• NAEYC Accreditation
  • Join NAEYC
  • Online Store
  • Get Involved
  • Find Accredited Programs
  • Log In
    • Overview
    • TORCH Login
    • Program Record Login
    • AFP Login
  • Standards and Criteria
    • Introduction to Standards & Criteria
    • View Standards & Criteria
    • Provide Feedback on the Standards & Criteria
  • Forms
  • Fees
    • Accreditation Fees
    • Scholarships
  • Get Help & Resources
    • Overview
    • TORCH
    • Program Record
    • Local Support
      • AFPs
      • Affiliates
    • Scholarships
    • Academy Newsletters
    • Contact Us
    • FAQs
      • General
      • Enrollment
      • Self-Study
      • Application
      • Self-Assessment
      • Candidacy
      • Educational Qualifications
      • Site Visit
      • Maintaining Accreditation
      • Annual Report
      • Self-Report
      • Reaccreditation
      • Additional Verification and Random Unannounced Visits
      • Extensions
  • Compliments & Complaints
    • Overview
    • Feedback on Programs
    • Feedback on Accreditation System
    • Feedback on Standards & Criteria
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • NAEYC Academy
    • NAEYC Assessors
    • Accreditation Program Support
    • Council for NAEYC Accreditation
  • Contact Us
  • Interested in Accreditation
  • Pursuing Accreditation or Reaccreditation
  • Currently Accredited Programs
    • Requirements for Maintaining
    • The Annual Report
    • Self Report Changes
    • Additional Verification
    • Random Unannounced Visits
    • Pursuing Reaccreditation
    • Extensions
    • Appeals
    • Voluntarily Relinquish
  • Accreditation Facilitation
  • Families and the Public
Home

Requirements for Maintaining NAEYC Accreditation

Print Bookmark and Share

Your program has worked hard to achieve NAEYC Accreditation and we applaud you.  An NAEYC-Accredited program is the mark of quality in early childhood education - display your NAEYC accreditation certificate with pride!

The second phase of Step 4 in the four-step accreditation process is entitled "Maintaining the Standards" and extends throughout the five-year term of accreditation.  In order to maintain accreditation, all curerntly accredited programs must: 

  • Submit an Annual Report on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th accreditation anniversaries.
  • Self Report major programmatic changes and licensing violations to the NAEYC Academy within an established timeframe.
  • Submit to Random Unannounced Visits and/or Additional Verification.
  • Pursue Reaccreditation according to the timeline for currently accredited programs.


Programs accredited after September 15, 2006 must maintain Candidacy requirements throughout their term of accreditation. Read more about maintaining Candidacy requirements.

  • NAEYC Home
  • NAEYC Accreditation
  • Join NAEYC
  • Online Store
  • Get Involved

© National Association for the Education of Young Children — Promoting excellence in early childhood education

1313 L St. N.W. Suite 500, Washington DC 20005 (202) 232-8777 | (800) 424-2460 | webmaster@naeyc.org