NAEYC Accreditation is voluntary and programs have the right to withdraw from the NAEYC Accreditation process at any time.  Use the information below to determine where your program is in the NAEYC Accreditation process and the steps you must take to withdraw your program from NAEYC Accreditation.  Information about refunds is included, when applicable.

My program has completed Step 1: Enrollment by submitting an Enrollment Form

My program has completed Step 2: Application but does not plan to submit or failed to submit our Candidacy Materials on the Candidacy due date we selected in our application

The program must submit a request in writing to qualityassurance@naeyc.org to formally withdraw the application. Failure to submit Candidacy Materials on or before the selected Candidacy due date results in an automatic withdrawal of the program’s application. The application fee is non-refundable. If the program wants to continue to pursue NAEYC Accreditation, it must repeat Step 2, submit a new application, pay a new application fee, and select a new Candidacy due date to move forward in the process.

My program has submitted Candidacy Materials and is currently awaiting a Candidacy decision

The program must submit a request in writing to qualityassurance@naeyc.org to formally withdraw the Candidacy Materials.  Funds applied toward the Candidacy Material review process will be deducted from the program's account according to the chart below. The remainder of the fee for Steps 3 and 4: Candidacy/Site Visit will be refunded.  If the program wants to continue to pursue NAEYC Accreditation, it must return to Step 2, submit a new application, pay a new application fee, and select a new Candidacy due date to move forward in the process.

My program has been denied Candidacy and is choosing the option to submit a new Application at a later date.

The program must return the completed options form to its Accreditation Coordinator indicating that it wishes to submit a new Application at a later date.  Funds applied toward the Candidacy Material review process will be deducted from the program's account according to the chart below. The remainder of the fee for Steps 3 and 4: Candidacy/Site Visit will be refunded.  If the program wants to continue to pursue NAEYC Accreditation, it must return to Step 2, submit a new application, pay a new application fee, and select a new Candidacy due date to move forward in the process.   For accredited programs that wish to return to Step 2 and submit a new Application, any accreditation status and/or extension granted by the NAEYC Academy becomes null and void.  

My program has been accepted as a candidate and is awaiting the start of its 15-day window

Once a program is accepted as a candidate, the visit scheduling process has begun and must be cancelled. Funds applied toward the Candidacy Material review process will be deducted from the program's account according to the chart below.  An additional $250 will be deducted from the program's account for the cancellation of the visit scheduling process.  The remainder of the fee for Steps 3 and 4: Candidacy/Site Visit will be refunded.  Cancellation of the visit scheduling process results in the program’s withdrawal from the NAEYC Accreditation process.  If the program wants to continue to pursue NAEYC Accreditation, it must return to Step 2, submit a new application, pay a new application fee, and select a new Candidacy due date to move forward in the process.

My program is in its 15-day window

Once the program has entered its 15-Day Window, the visit scheduling is in its final stages and must be cancelled.  Funds applied toward the Candidacy Material review process will be deducted from the program's account according to the chart below.  An additional charge will be deducted from the program's account for the cancellation of the visit scheduling process according to the chart below.  The remainder of the fee for Steps 3 and 4: Candidacy/Site Visit will be refunded.  Cancellation of the visit scheduling process prior to the 15-day window results in a program’s withdrawal from the NAEYC Accreditation process.  If the program wants to continue to pursue NAEYC Accreditation, it must return to Step 2, submit a new application, pay a new application fee, and select a new Candidacy due date to move forward in the process.

My program has been contacted the business day prior to its site visit

A visit cancellation fee will be assessed (refer to chart below).

• If the program would like to reschedule the site visit, it must notify NAEYC of the need to reschedule and submit payment for rescheduling the site visit according to the chart below.  Upon notification and following the receipt of payment, the NAEYC Academy will attempt to reschedule the visit within the same 15-day window. If an NAEYC Assessor is not able to reschedule a visit within the same 15-day window, then a new 15-day window will be set within the original 3-month calendar. If the visit cannot be rescheduled due to NAEYC Assessor availability within the original 3-month calendar, the program will be notified that one additional month with 2 exclusion dates will be added to their original calendar.

• If the program chooses not to reschedule the site visit, it is considered to have withdrawn from the NAEYC Accreditation process.  Funds applied toward the Candidacy Material review process will be deducted from the program's account according to the chart below. An additional charge will be deducted from the program's account for the cancellation of the visit scheduling process according to the chart below. The remainder of the fee for Steps 3 and 4: Candidacy/Site Visit will be refunded, if applicable. If the program wants to continue to pursue NAEYC Accreditation, it must return to Step 2, submit a new application, pay a new application fee, and select a new Candidacy due date to move forward in the process.

My program previously cancelled a scheduled site visit and has been contacted the business day prior to its rescheduled site visit

If a program cancels a rescheduled visit, the program will receive acknowledgement of the 2nd cancellation from NAEYC by email or fax. The program will be withdrawn from the NAEYC Accreditation process. If the program is currently accredited, its NAEYC Accreditation will expire.  Funds applied toward the Candidacy Material review process will be deducted from the program's account according to the chart below.  An additional charge will be deducted from the program's account for the 2nd cancellation of the site visit according to the chart below.  If the program wants to continue to pursue NAEYC Accreditation, it must return to Step 2, submit a new application, pay a new application fee, and select a new Candidacy due date to move forward in the process.

All site visit cancellation procedures also apply to cancellations of verification visits.  Unannounced visits due to complaints or random selection cannot be cancelled. A program’s refusal of a site visit may result in revocation of NAEYC Accreditation.

If a program that has submitted materials for reaccreditation according to the timeline for currently accredited programs decides to withdraw from the accreditation process, the program's accreditation will expire on the expiration date that appears on its accreditation certificate.  In addition, any extension granted would be voided upon withdrawal from the accreditation process.

Additional Fees may apply in the event of a cancellation.