Once accredited, an institution is expected to comply with the eligibility requirements and accreditation criteria continuously and must be evaluated periodically. The Commission does not grant candidacy to an institution unless it has strong evidence that the institution can achieve accreditation within the candidacy period. However, attainment of candidacy does not automatically ensure eventual accreditation. The maximum length of candidacy is five years. Colleges maintain accreditation through continuous adherence to accreditation criteria as set forth by the Commission.
Colleges follow a ten year cycle during which institutional review is continuous.
These reviews include a brief Annual Report, a review five years following the comprehensive institutional self-study and an evaluation committee peer review. Colleges are required to respond to Commission requests for any other reports. When an institution fails to meet Commission standards, the Commission may decide to defer a decision on an institution's accreditation, providing an opportunity for the institution to correct its problems within a limited period of time. These steps include warning an institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy, placing an institution on probation, or requiring an institution to show cause why its accreditation should not be removed. Institutions have the right to appeal an adverse Commission decision, and the institution retains its accredited status during the appeal process.