Detailed Information on the Accreditation Process

• Accreditation Fees
• Maintaining Accreditation
• Checklist for Completing Your Early Childhood Program Description
• Apply for NAEYC Accreditation
• Updated Accreditation Policies and Procedures Last Updated January 2005
• Cancellation/Withdrawal/Refund Procedures
• Transitional Procedures Effective September 15, 2004 - September 15, 2006
• Annual Report Form
• Filing a Formal Complaint Against an Accredited Center

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Accreditation fees

Accreditation Fee Structure

Fees vary by the size of program enrollment. Fees are as follows:

	Level 1 (60 or fewer children)	Level 2 (61 to 120 children)	Level 3 (121 to 240 children)	Level 4 (241 to 360 children*)	*For each additional 120 children
Step 1 Enrolling in Self-Study	$425	$525	$650	$775	$100
Step 2 Becoming an Applicant	$200	$275	$350	$425	$75
Step 3 Becoming a Candidate	$650	$775	$950	$1,150	$100
Step 4 Meeting the Program Standards	No associated fees	No associated fees	No associated fees	No associated fees	No associated fees
Annual Report	$300	$350	$400	$450	$100
Verification Visit	$650	$775	$950	$1,150	$100

Cancellation, or rescheduling, of a confirmed on-site visit results in a $250 cancellation/rescheduling fee.

Fee Increases

In August 2004 NAEYC announced an increase in fees for NAEYC accreditation. Increased fees are needed to strengthen the reliability and integrity of the system, and ensure that all programs receive prompt and efficient service. Since we launched accreditation in 1985, program fees have never fully covered NAEYC's costs for operating the accreditation system, with the annual loss increasing in recent years. In fact, in fiscal year 2004, accreditation operations expenses exceeded income by $1.8 million. The new fee structure narrows this gap, but still requires NAEYC to continue to support the costs of the system.

The fees are spread out over the entire accreditation process, so that you can more easily build the costs into your annual budgets. There are two fees in the entry stage of the new process: one for Enrollment in Self-Study, and another when your program files an Application for Accreditation (indicating that you will complete the self-assessment process within a specified time frame.) A third fee is due when your program applies to Become a Candidate. Programs that earn NAEYC Accreditation pay Annual Report fees with each of the four reports they file over the five-year term.

The fees have been carefully considered to ensure that the increases are fairly balanced among all types of programs. (For example, in a program with 90 children, the total increase in fees will equal approximately $3.10 per child per year.)

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Accreditation Policy changes

NAEYC-accredited programs are expected to comply with policy changes adopted since the 1998 Accreditation Criteria.

NAEYC clarifies accreditation criterion for supervision of sleeping infants.

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Apply for NAEYC Accreditation

Maintaining NAEYC Accreditation

As of January 1, 2005 all accredited programs are:

• Required to file four Annual Reports and applicable fees beginning on the first anniversary of their accreditation. A program's anniversary date can be found on the program's accreditation certificate (bottom left hand corner). Programs do not submit an annual report for the year in which they submit their Early Childhood Program Description for reaccreditation.
  • Programs will reference their Commission Decision Report and must address the criteria cited in this document in their next Annual Report.
  • Failure to submit an Annual Report with applicable fees will be grounds for revocation. Read http://www.naeyc.org/accreditation/newPolicy.asp#new_structure details of the fee structure.
  • The Annual Report may not be submitted more than 30 days prior to the program's anniversary date. Download the Annual Report Form.
  • For specific questions about completing the Annual Report you may email annualreports@naeyc.org or you may call 800-424-2460 x2022 and ask to speak to the Quality Management Coordinator for your region.
  • Annual Reports should be mailed to:

    NAEYC Annual Report
    PO Box 96037
    Washington, DC 20090-6037

• Required to report program-altering changes to the Academy within 90 days of the change during the term of their accreditation according to the new Verification Policy (review the full verification policy at www.naeyc.org/accreditation). Examples of such changes include, but are not limited to, a change in:

  a. licensing/regulatory status, c. ownership/vendor, e. age groups being served.

  b. location/physical facility, d. program governance, f. court orders affecting the program.

  Programs that fail to report changes to the NAEYC Academy are likely to receive an on-site verification visit.

• Eligible to be randomly selected for an unannounced visit. The unannounced visits will be conducted like verification visits, with validators checking that the programs continue to comply with the accreditation criteria. If a program is not performing at the level consistent with NAEYC Accreditation, its accreditation will be revoked.

When NAEYC accredited programs experience changes, a verification visit may be necessary to verify the program is maintaining compliance with the accreditation criteria. The fee for a verification visit is based on the number of children enrolled at a program. View the fee structure.

On September 15, 2006, NAEYC's current early childhood program accreditation system will expire. At that time, all accredited programs will transition to NAEYC's new early childhood program standards and accreditation performance criteria for annual reporting and verification visits (e.g. random unannounced, complaint, or due to changes experienced).

The NAEYC Academy regularly reviews its criteria, policies, procedures, and reserves the right at any time to modify or change any such criteria, policies, or procedures, including accreditation fees. The NAEYC Academy will provide notice of new and/or revised criteria, policies, and procedures at least sixty (60) days prior to implementation.