Accreditation

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Welcome to the ASA accreditation web page.

If you are considering applying for accreditation, please read the information below, then fill out the request for application form. This does not create any obligation, and you do not have to be an ASA member to complete this form, but you will need to join the ASA in order to actually apply for accreditation. Shortly after you submit the form, we’ll contact you by email about how to apply. To see the elements of and the instructions for an application form, click here.

Accreditation brings value both to members of the profession and to those who benefit from the work of professional statisticians.

Viewed from the profession, accreditation testifies that there is a body of knowledge known as Statistics, that accredited practitioners of Statistics must be well versed in that knowledge at an advanced level, and must have applied it competently and ethically through practice for several years. And as rapidly as the theory and practice of Statistics evolves, so must professional statisticians continually stay abreast of new developments in their areas of expertise.

One does not have to be accredited to have these qualities, of course, but accreditation is one witness to the wider world that statisticians are professionals, akin to architects, doctors, engineers and lawyers.

Why is this important?

Many issues that have an impact our daily lives, such as our health and safety, our work, our standard of living, and the policies of our governments are crucially influenced by Statistics - the collection, analysis, presentation and interpretation of quantitative data in the presence of uncertainty. Sound statistical practice informs sound decisions, leading to better policy and better outcomes. Incorrect or unethical use of Statistics can produce misleading results, poor advice and worse choices.

That is, the practice of Statistics is a job for skilled professionals. Accredited statisticians have been recognized by their peers as combining education, experience, competence, and commitment to ethics at a level that labels them as professionals. Accreditation provides a measure of assurance to employers, contractors and collaborators of statisticians, and a mark of accomplishment to society at large.

ASA accreditation is a voluntary credential offered to ASA members that provides peer recognition for all of the following:

Having advanced statistical training and knowledge
Having experience in applying statistical expertise competently
Maintaining appropriate professional development
Agreeing to abide by ethical standards of practice
Being able to communicate effectively

The ASA's accreditation program is modeled after programs in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Accreditation is a portfolio-based rather than an examination-based credential, and is renewable every five years. Accreditation is also voluntary; applicants seek accreditation because they believe the credential is worthwhile to them, but it is not a requirement for practice.

Accreditation applicants will submit materials to be reviewed by members of the ASA Accreditation Committee, peers who will evaluate submissions based on the ASA's Guidelines for Accreditation. Those who meet these guidelines will be awarded the designation "accredited professional statistician."

There is a fee to apply for and an annual fee to maintain accreditation.

We invite all interested persons to read these guidelines and to provide comments, questions, and suggestions. While we will not be able to respond directly to all comments and questions, we will use them to shape future decisions and to prepare an FAQ on accreditation.


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