APPLICATION PROCESS FOR AIRC™ CERTIFICATION

STEP ONE - Review the Standards and Process

Representatives of organizations considering applying for AIRC Certification must first review the AIRC Certification Process and Standards Manual. This can be downloaded here.

STEP TWO - Complete the online application

STEP THREE - First Payment point at Application - U.S. $2,000 (Non Refundable)

Payment options include credit card, check, or wire transfer. An invoice and payment instructions will appear upon completion of the application.

STEP FOUR - Letter of Intent

Applicants must submit a signed letter of intent from the agency’s chief executive officer setting forth the reasons for the organization’s interest in AIRC Certification and stating that he or she has read and understands the AIRC standards and requirements for certification. The letter of intent may be uploaded with the application or sent separately to (info@airc-education.org).

STEP FIVE - Candidacy

Upon receipt of the application materials and fee the AIRC Board of Directors will conduct a background check and vote on whether the organization should be accepted as a CANDIDATE for certification.

The decision of the AIRC Board of Directors to advance an applicant to candidacy is based on an initial review and background check of the financial stability and ethical reputation of the organization as well as its compliance with local laws and regulations. The review is based on the information provided in the application and additional information secured from the public record and such additional background checks into prior business practice and ethical behavior as the Board deems appropriate and are conducted in accordance with AIRC requirements.

The review will include the applicant’s principal officers and persons or entities with a 20% or greater ownership interest. The decision to permit an applicant to become a Candidate for Certification only allows the Certification Process to begin and does not in any way suggest that an agency will successfully be certified. An organization that has been granted candidacy for certification is not permitted to publicize such status in any manner.

STEP SIX - Second payment point at Candidacy

Once an organization is approved to become a candidate for certification it will be required to pay U.S. $5,000 (non-refundable). This covers the cost of the review process and must be paid prior to the commencement of certification review.

STEP SEVEN - Certification

Upon advancing to Candidacy the application materials are passed to the Director of Certification who operates independently of the AIRC Board of Directors. The Director of Certification will guide the candidate organization through the self study, arrange for an on-site review, and convene the Certification Board which votes on the Certification based on the assembled materials. This process is described in detail in the AIRC Certification Process and Standards Manual referred to above. All communications between the candidate and the Director of Certification remain confidential within the confines of the Certification Process.

The on-site review will be conducted at a headquarters office during which time the AIRC reviewer will meet with the organization's leadership. In addition to headquarters staff, the agency is asked to provide at least one person from each branch office if the agency has 2-4 offices; or 25% of the branch offices represented with a minimum of 5 representatives if the agency has 5 or more offices.

During the on-site external review, one or more AIRC external reviewers will be asked to carry out a review which will take place over the course of 3 days: Day 1: Arrival; Day 2: the External Review; and Day 3: Report Writing. The agency is expected to pay the costs of travel and accommodation for the designated AIRC external reviewer.

STEP EIGHT - Call for Comments

At the time of Candidacy AIRC will also post a notice on its website announcing the organization’s candidacy for certification and inviting comments from the public regarding the organization’s compliance with the AIRC standards. The comments received remain confidential within the Certification Process.

STEP NINE - Certification Decision

The AIRC Certification Board meets twice a year and reviews all candidacies which are complete at the time of the Certification Board meeting. Within two - three weeks following the meeting of the Certification Board the Director of Certification will send a letter to the Candidate Agency announcing the decision of the Certification Board.

STEP TEN - Membership

Assuming successful Certification, the organization will become an agency member of AIRC. In order to maintain active Certification status agency members are required to pay the third Certification payment point which is the first year’s membership fee - U.S. $3,000.

After the first year of membership, Certified agencies pay the annual membership fee based on the following schedule:

U.S. $2,000 - Small Agencies (Placing fewer than 500 students globally annually)
U.S. $4,000 - Large Agencies (Placing 500 or more students globally annually)

I have read and acknowledge all of the above steps including the standards and fee structure, and wish to continue the application process

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