The Accreditation Commission for Integrative Sciences (ACIS) establishes and enforces comprehensive standards to ensure that accredited institutions deliver high-quality, ethical, and evidence-informed education in the fields of Trichology, Herbal Medicine, Holistic Medicine, and Integrative Health Sciences.

 

These standards are designed to protect students, support faculty, and strengthen public trust in the integrity of the integrative sciences professions. Accreditation through ACIS represents not only compliance with benchmarks but a commitment to continuous improvement, ethics, and excellence.

 

Institutional accreditation is administered through the Accrediting Council for Holistic Trichology & Herbal Sciences (ACHTHS), under the governance of ACIS. All standards outlined below apply to institutions seeking or maintaining accreditation with ACIS.

 

1. Institutional Mission & Governance

Institutions must:

• Maintain a clearly defined mission statement aligned with the disciplines of Trichology, Herbal Medicine, or Integrative Health Sciences.

• Operate under a governing board or administrative leadership that upholds accountability, transparency, and academic integrity.

• Demonstrate policies supporting institutional effectiveness, academic freedom, and stakeholder inclusion.

• Maintain grievance procedures that ensure fairness, confidentiality, and prompt resolution of complaints.

• Ensure the Board of Directors or Trustees remains free from conflicts of interest and acts in the best interest of the institution and its students.

 

2. Financial Integrity & Stability

Institutions must demonstrate:

• Sound financial management and long-term sustainability.

• Transparent tuition, fees, and refund policies published and accessible to students.

• Annual or biennial financial audits or equivalent documentation available for ACIS review.

• Equitable financial practices that ensure fair treatment of all students and staff.

 

3. Academic Programs & Curriculum

Institutions must maintain clearly defined programs of study with measurable learning outcomes.
Curricula must:

• Reflect current industry standards in Trichology, Herbal Medicine, and Integrative Health Sciences.

• Be structured with defined credit hours, clock hours, or competencies consistent with higher education best practices.

• Progress logically from foundational to advanced or clinical application.

• Be reviewed periodically by qualified faculty or advisory boards to ensure scientific accuracy and relevance.

• Integrate ethics, professionalism, and continuing education awareness throughout all levels of instruction.

• For CE providers, demonstrate alignment with ACIS Continuing Education Oversight Standards.

 

4. Faculty Qualifications & Responsibilities

Faculty must:

• Hold appropriate academic degrees, board certifications, or verified professional experience in their subject area.

• Demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development and continuing education.

• Participate in curriculum design, academic assessment, and mentorship.

• Uphold institutional ethics, academic integrity, and respect for student diversity.

• Maintain student-to-faculty ratios that ensure individualized instruction and mentorship opportunities.

 

5. Student Services & Support

Accredited institutions must provide equitable and supportive learning environments, including:

• Clear and published admission policies aligned with program prerequisites.

• Accessible academic advising, tutoring, or mentorship.

• Transparent grading systems, attendance tracking, and transcript procedures.

• Student rights and responsibilities policies including appeals, grievances, and disciplinary actions.

• Inclusive practices that promote non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all applicants and students.

 

6. Facilities, Learning Resources & Technology

Institutions must ensure that facilities, physical or virtual, are adequate for program delivery.
They must provide:

• Safe, accessible, and functional classrooms, clinics, or laboratories.

• Reliable digital infrastructure for online or hybrid programs.

• Up-to-date library and research resources, including digital and clinical tools.

• Clinical or practicum sites that meet professional sanitation and safety standards.

• Documented procedures for equipment maintenance, health, and safety compliance.

 

7. Assessment, Competency & Outcomes

Institutions must implement systems to:

• Evaluate student progress through exams, projects, and supervised clinical work.

• Verify graduate competency in both theory and application.

• Require capstone assessments (e.g., final exams, research projects, or clinical demonstrations) for advanced programs.

• Maintain measurable outcomes including completion rates, certification success, and graduate employment.

• Use assessment data to continuously improve academic quality.

 

8. Ethics & Professional Conduct

All institutions must:

• Uphold the ACIS Code of Ethics in all operations.

• Ensure that faculty, staff, and administrators maintain professional boundaries and avoid conflicts of interest.

• Protect the confidentiality of student records in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

• Present truthful, transparent, and verifiable information in all marketing and public communications.

 

9. Research & Scholarly Development (Advanced-Level Institutions)

For institutions offering graduate, advanced clinical, or doctoral programs:

• Faculty must engage in research, publication, or professional contribution.

• Students must receive structured guidance in thesis, dissertation, or evidence-based project work.

• All research involving human subjects must follow ethical review and informed consent standards.

• Institutions should foster a culture of academic inquiry, innovation, and evidence-informed practice.

 

10. Continuous Improvement

Accreditation represents an ongoing commitment to quality. Institutions must:

• Submit annual reports to ACIS detailing enrollment, outcomes, and faculty development.

• Provide timely responses to ACIS review findings or recommendations.

• Maintain a documented strategic plan for academic and operational growth.

• Demonstrate implementation of feedback from peer reviewers and student evaluations.

 

11. Evaluation & Site Visit Requirements

 

11.1 Applicability

A Peer-Reviewed Site Visit is required for all institutions offering in-person or hybrid instruction. Online-only programs will undergo a Virtual Facilities and IT Review.

 

11.2 Scheduling & Notice

Site visits are scheduled following the comprehensive review and prior to final accreditation approval. Institutions must provide a 10-business-day window of availability and full access to instructional environments.

 

11.3 Scope of Review

Reviewers verify:

• Facility adequacy, safety, and accessibility.

• Observation of instruction or clinical activity (when feasible).

• Equipment and learning resources relative to curriculum.

• Faculty credentials and supervision of clinical sessions.

• Compliance with ACIS standards and ethics policies.

 

11.4 Documentation Requirements

Institutions must provide:

• Faculty rosters with qualifications

• Sample syllabi, assessments, and lesson plans

• Floor plans or virtual layouts of facilities

• Policies for safety, privacy, and sanitation

• Attendance, grading, and student identity verification records

 

11.5 Findings & Outcomes

Following the visit, ACIS issues a Site Visit Report outlining findings and recommendations.
Final accreditation decisions include one of the following outcomes:

• Accredited

• Accredited with Conditions

• Deferred for Clarification

• Denied

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11.6 Fees & Travel

The Site Visit Fee is $1,200 plus reasonable travel expenses. Fees are invoiced prior to scheduling and are non-refundable.

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11.7 Virtual Reviews

Institutions delivering online instruction exclusively may complete a virtual review verifying digital platforms, security, proctoring systems, and data protection. ACIS reserves the right to require an on-site evaluation at its discretion.

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12. Continuing Education Oversight

All ACIS-accredited institutions and CE providers must:

• Offer continuing education that aligns with ACIS-approved learning outcomes.

• Maintain accurate CE hour tracking and participant verification.

• Submit CE course outlines and evaluation summaries annually.

• Ensure CE content remains current, unbiased, and evidence-based.

 

Purpose of the Standards

The ACIS Standards of Accreditation are designed to:

• Protect students through quality assurance and ethical oversight.

• Ensure institutional integrity and financial transparency.

• Promote professional excellence and academic accountability.

• Advance the global reputation of Trichology, Herbal Medicine, and Integrative Health Sciences.

 

Accreditation through ACIS represents excellence in education, ethics, and public trust — a mark of distinction that signifies global leadership in the integrative sciences.