Eligibility, cost, timelines, support, and ongoing requirements

Yes

Please refer to our fee schedule. If you have any questions about the fee schedule and how it applies to your school, please reach out to us at info@faccm.org or (800) 322-2603 and we would be happy to help.

Schools who are pursuing Initial Accreditation (first time) are accredited for 3 years. Schools who are pursuing Re-accreditation and are in good standing with APPLE are eligible for a 5-year accreditation.

A verification visit is an on-site evaluation conducted by an APPLE Accreditation verifier to assess whether a school meets APPLE Accreditation’s standards. During this visit, a trained verifier observes daily operations, reviews documentation, interviews staff, and ensures the school is in compliance with accreditation criteria. The visit serves as a critical step in the accreditation process, validating the school’s self-assessment and commitment to quality.

The APPLE team is available to answer questions relevant to the standards and help guide the school in the right direction. Should a school require more intensive experience in building a Portfolio and preparing for a Verification Visit, APPLE offers the APPLE Accreditation Institute, APPLE Certified Consultants, and technical assistance available for a fee.

APPLE’s commission is the decision-making body. The commission meets monthly; its members are comprised of school leaders. This peer-review process ensures accreditation awards are made by experienced professionals in the field. Outcomes include Accreditation in Good Standing (a 3-year new accreditation or 5-year reaccreditation), Accreditation Deferral with an unannounced second verification visit at the program’s expense, Accreditation with Probation after a Program Action Plan and an unannounced second verification visit at the program’s expense, and Denied Accreditation for a severe health and safety issue or after a failed Accreditation Deferral attempt.

If a center doesn’t meet all accreditation criteria during the verification, it may receive an accreditation deferral, meaning accreditation cannot be granted at that time. The center has the option to make the recommended improvements and schedule an unannounced second verification visit, at its own expense, within four months. If a second deferral is issued after this visit, the center will not receive accreditation.

To maintain APPLE Accreditation, a school must complete an annual report and pay the associated fee. APPLE suggests reaccreditation application submission 12 months before accreditation expires. APPLE will begin sending reminders to prompt the school to start the reaccreditation process.

There is a Change of Location Application (fees are those of the expedited application/verification). You will be issued a provisional 1 year license to reduce the possibility of lapse.

If an accredited school wants to add an additional grade level or delete an additional grade level, it should submit a substantive change form to APPLE along with approval from DOE or the local authority and pay a $100 form/substantive change fee. Once APPLE approves the addition or subtraction, a new certificate is sent. This process must be completed each time a grade level is added or removed.

About 96%

85%