The International Accreditation Programme (IAP) delivers a unique global accreditation service to health and social care external evaluation organisations and standards developing bodies.
Since 1999, the IAP has provided these organisations with an independent third-party assessment process to validate existing systems and drive continuous quality improvement. The IAP enables these organisations to demonstrate their credibility and benchmark their performance on an international level. Operating in over 60 countries, the IAP offers three separate peer review assessment options:
The IEEA’s primary programme is the International Accreditation Programme (IAP)
The International Accreditation Programme (IAP) delivers a unique global accreditation service to health and social care external evaluation organisations and standards developing bodies. Since 1999, the IAP has provided these organisations with an independent third-party assessment process to validate existing systems and drive continuous quality improvement. The IAP enables these organisations to demonstrate their credibility and benchmark their performance on an international level. Operating in over 60 countries, the IAP offers three separate peer review assessment options:
- Accreditation of Health and Social Care Standards
- Accreditation of External Evaluation Organisations
- Accreditation of Surveyor Training Programmes
IEEA’s activity does not constitute an accreditation within the meaning of Article 2 (10) of Regulation (EC) NO. 765 / 2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008. IEEA bases its evaluation of bodies and standards exclusively on privately developed standards, and they do not comprise an assessment or accreditation by public authorities.
Our continuous accreditation process encourages growth and development
All organisations must complete an online application form and pay the access fee prior to entry into the programme.
Our Programmes
External Evaluation Organisations
Organisations are assessed against the ISQua Standards for External Evaluation Organisations. Three international peer review surveyors travel to the organisation for a 5-day survey. Prior to the survey, the organisation is required to submit a self-assessment with supporting evidence via our online survey management tool ISQua Collaborate. The organisation is responsible for the costs of the surveyors’ flexible economy flights, accommodation and subsistence.
External Evaluation Organisations
Organisations are assessed against the IEEA's Standards for External Evaluation Organisations. Three international peer review surveyors travel to the organisation for a 5-day survey. Prior to the survey, the organisation is required to submit a self-assessment with supporting evidence via our online survey management tool ISQua Collaborate. The organisation is responsible for the costs of the surveyors’ flexible economy flights, accommodation and subsistence.
Health and Social Care Standards
An organisation's standards are assessed against the ISQua Principles for the Development of Health and Social Care Standards. This is a desktop/remote survey which takes place over two weeks. Organisations are required to submit a self-assessment, a copy of their standards and supporting evidence via our online survey management tool ISQua Collaborate. A team of international peer review surveyors will assess the level of compliance against the ISQua Principles.
Health and Social Care Standards
An organisation's standards are assessed against the IEEA's Principles for the Development of Health and Social Care Standards. This is a desktop/remote survey which takes place over two weeks. Organisations are required to submit a self-assessment, a copy of their standards and supporting evidence via our online survey management tool ISQua Collaborate. A team of international peer review surveyors will assess the level of compliance against the IEEA's Principles.
Surveyor Training Programme
Surveyor training programmes are assessed against the ISQua Standards for Surveyor Training Programmes. This is a desktop/remote survey which takes place over two weeks. Organisations are required to submit a self-assessment with supporting evidence via our online survey management tool ISQua Collaborate. Afterwards, two international peer review surveyors will assess the level of compliance against the ISQua Standards for Surveyor Training Programmes. Organisations who have previously received surveyor training programme accreditation may subsequently elect for the combined on-site organisational and surveyor training programme survey, for which they receive two separate awards.
Surveyor Training Programme
Surveyor training programmes are assessed against the IEEA's Standards for Surveyor Training Programmes. This is a desktop/remote survey which takes place over two weeks. Organisations are required to submit a self-assessment with supporting evidence via our online survey management tool ISQua Collaborate. Afterwards, two international peer review surveyors will assess the level of compliance against the IEEA's Standards for Surveyor Training Programmes.
Organisations who have previously received surveyor training programme accreditation may subsequently elect for the combined on-site organisational and surveyor training programme survey, for which they receive two separate awards.
Current Awards
IEEA Accreditation is granted for four years. Accredited organisations receive the final survey report, an IEEA Accreditation Certificate and the use of an ‘IEEA Accredited’ logo. All IAP awards are acknowledged annually at ISQua’s International Conference.

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Please ensure that you have downloaded and reviewed the Guidelines and Principles for the Development of Health and Social Care Standards.
Programme Fees
IAP Fees 2019 – 2021 |
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Access Fee - The access fee is a once off payment, which entitles an organisation to enter the Programme and receive the full IAP information pack
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries | €1,568 | €1,600 | €1,632 |
Upper Middle-Income Countries | €1,632 | €1,665 | €1,698 |
High-Income Countries | €1,680 | €1,764 | €1,852 |
IAP Fees per annum - Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
Standards Assessment | €2,832 | €2,890 | €2,948 |
Surveyor Training Programme | €2,470 | €2,520 | €2,570 |
Organisational Survey | €3,616 | €3,690 | €3,764 |
Organisational Survey – utilising standards developed by another organisation | €4,802 | €4,900 | €4,998 |
IAP Fees per annum - Upper Middle-Income Countries
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
Standards Assessment | €2,948 | €3,007 | €3,067 |
Surveyor Training Programme | €2,570 | €2,621 | €2,673 |
Organisational Survey | €3,764 | €3,839 | €3,916 |
Organisational Survey – utilising standards developed by another organisation | €4,998 | €5,098 | €5,200 |
IAP Fees per annum - High-Income Countries
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
Standards Assessment | €3,035 | €3,187 | €3,346 |
Surveyor Training Programme | €2,646 | €2,778 | €2,917 |
Organisational Survey | €3,875 | €4,069 | €4,272 |
Organisational Survey – utilising standards developed by another organisation | €5,145 | €5,402 | €5,672 |
20 Years of the International Accreditation Programme (IAP)
2019 is a very significant year for us as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the International Accreditation Programme (IAP). In 1999, when based in Australia, ISQua launched ALPHA (Agenda for Leadership in Programs for Healthcare Accreditation); this programme was developed to provide accreditation bodies with a peer review assessment framework for both their standards and survey processes.
Since then, the programme has expanded and evolved, and it is now known as the International Accreditation Programme (IAP). Over the past twenty years, our reach has extended to 39 different countries and as of August 2019, a total of 349 surveys comprising of 207 standards, 96 onsite organisational, 37 surveyor training programme and 9 combined onsite organisational and surveyor training programme surveys have been completed.
To celebrate these twenty years and thank the many individuals who have been instrumental to the success of the programme, we will be marking the occasion during the ISQua conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
We have also developed an anniversary booklet which includes contributions from both our surveyors and client organisations.
Download the IAP at 20 Anniversary Booklet
IEEA Surveyors
At the heart of the IAP are the IEEA surveyors. The IEEA has experienced international professionals who work with health and social care external evaluation organisations around the world. Their role is to validate an organisation’s self-assessment and confirm their level of achievement against the ISQua Principles and Standards. The IEEA surveyors provide the organisation with a written report identifying the organisation’s strengths and promoting continuous quality improvement.
Previous IAP Award Ceremonies
Organisations who have achieved ISQua Accreditation are acknowledged annually at ISQua’s International Conference.
Recording of the International Accreditation Programme (IAP) Award Ceremony, held during ISQua's 34th International Conference in London on 4th October 2017. Awards were presented by Steve Clark (AGPAL), Chair of ISQua's Accreditation Council
Recording of the International Accreditation Programme (IAP) Award Ceremony, held during ISQua's 35th International Conference in Kuala Lumpur on 24th September 2018. Awards were presented by Steve Clark (AGPAL), Chair of the Accreditation Council