Accreditation Status

The University

Founded as College of Evangelists 1905-06. Chartered as College of Medical Evangelists by the state of California December 13, 1909. Accredited by Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools April 7, 1937. Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC; prior to January 1962, Western College Association) February 24, 1960. Became Loma Linda University July 1, 1961. Professional curricula attained accreditation as follow below.

The professions

Faculty of Graduate Studies

The Graduate School began in 1954 with accreditation through University accreditation. It continued through 2004 and was restructured as the Faculty of Graduate Studies in 2005. The Faculty of Graduate Studies convenes graduate faculty from research-intensive programs and functions as a peer-review body to ensure the quality of academic programs.

School of Allied Health Professions

CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY TECHNOLOGY:  Started in 2011. Initial accreditation March 21, 2015, by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE (formerly Medical Technology): Started in 1937. Approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association since August 28, 1937. Currently accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Currently approved by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Laboratory Field Services (LFS)  as of 2015.

COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS: Approved by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association June 1, 1991. Master of Science degree in communication sciences and disorders approved by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as of March 2012.

DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY: Started in 1976 as diagnostic medical sonography. Approved by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography October 24, 1985.

HEALTH INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION: Started as medical records administration in 1963. Currently approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.

MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY: Started in 1941 as radiological technology. Approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association November 19, 1944. Currently approved by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology and the California State Department of Public Health as of 2015.

NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGY: Started in 1970. Approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association June 23, 1973. Currently approved by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology as of 2016.

NUTRITION AND DIETETICS: Started in 1922 as a certificate program; baccalaureate degree conferred 1932–54; M.S. degree in nutrition and dietetics started in 2008; graduate program offered since 1954. Internship program continuously approved by The American Dietetic Association from 1957 through 1974; reestablishment of baccalaureate degree program authorized October 1971. Since 1974, the Coordinated Program in Dietetics has been granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association. The coordinated program in dietetics is currently granted continuing accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly CADE of the American Dietetic Association).

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: Started in 1959. Initial approval by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association June 10, 1960. Full approval March 30, 1962. Currently approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

PHLEBOTOMY: Started in 1994. Accredited/approved April 1997 by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Laboratory Field Services (LFS).

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT: Started in 1989. Currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Most recent site visit 2011.

PHYSICAL THERAPY: Started in 1941. Initially approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association June 6, 1942. Currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Most recent site visit 2012.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCIENCES: Started in 2000. Provisional accreditation granted October 20, 2000, by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Effective January 1, 2001, CAAHEP was succeeded by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). Accredited December 2011 by ARC-PA.

RADIATION THERAPY: Approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association December 1, 1974. Currently approved by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

RESPIRATORY CARE: Started in 1971. Initially approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association September 1972; full approval June 1973. Currently approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in collaboration with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC, formerly known as Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education [JRCRTE]) as of 2010.

Programs offered through the School of Allied Health Professions in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies are accredited through University accreditation.

School of Behavioral Health

School of Behavioral Health programs are accredited through University accreditation and/or through their professional accrediting bodies. Programs offered through the School of Behavioral Health, in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies, are accredited through University accreditation.

Department of Counseling and Family Sciences

MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY (M.S.):  Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). Accreditation renewal in 2025.

MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY (D.M.F.T.):  Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). Accreditation renewal in 2025.

MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY (Ph.D.):  Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). Next accreditation renewal in 2025.

PUPIL PERSONNEL SERVICES CREDENTIAL: Assigned the status of  "accreditation" through Linda University on June 18, 2008, by the Committee on Accreditation on behalf of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (State of California). Next Commission visit during 2023-24 academic year.

Department of Psychology

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY (Ph.D.): Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. Next accreditation renewal in 2029.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY (Psy.D):  Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. Next accreditation renewal in 2029.

Department of Social Work and Social Ecology

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (M.S.W.): Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education to provide master’s degree-level education, with the next affirmation to be completed in 2025.

School of Dentistry

DENTAL HYGIENE: Bachelor of Science degree started in 1959. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since September 7, 1961. Associate in Science degree started in 2011. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since May 2011.

DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY: Started in 1953. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since May 23, 1957.

ENDODONTICS: Started in 1967. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since December 1969.

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY: Started in 1964. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since 1967.

ORTHODONTICS AND DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS: Started in 1960. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since May 1965.

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY: Started in 1993. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since December 1993.

PERIODONTICS: Started in 1961. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since December 1967.

PROSTHODONTICS: Started in 1993. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since February 1995.

Programs offered through the School of Dentistry in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies are accredited through University accreditation.

School of Medicine

The School of Medicine was started in 1909 and has been approved by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association since November 16, 1922. Accreditation for the medical education program leading to the M.D. degree is by The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME is jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA).  LCME is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and World Federation of Medical Education as the reliable authority for the accreditation of medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree. LCME accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed process of quality assurance that determines whether the medical education program meets established standards. This process also fosters institutional and programmatic improvement.

Programs offered through the School of Medicine in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies are accredited through University accreditation.

School of Nursing

The hospital-based School of Nursing program began in Loma Linda in 1905 and added the White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles as an affiliate in 1924. The college-based program was accredited by the National Nursing Accrediting Service December 10, 1951, with approval continuing under the National League for Nursing until 2001. The school has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) since 1999. Initial approval by the California State Board of Health in 1917 was extended until the college program was approved July 1, 1952, by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The master's degree program started in 1957, the Ph.D. degree program in 2002, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree program in 2010.

School of Pharmacy

Started in 2002, the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program was first approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) on June 23, 2007, and is accredited until 2029. 

ACPE is the sole accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit professional degree programs in pharmacy and is located at 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60603-4810; telephone: 312/664-3575; FAX: 312/664-4652; website: https://www.acpe-accredit.org.

School of Public Health

Started in 1948; reorganized in 1964. Approved by the American Public Health Association June 23, 1967. Currently accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

School of Religion

Started in 1961 as the Division of Religion. Organized as School of Religion (1987-1990), Faculty of Religion (1990-2006), and School of Religion (2007 to present). Programs accredited through University accreditation.