CADC Accreditation Process 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Joint Commission accreditation, a 'Requirement for Improvement' (RFI) must be resolved within:
- 30 days
- 45 days
- 60 days (Correct answer)
- 90 days
Correct answer: 60 days
The Joint Commission typically requires organizations to resolve Requirements for Improvement within 60 days of the survey.
Question 2: Which CARF accreditation outcome is issued when a program does NOT meet accreditation standards and cannot be awarded any accreditation?
- Provisional Accreditation
- Non-Accreditation (Correct answer)
- Deferred Accreditation
- Conditional Accreditation
Correct answer: Non-Accreditation
Non-Accreditation is the outcome when a program fails to meet CARF's minimum threshold of conformance.
Question 3: In CARF's accreditation process, 'conformance' to standards is measured on a scale where which score indicates full conformance?
- 1
- 2
- 3 (Correct answer)
- 4
Correct answer: 3
CARF uses a 0–3 scale where a score of 3 indicates full conformance with a specific standard.
Question 4: A counselor notices the program's accreditation certificate expired two months ago. The appropriate immediate action is to:
- Continue operations since accreditation is voluntary
- Notify the program director and initiate renewal procedures immediately (Correct answer)
- Inform clients that services are temporarily unaccredited
- Contact the state licensing board to request an extension
Correct answer: Notify the program director and initiate renewal procedures immediately
Lapsed accreditation must be reported internally and renewal initiated promptly to avoid regulatory and contractual consequences.
Question 5: Which element is MOST commonly evaluated under the 'Person-Centered' standards of CARF behavioral health accreditation?
- Financial solvency of the organization
- Individualized service planning with client involvement (Correct answer)
- Staff credentialing records
- Building accessibility codes
Correct answer: Individualized service planning with client involvement
Person-centered standards focus on individualized planning that actively involves the client in their own treatment goals.
Question 6: For a CADC to maintain employment at a CARF-accredited facility, the counselor must understand that accreditation surveys evaluate:
- Individual counselor licensure only
- Organizational systems, processes, and outcomes — not individual credentials (Correct answer)
- Client satisfaction scores exclusively
- Revenue and billing compliance primarily
Correct answer: Organizational systems, processes, and outcomes — not individual credentials
CARF accreditation assesses organizational-level systems, service delivery processes, and measurable outcomes rather than individual credentials.
Question 7: Which document must a treatment program maintain to demonstrate ongoing compliance between CARF surveys?
- Accreditation application form
- Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) records and outcome data (Correct answer)
- Surveyor contact logs
- Annual profit-and-loss statements
Correct answer: Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) records and outcome data
CARF requires programs to maintain CQI records and outcome data as evidence of ongoing standards conformance between formal surveys.
CADC Accreditation Process 3
Under Joint Commission accreditation, a 'Requirement for Improvement' (RFI) must be resolved within: