care. The established—the Commission on Accreditation of
JRCERT is the only independent accrediting agency Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education CAAHEP would come to assume the responsibil-
(USDE) to accredit educational programs in the radio- ity for accreditation of all allied health programs.
logic sciences. The USDE defines an independent However, the JRCERT Board of Directors was con-
accreditor as an agency that establishes its own policies, cerned that this type of accreditation structure would
determines its own budget, and selects directors who be inefficient and too costly to radiologic sciences
are not appointed by any other related affiliation or programs. Therefore, the JRCERT Board decided
organization. to pursue independent accreditor status through the
1
USDE and declined joining the CAAHEP. CAAHEP
Path to Recognition still exists and is responsible for accreditation of more
Although the JRCERT first received recognition as than 2000 educational programs in 28 health science
an independent accreditor from the USDE in the occupations.
early 90s, the real journey began in 1969 when Over the years, as the U.S. government provided more
the American Society of Radiologic Technologists financial support for higher education, it became more
(ASRT) and the American College of Radiology interested in ensuring that federal funds were not pro-
(ACR) established the JRCERT under the accredi- vided to low-performing institutions. In 1965, the Higher
tation criteria provided by the American Medical Education Act (HEA) was created to govern the admin-
Association (AMA) Council on Medical Education. istration of federal funds for student aid and the criteria
2
This relationship lasted until 1976 when the council used by the USDE to recognize accrediting agencies. With
decided to delegate the responsibilities of accredita- the passage of the HEA, Congress determined that for an
tion of allied health programs to a newly formed group institution to receive federal funding, it must be accred-
called the Committee on Allied Health Education ited by an agency recognized by the USDE. Recognition
and Accreditation (CAHEA), which was still under by the USDE ensures an agency is a reliable authority
the auspices of the AMA. The JRCERT became one regarding the quality of education offered by the institu-
of the largest review committees within CAHEA, tion or program.

RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY, July/August 2016, Volume 87, Number 6 675
Reprinted with permission from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists for educational purposes. ©2019. All rights reserved.