At its May 2025 meeting, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) reviewed revisions to the “Complaints Initiated Against the Council” policy proposed by the COA’s Standards and Policies Committee. 
 
The revisions are provided below in mark-up form. Please review and provide comments using the survey below. Please note that the confidentiality of individual survey responses will be maintained; the results of the survey will be presented for COA review in aggregate. This survey is expected to take up to five minutes to complete.

POLICY

The Council will review any complaint against it that is related to the Council's standards, criteria, procedures, or conduct.

PROCEDURE

1. Complainant's requirements

a. Contact the Chief Executive Officer of the Council to discuss the complaint and determine whether it can be resolved informally.

b. Notify the Council of the complaint in writing within 90 days of the occurrence.

1) Identify specifically how the Council is believed to have made violations as outlined in the policy statement above.

2) Submit documentation to support the complaint.

3) Sign and date the complaint. Anonymous complaints will not be considered.

2. Council actions

a. All written, signed complaints will be forwarded to the Council's President within 10 days of receipt.

b. The President will appoint a special committee consisting of the AANA Education Committee chair, a public representative, a CRNA educator not on the Council, and at least one other Council director Director to study the matter within five working days of being notified of the complaint.

c. A summary of the special committee's findings will be presented to the full Council no later than 30 days after the committee has been appointed.

d. Any agency personnel or Council member against whom a complaint is lodged will be excluded from participating in the final decision making.

e. The complainant will be notified in writing of the outcome of the Council's investigation, including any action taken, within 30 days of completion of the investigation.

f. A decision will rarely be delayed. If it is delayed, it will be only for a valid reason.