Direct comparison
AAHRPP vs. FWA Registration
FWA is the mandatory OHRP baseline for federally funded human-subjects research; AAHRPP accreditation is the voluntary quality standard built on top of it.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | AAHRPP Accreditation | FWA Registration |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Voluntary, independent accreditation of an institution’s entire Human Research Protection Program | Mandatory institutional assurance/agreement filed with OHRP to comply with the Common Rule |
| Administered by | AAHRPP — independent nonprofit accrediting body (founded 2001) | HHS Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), a federal office |
| Mandatory or voluntary | Voluntary — no federal regulation requires it | Mandatory prerequisite for federally funded or Common-Rule-covered nonexempt human subjects research |
| Unit of review | The entire HRPP as a program — organization, IRB/ethics committee, and researchers/staff (three Domains) | The institution’s written compliance commitment, plus at least one OHRP-registered IRB it designates |
| Review method | Self-assessment, written application, peer review, on-site visit, Council on Accreditation decision | Paperwork filing signed by the institution’s Signatory Official — no site visit |
| Renewal cycle | Reaccreditation after 3 years, then every 5 years | Periodic renewal (commonly every 5 years), plus updates within 90 days of key institutional changes |
| What it certifies | That HRPP policies and practice meet AAHRPP’s detailed quality standards in practice, not just on paper | That the institution has committed to comply with the Common Rule and has a registered IRB in place |
| Consequence of not having it | No independent quality certification — does not bar federally funded research | Cannot legally conduct or support federally funded/Common-Rule-covered nonexempt human subjects research |
| Relationship to the other | A voluntary quality layer built on top of an existing FWA | The regulatory floor AAHRPP-accredited institutions already sit on |
Common questions
FAQ
Can an institution have an FWA without AAHRPP accreditation?+
Yes — this is the norm. Most FWA-holding institutions in the U.S. are not AAHRPP-accredited. An FWA is the regulatory baseline; AAHRPP accreditation is an optional additional quality standard.
Can an institution be AAHRPP-accredited without an FWA?+
Not in practice. AAHRPP accreditation evaluates a functioning HRPP, and essentially every institution seeking accreditation already conducts federally funded or Common-Rule-covered human subjects research, which requires an active FWA. AAHRPP does not replace or waive that federal requirement.
Does AAHRPP accreditation satisfy the FWA requirement?+
No. They are entirely separate systems run by separate bodies — AAHRPP is an independent nonprofit accreditor, and the FWA is a federal filing with OHRP. Accreditation does not exempt an institution from filing or maintaining an FWA.
Is AAHRPP accreditation required by law?+
No. AAHRPP accreditation is entirely voluntary. FWA registration, by contrast, is required before an institution can conduct or support federally funded or otherwise Common-Rule-covered nonexempt human subjects research.
