Although not a comprehensive checklist, museums considering the accreditation process should review the guidelines below in determining their readiness. Accredited museums must remain abreast of evolving standards in the field and continually monitor and improve their operations and programs to meet them. They must continue to provide credible evidence that they are fulfilling their purposes and attaining the goals proclaimed in their mission. Therefore, to retain accreditation, the institution must undergo and complete a subsequent accreditation review, within ten years of initial accreditation, and every ten years thereafter. In addition, accreditation policies and procedures are routinely revised as professional standards in the field evolve and the museum must be willing to abide by these administrative changes.
Accreditation has full support of the governing authority, staff, and leadership.
The governing authority's support is crucial and some institutions form board-staff committees to prepare for accreditation. Although participation in MAP is not a pre-requisite for applying to the Accreditation Program, it is strongly suggested that museums use this assessment tool as a preliminary step towards accreditation. It allows an institution to identify institutional strengths, correct weaknesses, and implement suggested improvements. The questionnaire and list of related supporting documentation is regularly revised and updated to reflect current practices. It has a permanent director in place who will oversee the initial accreditation process in its entirety.