National Association for Family Child Care Accreditation Process
NAFCC's Accreditation is designed to be a continuum of professional development and quality improvement.
Self-Study Enrollment
This is the first step toward becoming accredited. Candidates receive a self-study kit with the tools to guide them through their self-study process. During self-study, providers evaluate themselves and their programs using the Quality Standards for NAFCC Accreditation and make quality improvements.
Accreditation Application
When candidates believe they have reached their professional development goals and have made the necessary quality improvements in their programs, they commit to completing accreditation by submitting an accreditation application. At this time, NAFCC assesses candidate eligibility.
NAFCC Accreditation Application
Observation Visit
Once NAFCC verifies eligibility, an NAFCC trained observer is assigned to visit the program and conduct an observation. The observer gathers information based on the Quality Standards and objectively documents what is seen and heard.
Accreditation Decision
NAFCC reviews documentation from the observer and the candidate, as well as data from the parent surveys. The NAFCC Accreditation Commission uses that information to determine the candidate’s accreditation status.
Annual Updates
Annual updates are required to maintain accreditation during the 3-year accreditation term and offer a way for accredited providers to update NAFCC about their programs during the accreditation period. As part of annual updates, providers will regularly assess themselves and their programs to ensure continuous compliance with the Quality Standards for NAFCC Accreditation. They will also verify that they continue to meet all eligibility requirements and report their professional development activities and quality improvements they have completed during the year.
NAFCC Accreditation Annual Updates
Re-accreditation
Providers display an on-going commitment to the profession of family child care when they pursue re-accreditation.