The Application Process

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.

1. An organization can become an Accredited Provider of nursing continuing professional development by applying directly to the ANCC.
2. An organization can become an Approved Provider through a constituent and state nursing association that is an ANCC Accredited Approver.
3. An organization or individual can submit an individual activity for approval to an ANCC Accredited Approver.

For any of these three paths, the organization must be considered eligible.

Note: An ineligible company is defined as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Examples of ineligible companies 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 about eligible and ineligible companies please visit the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

Once it is determined that your organization is eligible to become accredited, an organization must implement the ANCC NCPD criteria for at least 6 months prior to submitting an application.

We recommend the following steps:

1. Download the ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Applicant Journey Guide and ANCC NCDP Accredited Provider Policy and Procedure Manual and review the criteria. Update policies and implement processes to ensure you comply with the Structural Capacity, Educational Design, and Quality Outcomes criteria for 6 months prior to applying.
2. Plan, implement, and evaluate at least 3 professional development or education activities according to standards outlined in the educational design process and activity file documentation requirements.
   • You may submit these activities for approval by an Accredited Approver unit, however, this is not required.
3. Use the NCPD Accreditation Self-Assessment Tool and the eligibility checklist on page 4 of the ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Applicant Journey Guide to assess your readiness to apply. 
4.  

1. Once you have determined that your organization is ready to apply, contact the ANCC NCPD Accreditation Program Team at accreditation@ana.org to schedule an eligibility call.
2. Once the eligibility call is complete, you will receive a link to complete the NCPD Accreditation Intent to Apply through the online application review system. Once your intent to apply is approved in the system by NCPD Program Staff you will receive your application and document submission due dates as well as access to view training materials that are found in our learning communities.

Applications are accepted 3 times annually, known as cycles.

Accreditation terms:

• 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.

1. On your assigned application due date, complete the online application and provide a list of the activities offered using the ANCC NCPD Accreditation criteria. **Note the application is different from the Intent to Apply***
2. Pay fee. ANCC will invoice your organization upon submission of the application, via email. Payment is due within 30 calendar days. Please see the org fees here: Accreditation Fees.

1. On your assigned self-study due date, upload evidence of compliance with the ANCC NCPD Accreditation criteria, through a Self-Study document, and three activity files. All documents are uploaded into the online application review system.

1. The appraisal process lasts 2-6 months. An assigned NCPD Appraiser team will review your submitted documentation, ask for additional evidence if needed, and complete a virtual visit conference call with your organization. The virtual visit takes place to clarify, verify, and amplify information revealed in the Self-Study and activity files.
2. After the assigned appraisers complete their review, the Commission on Accreditation in NCPD will review the self-study, activity file, and appraiser review documentation to determine a commission decision.
3. The Commission on Accreditation makes all final accreditation decisions and applicants are notified via letter through email.