Agencies are not required to achieve Accreditation upon Certification. They may be re-certified or pursue Accreditation. Agencies electing to pursue Accreditation upon Certification may request an assessment when they are ready for one; it is not necessary for the agency to wait until its next scheduled assessment.
If an agency’s assessment for initial Accreditation occurs within twelve months of its assessment for Certification, only the additional mandatory and optional standards for Accreditation will be reviewed, and the assessment will be conducted in two days, by two assessors. If the agency’s assessment for initial Accreditation goes beyond the twelfth month, all standards for Accreditation will be reviewed and the assessment will be conducted in three days, by three assessors.