Apply for Accreditation

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Applications are accepted 3 times annually, known as application cycles. First time applicants may be accredited for up to 2 years. Renewing applicants may be accredited for up to 4 years. Organizations must reapply prior to the end of each term.

NCPD Accreditation Resources

The NCPD Accreditation Resources can be downloaded as a PDF using the links below:

Writing to the ANCC NCPD Accreditation Criteria Self-Learning Guide and/or ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Applicant Journey Guide. 

There are three ways to award ANCC contact hours (nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) credit) for successful completion of continuing professional development or education activities. An organization can become an Accredited Provider of continuing nursing education, an Approved Provider through a constituent and state nursing association or submit an individual activity to an ANCC Accredited Approver.

Note: An ineligible company is not eligible to award nursing continuing professional development credit. An ineligible company company is defined as any entity either producing, marketing, re-selling or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients or that is owned or controlled by an entity the produces, markets, re-sells, or distributes healthcare goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. 

Examples of such organizations include:

• Advertising, marketing, or communication firms whose clients are ineligible companies
• Bio-medical startups that have begun a governmental regulatory approval process
• Compounding pharmacies that manufacture proprietary compounds
• Device manufacturers or distributors
• Diagnostic labs that sell proprietary products
• Growers, distributors, manufacturers or sellers of medical foods and dietary supplements
• Manufacturers of health-related wearable products
• Pharmaceutical companies or distributors
• Pharmacy benefit managers
• Reagent manufacturers or sellers

For more information please visit the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

Become an Accredited Provider

1. Download the ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Applicant Journey Guide and the Writing to the ANCC NCPD Accreditation Criteria Self-Learning Guide.
2. Determine your organization's readiness to apply. Note: Infrastructure to implement ANCC NCPD criteria must be operating within your organization for at least 6 months to be eligible.
3. Review due dates and choose an application cycle.
4. Review fees and payment instructions.
5. To apply, contact the Accreditation staff on how to register your organization in our Primary Accreditation Online Application Review System (PAORS).
6. Complete the application and eligibility information by the due date shown below. You will receive access to the Self-Study template after submission of your application.
7. Pay fee. ANCC will invoice your organization upon submission of the application, via email. Payment is due within 30 calendar days.
8. Upload evidence of compliance with the ANCC NCPD Accreditation criteria, known as the Self-Study, outlined in the ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Applicant Journey Guide and Writing to the ANCC NCPD Accreditation Criteria Self-Learning Guide. 
9. Upload the required documents by your cycle due dates.
10. Participate in a virtual organization visit with ANCC Appraisers who evaluate documents and clarify, verify and amplify information revealed in the Self-Study.

***The Commission on Accreditation reviews the appraisal and makes a final decision. Applicants are notified via letter.***

Accredited Provider Application Forms

• CE Activity Summary [xls]
• Register for PAORS

Application Cycles & Due Dates

	MARCH CYCLE	JULY CYCLE	NOVEMBER CYCLE
Application Due*	November 1	March 1	July 1
Self-Study Due	March 1	July 1	November 1
Virtual Visit Date	March 15 - June 15	July 15 - October 15	November 15 - February 15
Final Decision	June 1 - September 1	October 1 - January 1	February 1 - May 1

*Applicants are invoiced upon receipt of application. Payment is due within 30 days of receipt of invoice.

Accredited Provider Expedited Review Process

ANCC NCPD is now offering an Expedited Review option for those organizations that would like to go through an accreditation outside of a review cycle.

• Organizations that are determined eligible may now go through an expedited review in up to 90 days.

Steps for Expedited Review Process

1. Download a copy of ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Applicant Journey Guide and Writing to the ANCC NCPD Accreditation Criteria Self-Learning Guide using the links above.

2. Determine your organization's readiness to apply. Note: Infrastructure to implement ANCC criteria must be operating within your organization for at least 6 months to be eligible.

3. Expedited review fee of $1500 is in addition to the application fee. Review fees and payment instructions.

• ANCC will invoice your organization upon submission of the application, via email.
• Pay all fees, including the expedited fee.
• Payment is due prior to submission of the self-study.

4. Complete an Intent to Apply to register your organization in our new Primary Accreditation Online Application Review System (PAORS).

• Work with the accreditation team to determine a timeline and due dates.

5. Complete the application and eligibility information by the agreed due dates. You will receive access to the Self-Study template after submission of your application.

• Appraiser team will be assigned.

6. Upload evidence of compliance with the ANCC Accreditation criteria, known as the Self-Study, outlined in the ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Applicant Journey Guide and Writing to the ANCC NCPD Accreditation Criteria Self-Learning Guide

7. Upload the required documents by your determined timeline.

8. Participate in a virtual organization visit with ANCC Appraisers who evaluate documents and clarify, verify, and amplify information revealed in the Self-Study.

***The Commission on Accreditation (COA) reviews the appraisal and makes a final decision. Applicants are notified of the COA accreditation decision in a letter via email.***

Sample Expedited Timeline

September 1 - December 15	Schedule and complere self-study conference call
January 5	Submit application to the ANCC Accreditation Program in PAORS
January  15	Activities selected by ANCC, Activity letter to be emailed
February 15	Appraiser Team selected
February 20	Deadline for request to have an appraiser member changed
March 1	Upload self-study documents in PAORS*
March 15-April 8	Virtual site visit (telephone conference call with Appaiser Team)
By May 15	Final accreditation decision made by the Commission on NCPD
	*The actual timeline of the submission of your organization's documents will be determined on a call with a member of the ANCC team and then emailed to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions?

Email Accreditation Staff