Application and Annual Report

All organizations that wish to apply for initial accreditation or renewal accreditation of their certification program(s) by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) must submit a completed application and all supporting exhibit documentation. The application is the same for both new and renewal accreditation.

NEW! Please note our new submission requirements:
The NCCA no longer requires hard copies of accreditation applications. All applicants must submit a single, bookmarked PDF file containing the application, exhibits, and required forms for each program that they wish to submit for consideration. Please see the application form for additional details and instructions. Also visit our fees page for information on submitting your application fee via check or credit card.

Please click here to submit your program application.

Electronic program applications may also be sent on CD or USB flash drive to the following address:

National Commission for Certifying Agencies
2025 M Street, NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036

Please note: NCCA will remind organizations when their programs are near expiration. However, it is the responsibility of each organization to know when their program(s) will expire and to submit a renewal application accordingly.

NCCA Sample Accreditation Application

The guide provides examples of the type of documentation expected to demonstrate compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. Please note that it does not represent the only way to document compliance with the Standards. Each applicant should thoroughly review the documents below. Using the language in this sample is not required for, nor does it guarantee a positive accreditation decision. The sample has three components:

Completed application
Sample appendices
Completed required forms

Annual Report for Organizations with Accredited Programs

The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) requires that each organization with an accredited certification program(s) complete an annual report form to enable the NCCA to monitor continuing compliance with the NCCA Standards. The annual report form is required to maintain accreditation for several reasons, including:

To document compliance with NCCA Standard 21.
To keep organizations with NCCA accredited programs continually aware of the NCCA Standards.
To provide organizations the opportunity to receive feedback on any changes that may affect their accreditation status, and receive suggested actions to take to maintain compliance with NCCA Standards.
In limited situations, the annual report may provide data leading to revocation of NCCA accreditation, if after NCCA review of an organization’s annual report and communication with the certification program, the certification program then fails to respond or its response demonstrates intended lack of compliance with NCCA Standards.

Please note:
All organizations with an accredited program(s) must complete an annual report form regardless of whether they have recently submitted a renewal application.

Please click here to download the annual report form for the 2010 reporting year.