The BAAB welcomes contact both from independent colleges and universities who wish to develop a course for accreditation with the Board and is happy to work with universities in joint validation/accreditation events. The process of accreditation with the Board is described in a little more detail overleaf, and the Board’s Accreditation Handbook is the guide to course developers, Board and Accreditation Committee members, officers and accreditation visitors on the standards expected and the processes involved.
In the first instance however, you should contact the Board office, who will put you in contact with the appropriate Board officer for a discussion about possibilities and plans.
In considering developing a course for accreditation by the Board there are a number of issues you may wish to consider:

• The nature of your course

The BAAB accredits pre-qualifying acupuncture courses and has no jurisdiction beyond this.

• The level of the course

Courses accredited by the Board are at degree level, although they do not necessarily have to lead to the award of a degree. For the student this usually means about three years full time equivalent study, with a considerable demand in terms of time commitment and an ability to critically reflect on and develop their knowledge and practice.

• The nature of your organisation

The Board expects a certain level of organisation to ensure that students will have a sound educational experience, with clear and explicit policies to ensure fair treatment of staff and students.

• Educational resources

Educational resources include the teaching rooms, clinical facilities, IT and library facilities, experienced and qualified staff who understand the nature of education as well as a robust business plan indicating how these resources will be sustained.

• Students /marketing

The number of courses has doubled over recent years and there is now evidence that recruitment in some areas is a challenge.

• Cost of Accreditation

The BAAB fees for courses in a formal relationship until they are fully accredited (and in renewed accreditation years after that) are in excess of £3,000 per academic year. For small colleges this is a considerable investment.