New Micro-Credential from NAHQ and Joint Commission Aims to Standardize Healthcare Regulatory Expertise

CHICAGO, IL – January 20, 2026 – In a significant move to bolster patient safety and healthcare quality, the National Association for Healthcare Quality® (NAHQ) and The Joint Commission have launched a new professional learning program, the Regulatory & Accreditation (R&A) Micro-Credential. This initiative directly addresses a growing industry need for standardized, practical skills in navigating the complex and ever-shifting landscape of healthcare regulations and accreditation surveys.

The program combines the strengths of two of the most influential organizations in American healthcare: NAHQ, which sets the industry standard for quality competencies, and The Joint Commission, the nation’s largest and oldest standards-setting and accrediting body. The collaboration aims to equip healthcare quality professionals with the tools to ensure their organizations are in a state of continuous survey readiness, a cornerstone of providing safe, high-value care.

Addressing a Critical Need for Skilled Professionals

The launch of the R&A Micro-Credential comes at a time when regulatory and accreditation expertise is more critical than ever. Industry analysis, including NAHQ's own Healthcare Quality Competency Framework, consistently identifies this domain as a primary focus for healthcare leaders. Job postings for roles like 'Accreditation Specialist' and 'Compliance Manager' frequently demand hands-on experience in preparing for surveys, interpreting standards from bodies like The Joint Commission, and implementing corrective action plans. Yet, expertise in this area has often been developed on the job, leading to variability in competencies across the industry.

This new program seeks to formalize and standardize that training. “Regulatory and accreditation requirements continue to evolve, and healthcare organizations need professionals who can navigate them with confidence,” said Tanya Dilulio, chief strategy and innovation officer at NAHQ. “This Micro-Credential reflects the strength of our collaboration with Joint Commission and delivers practical, scenario-based learning that supports organizational readiness, healthcare quality and patient safety.”

By providing a focused, universally applicable curriculum, the micro-credential empowers individual professionals to enhance their career prospects with a verifiable, in-demand skillset. For healthcare organizations, it offers a reliable method for upskilling their quality teams, reducing compliance risks, and fostering a culture of proactive quality management rather than reactive survey preparation.

A Strategic Alliance to Elevate Industry Standards

This program is the product of a deeper strategic alliance between NAHQ and The Joint Commission, first announced in late 2024. The partnership is built on a shared mission to advance global healthcare quality. A key element of this collaboration is The Joint Commission's endorsement of NAHQ's competency framework and its requirement that its own surveyors attain the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ) certification, which is administered by NAHQ. This mutual recognition of expertise provides a powerful foundation for the new micro-credential.

By co-developing the curriculum, the two organizations are effectively setting a new industry benchmark for accreditation readiness training. This move signals a shift away from fragmented, organization-specific training toward a more unified and consistent approach to quality and compliance nationwide. The program leverages NAHQ's leadership in defining quality competencies and workforce credentialing with The Joint Commission's unparalleled expertise in the accreditation process itself.

“Accreditation and regulatory readiness are essential to delivering safe, high-quality care,” said James Merlino, MD, executive vice president and chief operating officer at The Joint Commission. “The new Regulatory and Accreditation Micro-Credential equips healthcare quality professionals with comprehensive knowledge of the survey process. By earning this micro-credential, healthcare professionals, together with Joint Commission and NAHQ, will help enable and affirm the highest standards of quality and safety for every patient.”

The Rise of Micro-Credentials in Professional Development

The R&A Micro-Credential also represents a broader trend in professional education: the move toward flexible, targeted, and skills-based learning. Unlike lengthy and costly traditional university certificate programs in healthcare compliance, micro-credentials offer a 'just-in-time' solution for busy professionals seeking to gain specific, immediately applicable skills.

The self-paced, online format allows learners to integrate their studies with their work schedules, applying concepts in real-time. This model is particularly well-suited to the dynamic healthcare environment, where professionals need to adapt quickly to new regulations and best practices. The R&A program joins NAHQ’s growing portfolio of micro-credentials, which already includes specialized offerings in Health Data Analytics and Performance and Process Improvement, underscoring a strategic commitment to this modern educational approach.

This focus on bite-sized, relevant learning provides a valuable pathway for both seasoned CPHQs looking to deepen their expertise in a specific domain and for other healthcare professionals seeking to build foundational knowledge in quality and safety. The awarding of a digital badge upon completion also provides a portable, verifiable way for individuals to showcase their new competency to current and future employers.

Inside the Curriculum: From Theory to Practice

Designed by subject matter experts from both organizations, the R&A Micro-Credential is built around practical application. The curriculum is delivered through five distinct modules that guide learners through the entire survey lifecycle: accreditation fundamentals, survey preparation, on-site survey management, post-survey improvement, and mastery through applied practice scenarios.

A central feature of the program is its use of scenario-based case studies, downloadable tools, and performance supports that mirror the real-world challenges quality professionals face. Learners will develop concrete skills in identifying applicable regulations for their specific organization, guiding teams through the pressures of an on-site survey, and, crucially, developing and sustaining effective corrective action plans that drive continuous readiness and prevent future deficiencies.

The program is designed to provide universal guidance that learners can immediately translate to their own teams and organizations. By focusing on the how as much as the what, the credential ensures that participants are not just memorizing standards but are building the critical thinking and process management skills needed to lead quality initiatives effectively. The program is also eligible for continuing education credit, adding another layer of value for professionals maintaining existing certifications. This focus on practical, actionable knowledge is central to the program's goal of directly impacting and improving patient care outcomes across the country.