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Agency Accreditation

APWA Accreditation logo

The purpose of the accreditation program is to provide a means of formally verifying and recognizing public works agencies for compliance with the recommended practices set forth in the Public Works Management Practices Manual. It is a voluntary, self-motivated approach to objectively evaluate, verify and recognize compliance with the recommended management practices.

 Purchase the Public Works Management Practices Manual, 10th Ed. and Self-Assessment Software from the APWA Store >

Accreditation Process

Agencies pursuing accreditation go through a five-phase process:

  1. Self-Assessment
  2. Application
  3. Improvement
  4. Evaluation
  5. Accreditation

 View the Accreditation Program Guidelines >

Every journey should have a map, and that includes self-assessment. Use the Accreditation Road Map to define your agency’s goals, confirm the desired outcome, and track the major steps or milestones needed to reach it.

Benefits of Accreditation

  • Established agency-wide culture of continuous improvement
  • Improved operational performance
  • Team building and staff development
  • Succession planning/institutional knowledge retention
  • Central location for documentation and SOPs
  • Increased efficiencies/reduced duplication and wasted resources
  • Improved communication
  • Justification for budget requests
  • Lowering of insurance premiums
  • Reduced liability

Announcements

APWA congratulates the following agencies for their commitment to continuous improvement as they achieved Accreditation status.

Name of Agency

Date Accredited
 City of Bothell, WA Public Works Department Accredited
December 21, 2020 
 Fairfax County, VA Department of Public Works and Environmental Services  Re-Accredited
December 14, 2020
 City of Lenexa, KS Municipal Services Department  Re-Accredited
December 4, 2020 
 City of El Campo, TX Department of Public Works Accredited
October 26, 2020 
 Contra Costa County, CA Department of Public Works and Flood Control District
Re-Accredited
October 26, 2020 
 City of Salem, OR Public Works Department
  Accredited
October 16, 2020
 City of Columbia, MO Public Works Department Re-Accredited
October 14, 2020 
 City of Lee's Summit, MO Department of Public Works
 Re-Accredited
October 7, 2020 
 City of Janesville, WI Department of Public Works Accredited
August 11, 2020 
 Sarasota County, FL Public Works Department Accredited
July 28, 2020
 Sarasota County, FL Public Utilities Department Accredited
July 28, 2020
 Sarasota County, FL Capital Projects Department Accredited
July 28, 2020

 Search for Accredited, Provisional, or Applicant Agencies >