How to Apply for Accreditation or Reaccreditation

These instructions for Children’s Advocacy Centers apply to State Chapters, too. (Except, of course, State Chapters won't be writing letters of recommendation for themselves!)

Questions? Contact us at accreditation@nca-online.org.

Review the application process

Whether you are a Children’s Advocacy Center seeking accreditation or one preparing for reaccreditation, it is important to start by reviewing the Application process page on NCA’s website. This page contains vital resources, such as the Application Checklist, to ensure you have everything you need. It also includes a sample application for your review, the detailed Application Instructions sheet with fee information, and information on how to submit payment, which is due on the day you submit your application. 

Submit your application

For CACs seeking accreditation for the first time, applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. You will need a letter of recommendation from your State Chapter when submitting your application. To get the link to the application, please reach out to us at accreditation@nca-online.org. Please be sure to provide your CAC name, city, and state in either the subject or body of the email to help us locate you in our system. 

Prepare for a site visit

Once your application is submitted, NCA will confirm receipt via email to the contact listed on the application. We will propose the months that we are looking to schedule your site visit and request your case review/multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting date, as your assigned site reviewers will need to observe a meeting. We will ask you to choose either a virtual or in-person site visit. There is no difference in cost to you for either option, and your choice has no impact on the outcome of your accreditation.

After a date for the site review has been determined, your site reviewers will be assigned, and they will begin reviewing your application. You will receive confirmation of the date, as well as the names of your assigned site reviewers and their contact information. You must remain in contact with your site reviewers up to the time of your site visit, providing any necessary clarification, updates, or documentation. 

NCA will inform you of the decision

After the visit, your reviewers will provide NCA with their scoring and recommendations. These will then be voted upon by our Board of Directors during one of their regularly scheduled meetings in January, June, or October. You will be notified of their decision via email the week after the meeting.

NCA will reach out to you

Accredited CACs must be reaccredited every five years. NCA will reach out to you the year prior to the year of your reaccreditation with a reminder and instructions on how to begin scheduling your site visit. As an example, if your CAC is up for reaccreditation in 2025, NCA will contact you in January 2024 to begin the scheduling process. 

Application and site visit deadlines

Once we contact you about reaccreditation, begin reviewing the application to ensure you will be ready before the application due date. The date of your site visit determines your application deadline; your application must be submitted six months prior to the site visit. For example, if your visit is set for March 30, 2025, your application will be due September 30, 2024. NCA will send you an email confirming your application due date and site visit date. We send reminders in January and two months prior to the due date of your application. 

NCA will inform you of the decision

After the site visit, your reviewers will provide NCA with their scoring and recommendations. These will then be voted upon by our Board of Directors during one of their regularly scheduled meetings in January, June, or October. You will be notified of their decision via email the week after the meeting.