CAMPEP
The Mission of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) is to promote consistent quality education of medical physicists by evaluating and accrediting Graduate, Residency, Professional Doctorate in Medical Physics (DMP), Certificate, and Continuing Education programs that meet high standards established by CAMPEP in collaboration with its sponsoring organizations.
CAMPEP is a nonprofit organization, independent of its Sponsoring Organizations, whose objectives are the review and accreditation of educational programs in medical physics.
Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process of peer review, the objective of which is to ensure a program or institution has met a defined minimum standard. Thus accreditation serves as public recognition that a program has met these minimum requirements.
Accreditation is sometimes confused with certification. In general, institutions and programs are accredited and individuals are certified. Some examples of types of institutions that may be accredited are health care institutions such as hospitals and educational institutions such as colleges or universities. More information on general accreditation of healthcare organizations can be found from The Joint Commission (www.jointcommission.org) and of higher education from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (www.chea.org).
CAMPEP offers specialized accreditation of medical physics educational programs such as degree-granting programs, clinical residencies, continuing education and short courses. In some instances, CAMPEP accreditation of a program may permit students to receive funding in the form of scholarships, loans or grants.
The Process of CAMPEP accreditation of degree granting and clinical training programs requires that the program submits a self assessment report giving evidence of compliance with requirements. After review of this report, a survey team conducts a program site visit to validate the assessment. If successful, accreditation is granted for a period of 5 years. Renewal requires submission of an updated self assessment report.
The Survey Team consists of senior medical physicists with experience in both clinical practice and educational programs. Generally, the survey team will also include a physician.
Medical Physics is the application of physics and related sciences to the practice of medicine. More information on medical physics may be obtained from the 5 sponsoring organizations of CAMPEP.
Sponsoring Organizations
American Association of Physicists in Medicine
American College of Radiology
American Society for Radiation Oncology
Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists
Radiological Society of North America, Inc.