Aims – To compare different accreditation categories in Italy and to suggest some criteria to assess them. Methods – The A. compare specific characteristics of different model of normative and professional accreditation and suggest some criteria to distinguish different type of accreditation programme and to assess quality and usefulness of an accreditation programme. Results and Conclusions – Different types of accreditation are attributed to some basic criteria: voluntary/by law, high/low stan- dard, assessment object. Criteria to assess the usefulness are: check list accuracy, support to quality improvement, documental bur- den, services impact.
