Accreditation amounts to a public seal of approval - a guarantee of quality. But with the proliferation of agencies that accredit academic programs over the years, this process has become increasingly complex - to the point where many in higher education have come to question its value, especially in view of rising costs associated with accreditation. The most important challenge facing the accreditation community today is to create an environment and a process that is responsive to the changing needs of society and communities of practice. This report identifies the challenges facing the health professions accrediting community; presents a set of recommendations to make accreditation a more productive and positive force in health professions education; and recommends strategies for implementing them.