Fees
Fees are published in full, fixed in advance, identical for every program in a tier, and never affected by the outcome of a review. Tiers are based on annual enrollment, so a single-instructor program is not asked to pay for an institution's review.
Sized to your program
Tier is set by enrollments in the most recent twelve months across all programs you submit. Choose the tier when you apply; we confirm it at document review. Multi-site and multilingual delivery does not change your tier.
Independent
Established
Institutional
Every fee, in one table
Effective for applications received on or after January 1, 2027. Fees are reviewed annually by the Finance & Audit Committee and any change is published 90 days before it takes effect.
| Fee | Tier A | Tier B | Tier C | When it is paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial accreditation | ||||
| Eligibility review | Free | Free | Free | Before applying; non-binding |
| Application fee | $450 | $750 | $1,200 | With application; non-refundable |
| Initial review fee | $1,950 | $3,250 | $4,900 | On self-study submission; covers two reviewers, document review and virtual review |
| On-site review travel | At cost, capped at $2,500 per review | Only when an on-site review is required; invoiced after the visit | ||
| Candidate status | $650 | $950 | $1,400 | For programs without a completed cohort; credited toward the initial review fee if you apply within 18 months |
| Maintaining accreditation | ||||
| Annual sustaining fee | $895 | $1,650 | $2,750 | Each anniversary of accreditation; covers directory listing, mark license, annual report review, complaints handling |
| Reaccreditation review (every 5 years) | $1,450 | $2,450 | $3,650 | In year four, with the reaccreditation self-study |
| Substantive change review | $350 | $350 | $500 | When a reported change requires a focused review |
| Focused review (conditions follow-up) | $600 | $900 | $1,200 | When accreditation is granted with conditions requiring verification |
| Linked programs (same organization) | ||||
| Linked application | $650 per additional program | With the primary application | ||
| Linked initial review | 60% of the tier's initial review fee | When reviewed in the same cycle as the primary program | ||
| Linked annual fee | $400 per additional program | Annually | ||
| Other | ||||
| Appeal filing fee | $750, refunded in full if the appeal is upheld | With notice of appeal, within 30 days of decision | ||
| Late annual report | $150 after 30 days; accreditation suspended after 90 | Avoidable | ||
| Reinstatement after lapse | Current annual fee plus $250 | Within 12 months of lapse; after that, reapply | ||
| Expedited review | Not offered | Every program is reviewed in order of submission | ||
Included and not included
Your fees include
- ✓An assigned accreditation coordinator for the whole process
- ✓The self-study template and reviewer rubric for your discipline
- ✓Two trained reviewers, document review and a virtual review visit
- ✓Two optional check-in calls during self-study preparation
- ✓Written findings on every standard, pass or fail
- ✓Directory listing, verification page and the ICPCAS Accredited mark
- ✓Annual report review and complaints handling while accredited
- ✓Review in the language of instruction, at no surcharge
Not included
- –Consulting to write your self-study or redesign your curriculum. We review; we do not prepare. (A list of independent consultants is available; none are affiliated with ICPCAS.)
- –Reviewer travel for on-site visits (billed at cost, capped)
- –Translation of your documents if they are not in a language ICPCAS reviews in
- –Any state, provincial or national registration your program may separately need
- –Certification of your graduates; that remains your program's role
Benchmarked against accreditors you already know
ICPCAS fees were set by comparing the published schedules of established program accreditors in allied health and continuing education, then adjusting for the size of a typical non-clinical care program. The goal: a serious, independently reviewed accreditation that a single-instructor doula program can afford, and that an institution recognizes as priced like the real thing.
| Accreditor | Application / review | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| IACET (continuing education providers) | $495 + $4,290 | $1,095 |
| CAHIIM certificate programs | $2,500–2,750 | $500–750 |
| NCOPE / CAAHEP (O&P programs) | $2,100 + $1,200 | $1,890 |
| ASHA CAA (clinical programs) | $6,000–8,000 + site visit | $2,311–2,674 |
| NCCA (certification bodies) | $2,892–3,854 | $6,870–7,565 |
| ICPCAS Tier A / B / C | $2,400 / $4,000 / $6,100 | $895 / $1,650 / $2,750 |
Comparator figures are from each organization's published fee pages as of October 2026 and may have changed; they are shown to explain how ICPCAS fees were set, not as a recommendation. ICPCAS figures combine application and initial review fees.
Accreditation should not be only for programs that can already afford it
Community program reduction
Programs that primarily train practitioners serving Medicaid-enrolled, low-income, rural, Indigenous or immigrant communities may apply for a reduction of up to 40% on application, review and annual fees. Decided by staff against published criteria, not by the Committee, so it cannot influence a review.
Payment plans
Initial review fees may be paid in three installments over the self-study period at no additional cost. Annual fees may be split into two payments.
Lower-income countries
Programs based in countries classified by the World Bank as low or lower-middle income pay Tier A fees regardless of size, and on-site travel caps are reduced.
Payment and refunds
- Currency. All fees are in U.S. dollars. Card, ACH and international wire are accepted; wire fees are the program's.
- Application fee is non-refundable once the application is accepted into the portal.
- Initial review fee is refunded in full, less $200, if you withdraw before reviewers are assigned; 50% if you withdraw after assignment but before the review visit; not refundable after the visit.
- Annual fees are not refundable, including on voluntary withdrawal.
- No fee is contingent on outcome. A denied program pays exactly what an accredited program pays.
- Gifts and donations from applicant or accredited programs are not accepted beyond published fees.
About fees
Why do you charge an annual fee?
Accreditation is a continuing relationship, not a one-time inspection. The annual fee funds the directory and verification service, review of your annual report, handling of any complaints, monitoring of substantive changes, and the standards-development work that keeps the accreditation meaningful. It is also how ICPCAS stays financially independent of grants and donors.
Can we pay less if we are denied?
No. Fees are identical regardless of outcome, by design: if a denied program paid less, the Commission would have a financial incentive to accredit. See Governance & Independence.
What tier are we if enrollment fluctuates?
Use the most recent twelve months at the time of application. If you cross a tier boundary later, your annual fee adjusts at the next anniversary; we do not re-bill mid-year, up or down.
Do reviewers get paid by us?
Reviewers receive a fixed honorarium from ICPCAS, not from the program, and it does not vary with the outcome. Programs never pay reviewers directly.
Is there a discount for nonprofits?
Not on nonprofit status alone; some nonprofits are large institutions. The community program reduction is based on who your graduates serve, which is a better test of need.
What does the five-year cost actually come to?
Tier A: $2,400 in year one, then $895 a year, for $5,980 over five years before reaccreditation. Tier B: $4,000 then $1,650, for $10,600. Tier C: $6,100 then $2,750, for $17,100. Linked programs add $650 up front and $400 a year each.
Will fees go up?
Fees are reviewed annually by the Finance & Audit Committee. Any change is published at least 90 days before it takes effect and never applies to an application already in progress.
Start with the free eligibility review
No fee, no commitment, a written answer within 15 business days.