How to Enroll

Enrolling in self-study is easy.  Self-study enrollment forms are available here or by contacting NAFCC.  Providers complete the form and send it and the required fees to NAFCC.  When NAFCC receives a complete self-study enrollment form the self-study kit is mailed to the candidate.  When providers enroll in self-study they are referred to as accreditation candidates.

If providers will be going through the process as co-providers, each co-providers information must be entered on the self-study enrollment form. 

The Self-study Kit

The NAFCC self-study kit includes the following materials. 

  The Provider Guide to Achieving NAFCC Accreditation

This “how-to guide” takes candidates through each step of the process.  They learn the expectations and requirements of the accreditation process.  The Guide includes handy forms and charts to record professional development and quality improvement goals.  It also contains a place to store documentation necessary for the accreditation application and observation.  As an added bonus, the Provider Guide includes a chapter that encourages candidates to develop their own professional portfolios, a valuable marketing tool for their programs. 

Quality Standards for NAFCC Accreditation

This publication organizes the 289 Quality Standards into the five content areas; Relationships, The Environment, Developmental Learning Activities, Safety and Health, and Professional and Business Practices.

NAFCC Benchmarks to Quality

This publication organizes the 289 Quality Standards into four levels, allowing candidates to break self-study into manageable pieces.  Candidates track their own progress as they move closer to completing self study.  It also helps candidates set realistic professional development goals and offers recognition milestones to celebrate accomplishments during self-study.

Parent Packets

This information is designed to answer questions parents might have about accreditation. Parents will understand the benefits of accreditation to them and their families and learn how they can support their provider during this exciting professional development endeavor.

“NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct” and Commitment Letter

NAFCC has a firm commitment to uphold the highest ethical standards in the early care and education field and has adopted the “NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.”  The code “offers guidelines for responsible behavior and sets forth a common basis for resolving the ethical dilemmas encountered in early care and  education…”(NAEYC 2005).  As part of the NAFCC Accreditation process, providers are expected to sign a letter of commitment to the Code.