Policy 1
Application & Review Process
ICONIC Board accepts accreditation applications on a rolling basis. There are no cohort deadlines or application windows. Schools may submit at any time during the calendar year.
1
Application SubmissionSubmit program documentation via the online application portal. $499 non-refundable application fee due at submission. Incomplete applications are held for 30 days before being closed.
2
Completeness Review (5 Business Days)ICONIC staff reviews the application for completeness. Missing materials trigger a single written request. Applicants have 14 days to provide requested materials before the application is closed.
3
Standards Panel Review (5–14 Business Days)A panel of qualified reviewers evaluates the application against the six domain standards. Panel members are credentialed practitioners with no financial relationship to the applicant institution.
4
Decision Notification (14–21 Business Days from Submission)ICONIC Board issues a written decision: Approved (with accreditation level), Provisional Approval (with conditions), Conditional (with requirements), or Denied (with reasoning and reapplication eligibility date).
5
Onboarding (Within 30 Days of Approval)Approved schools receive their digital accreditation seal, school admin portal credentials, fast-track code pipeline setup, and directory listing. Onboarding coordinator assigned within 5 business days of approval.
Decision Outcomes: Approved | Provisional Approval (2-year) | Conditional (90-day compliance period) | Denied (may reapply after 6 months)
Policy 2
Accreditation Levels
ICONIC Board issues accreditation at three levels based on composite standards scores and operational maturity. All levels include full accreditation benefits and the right to use the ICONIC Accredited School seal.
Provisional
2-year term. For new programs meeting all Required standards. Annual reporting required. Graduates are fast-track eligible during provisional period.
Full
5-year term. For established programs with at least one graduating cohort and documented outcome data. Renewable with satisfactory annual reports.
Distinguished
5-year term. For exemplary programs meeting all Enhanced criteria. "Distinguished" designation appears on directory listing. Reserved for top-scoring programs.
Policy 3
Fee Schedule
All fees are flat-rate regardless of school size, enrollment, or geography. ICONIC Board does not charge tiered or revenue-based fees.
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|
| Initial Application Fee | $499 | Non-refundable. Due at submission. |
| Annual Renewal Fee | $249 | Due 60 days before accreditation anniversary. Covers all discipline paths. |
| Additional Discipline Path | $199 | Per path, at time of initial application or renewal. |
| Late Renewal Penalty | $75 | Applied if renewal submitted after anniversary date. Status remains active during 30-day grace period. |
| Reinstatement Fee | $299 | Required after administrative suspension. Includes review of compliance documentation. |
Payment: All fees payable via credit card through the school admin portal. Fees are reviewed annually; schools are notified of any changes 90 days before the next renewal cycle.
Policy 4
Renewal & Compliance
Accreditation is renewed annually (fee) and comprehensively every 2 or 5 years depending on accreditation level. Schools must remain in continuous compliance with accreditation standards between reviews.
Annual Renewal: Schools receive a renewal reminder 60 days before their accreditation anniversary. Renewal requires payment of the $249 annual fee and confirmation of Good Standing compliance. Processing time: 5–10 business days.
Comprehensive Review: At the end of each accreditation term (2 years for Provisional, 5 years for Full/Distinguished), schools undergo a full standards re-evaluation. Programs may advance levels at comprehensive review.
Material Changes: Schools must notify ICONIC Board within 30 days of: ownership or leadership changes, changes to curriculum exceeding 25% of content hours, addition of new discipline paths, or changes in primary delivery modality.
Faculty Changes: Changes to primary faculty teaching core curriculum must be reported within 60 days. Schools are not required to report adjunct or substitute faculty changes unless they become permanent.
Policy 5
Annual Reporting Requirements
All accredited schools must submit an Annual Compliance Report each year by the deadline specified in their accreditation agreement (typically 60 days before the annual renewal date).
Required Report Components:
Program completion rates by cohort or enrollment period
ICONIC credential application rate for recent graduates (where trackable)
Current faculty roster with credentials
Curriculum summary with any material changes noted
Student grievance or complaint summary (de-identified)
Signed institutional attestation confirming Good Standing compliance
Late Submissions: Reports not received within 30 days after the deadline trigger a Good Standing review. Schools in default on reporting will have accreditation suspended pending resolution.
Policy 6
Good Standing Requirements
Schools must maintain Good Standing status to retain active accreditation and to issue fast-track codes to graduates. Good Standing requires all of the following:
Current on all ICONIC Board fees (annual renewal paid, no outstanding balances)
Annual Compliance Report submitted and accepted
No outstanding accreditation deficiencies or unresolved conditional requirements
No pending investigations for standards violations or ethics complaints
Fast-track codes issued only to program completers who meet ICONIC credential eligibility criteria
Policy 7
Appeals Process
Schools may appeal any adverse accreditation decision — including denial, conditional requirements, suspension, or accreditation level assignment. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the decision date.
Grounds for Appeal: Material error in the review process, new information not available at time of review, or procedural irregularity in the review panel process.
Submission: Written appeal with supporting documentation submitted via the school admin portal. Appeals must clearly identify the decision being appealed and the specific grounds.
Review Timeline: Acknowledgment within 5 business days. Final decision within 30 business days. Appeals are reviewed by a panel that did not participate in the original decision.
Status During Appeal: Accreditation status remains active during a pending appeal, except in cases of immediate suspension for safety or ethics violations.
Policy 8
Suspension & Revocation
ICONIC Board may suspend or revoke accreditation for material violations of accreditation standards, non-compliance with reporting or fee requirements, or conduct that brings discredit to the profession.
Administrative Suspension (temporary, curable): Triggered by non-payment of fees, late or incomplete annual reports, or unresolved conditional requirements. Schools have 30 days to cure before revocation proceedings begin.
Revocation (permanent, 12-month reapplication bar): Initiated after 30-day remediation notice goes unaddressed, or immediately for egregious violations including misrepresentation of accreditation status, fraud, or demonstrated harm to students.
Grounds for Revocation: Repeated failure to meet standards after remediation, falsification of annual report data, use of ICONIC seal after accreditation lapse, or conduct constituting fraud or misrepresentation to prospective students.
Policy 9
Confidentiality
ICONIC Board treats school application materials, annual reports, and review panel deliberations as confidential. These materials are not disclosed to third parties except as required by law or with written consent of the school.
Public Information: A school's accreditation status, accreditation level, accreditation date, and any publicly issued suspension or revocation is treated as public information and may be disclosed in response to public inquiries or published in the ICONIC school directory.
Final revocation decisions are disclosed publicly by school name. The specific grounds for revocation are not published unless required for the protection of students or the public.