2021 SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Effective January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. All fees are in U.S. Funds
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INTERNATIONAL CANDIDACY FEE
Candidacy is the beginning process for an international nursing program seeking accreditation with the ACEN.
Fee for each international nursing program - $3,500.00
A one-time fee per international program, after the submission of the required Candidacy Eligibility Application. The Candidacy Eligibility Application will not be processed until the fee is paid. The fee covers the entire candidacy mentoring program and the entire candidacy period.
Consultation visit fee (per representative, per day ) - $1,000.00 plus all direct expenses related to visit*
International nursing education programs determined to be eligible for International Candidacy will be scheduled for a mandatory onsite consultation visit. Programs are billed for any expenses incurred prior to the visit (e.g., visa processing, flights, etc.) and then billed for any remaining expenses after the visit. International programs should expect two ACEN representatives. The total number of days for the visit will be determined by the ACEN Staff.
* Refundable business class fares; ACEN will book flights for all representatives/peer evaluators.
INTERNATIONAL INITIAL ACCREDITATION FEES
Initial accreditation is the first review process for an international candidate nursing program seeking accreditation with the ACEN.
Initial Accreditation Fees
Charged only when the service is performed.
Initial accreditation fee - $3,500.00
A one-time fee per international program, charged after the submission of the required Information Form.
Site visit fee (per peer evaluator, per day) - $1,000.00 plus all direct expenses related to visit*
Charged upon approval and scheduling of the initial accreditation site visit. International programs should expect a minimum of three peer evaluators (additional peer evaluators may be needed depending on the complexity of the nursing program). The total number of days for the visit will be determined by the ACEN Staff.
* Refundable business class fares; ACEN will book flights for all representatives/peer evaluators.
Accreditation Fee
Prorated, as appropriate, based on date initial accreditation is granted.
Accreditation fee for first/only nursing program (within the same nursing education unit) - $3,000.00
= x% of $3,000 for that calendar year only.
Fee for each additional program (within the same nursing education unit) - $1,250.00
= x% of $1,250 for that calendar year only.
INTERNATIONAL CONTINUING ACCREDITATION FEES
Once an international program has been granted initial accreditation, continuing accreditation is the cyclical review process for an accredited nursing program to maintain accreditation with the ACEN.
Accreditation Fee
Accreditation fee for first/only international nursing program (within the same nursing education unit) - $3,000.00 per calendar year
Charged on an annual basis for first/only international program.
Fee for each additional program (within the same nursing education unit) - $1,250.00 per calendar year
Charged on an annual basis for each additional program.
Periodic Fees
Continuing accreditation review fee - $3,500.00 per calendar year
A one-time fee per international program, charged one year in advance of the continuing accreditation site visit.
Site visit fee (per peer evaluator, per day) - $1,000.00 plus all direct expenses related to the visit*
Charged upon approval and scheduling of the continuing accreditation site visit. International programs should expect a minimum of three peer evaluators (additional peer evaluators may be needed depending on the complexity of the nursing program). The total number of days per visit is determined by the ACEN Staff.
* Refundable business class fares; ACEN will book flights for all representatives/peer evaluators.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FEES
Additional service fees which may be incurred during initial accreditation or continuing accreditation processes. Charged only if and when a service is performed. Not applicable to all international programs.
Focused visit fee - $3,500.00 plus all direct expenses related to the visit*
A focused visit is a site visit authorized by the ACEN Board of Commissioners to review significant accreditation-related information disclosed about an internationally accredited nursing program as a result of one or more program changes.**
* Refundable business class fares; ACEN will book flights for all representatives/peer evaluators.
** (a) A substantive change; (b) Information revealed about a program between periods of scheduled review; (c) Information received from the governing organization’s accrediting body related to an adverse action; (d) Information received from the program’s state regulatory agency for nursing related to a change in its status; (e) Information revealed by a program during the Evaluation Review Panel process; (f) Information received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding a program’s compliance responsibilities under Title IV of the Higher Education Act such as information related to a program’s most recent student loan default rates, the results of financial or compliance audits, program reviews, and any other information that may be provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Reprocessing/Rescheduling site visit fee - $1,500.00
Fee is charged for rescheduling any already scheduled site visit – initial accreditation visit, continuing accreditation visit, focused visit, or follow-up visit.
Follow-Up Visit
A follow-up visit is a site visit authorized by the ACEN Board of Commissioners to review an internationally accredited nursing program when the program is granted one of the following: (a) Continuing Accreditation with Warning, (b) Continuing Accreditation for Good Cause, and in selected cases (c) Continuing Accreditation with Conditions.
Continuing accreditation review fee - $3,500.00
A one-time fee per international program, charged in advance of the follow-up visit; invoice date TBA.
Site visit fee (per peer evaluator per day) - $1,000.00 plus all direct expenses related to the visit*
The total number of days for the visit will be determined by the ACEN Staff.
* Refundable business class fares; ACEN will book flights for all representatives/peer evaluators.
International Advisory Review Fee
An Advisory Review is an optional service for an ACEN-accredited program to receive feedback from an ACEN professional staff member regarding draft accreditation documents as the program prepares for continuing accreditation. Charged only if and when a service is performed. Not applicable to all programs.
Advisory review fee (video/tele-conference) – $1,500.00
Fee for each additional program (within the same nursing education unit) – $750.00 plus all direct expenses
Advisory review fee* (on site) – $4,000.00
Fee for each additional program (within the same nursing education unit) – $750.00 plus all direct expenses related to the visit**
* Fees include the assigned professional staff member’s preparation time required to necessitate the Advisory Review. Fees do not include travel expenses (e.g., travel, food, lodging, etc.), which will be invoiced separately. The total number of days per visit is determined by the ACEN Staff.
** Refundable business class fares; ACEN will book flights for all representatives/peer evaluators.
Appeal Fee
The Appeal Fee applies only to an international program denied initial accreditation or continuing accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners and the program chooses to appeal the Board’s decision.
Notice of intent to appeal fee (per program) – $10,000.00
Appeal process fee (per program) – $20,000.00
Administrative appeal fee – $5,000.00
Binding Arbitration Fee
The Binding Arbitration Fee applies only to a program denied initial accreditation or continuing accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners that have been fully and finally determined by a written decision of the Appeal Committee and the program chooses to appeal the Board’s decision.
Binding Arbitration Fee (per program) – $35,000.00
*(a) A substantive change; (b) Information revealed about a program between periods of scheduled review; (c) Information received from the governing organization’s accrediting body related to an adverse action; (d) Information received from the program’s state regulatory agency for nursing related to a change in its status; (e) Information revealed by a program during the Evaluation Review Panel process; (f) Information received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding a program’s compliance responsibilities under Title IV of the Higher Education Act such ad information related to a program’s most recent student loan default rates, the results of financial or compliance audits, program reviews, and any other information that may be provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
– Payment of fees to the ACEN is an obligation for recognition as an accredited program. Payment of fees to the ACEN is an obligation for recognition as a candidate program..
– The ACEN invoices programs for all evaluation processes and an annual accreditation fee.
– Per Policy #7 Voluntary Withdrawal from ACEN Accreditation, the ACEN will deem as a voluntary withdrawal from accreditation any refusal or failure of an accredited program to pay its fees and expenses when due.
– Membership with another organization (i.e. NLN, OADN, etc.) is NOT required to be accredited by the ACEN.
