Apply for accreditation

To show your commitment to public safety and become part of a government-backed initiative to protect the public, apply for our Accredited Registers Quality Mark.    

You can apply for an initial assessment against Standard One before a full application – or submit a full application against Standards One to Nine.  

Here are three main boxes we need to tick during the application process:

  • Does your register meet Standard 1? This standard must be met before a full assessment can proceed. If you're unsure, you can ask us for a preliminary assessment against this Standard for a separate fee of £1,406
  • If Standard 1 is met, we then assess if your register meets Standards 2-9
  • We carry out an impact assessment.

Seven steps to accreditation:

Step One: Check our guidance

Read our guidance on applying for accreditation and the Standards for Accredited Registers, including our minimum requirements set out in the Evidence Framework.

Step Two: Talk to our team

Our accreditation team will provide further information and answer any initial questions. They can help you decide whether to apply for an initial assessment against Standard One and support you through the process.  

You can contact the team:

Step Three: Complete an application form

Download an application form for Standard One.  

If you are submitting a full application after your initial Standard One assessment has been completed, you must also download Standards Two to Nine.

You must make a payment in full at this stage. You can find out more about fees in our Accreditation Fees Guidance. The Accredited Registers programme is run on a not-for-profit basis. Our Fees are made up of two parts: a new application fee and an annual fee once accredited. Fees for 2024-25 are set out in our guidance. 

Before you submit your application, please be aware of our Freedom of Information statement.

Notification of applying for both Standard One and full applications will be published on our See who is applying webpage.  

Step Four: Consulting the public

An important step in the accreditation process is to ask stakeholders to share their views on the effectiveness of a register through our Share Your Experience process. We use this information to inform our assessment against all our Standards throughout the process. 

Step Five: Assessment process

If you have submitted a preliminary application for Standard One, the accreditation team will assess whether the Standard is met based on the evidence provided and we will ask one of our Accreditation Panels to decide.  

If successful you will be invited to submit a further application for us to assess you against Standards 2-9. Once you have submitted a full application (Standards 1-9) we will assess it. This includes:

  • a full review of your documentation 
  • interviews with your Chief Executive, Chair, Registrar and other relevant staff 
  • observation of a meeting of the governing board/committee 
  • observation of a professional conduct hearing 
  • site visit 

Step Six: Decision

When we have enough evidence for a decision to be made, we will arrange for an Accreditation Panel to consider your application.

Panels may award accreditation, adjourn to request further information or to issue further actions that need to be met before accreditation can be awarded,  or refuse accreditation – although this last outcome is rare. If accreditation is awarded, further requirements (called Conditions) or Recommendations for best practice may also be issued.  

If a register disagrees with a decision it may appeal. Please read our Appeals Policy Guidance first.  

Step Seven: Announcing Accreditation

If your accreditation application is successful, we will confirm our decision in writing. Shortly after, we will publish a news statement on our website announcing our decision to accredit your register. We encourage you to do the same.  

Some organisations benefit from a discussion with us on how to raise awareness of their new status as an Accredited Register with stakeholders.