Step 4: Initial review by APCO for complete submission

Upon submission of these required materials, documentation and application fee, APCO International Staff will conduct an initial review of the material to check all materials have been received and steps completed as required by the application process. NOTE: The reviewers can only approve the program based upon the materials submitted. This requires strict reliance upon the applicant to submit all necessary documentation and materials. The initial review by APCO International Staff is designed to detect missing documentation or materials; however, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required documentation has been submitted.

If staff detects any information is missing, the agency POC will be contacted to submit the information needed. Depending on the amount of missing documentation or completeness of the application, the submission date of the application may be changed to the date the application is deemed complete. It is extremely important for the agency to ensure completeness before final submission, especially if wanting to qualify for the early submission discount and/or to be considered for recognition at the upcoming APCO Annual Conference and Expo.

Step 5: Review

Subject Matter Experts will be assigned to review the application and supporting documentation for compliance with APCO ANS 3.103.1-2010.

Should the review reveal any deficiencies in the submitted material, the applicant will be contacted by email and given an opportunity to address these deficiencies by providing supplemental materials or correcting erroneous information in the current review cycle. This will be done by accessing the online application and uploading further information in the areas highlighted by red text. The colors of the tabs will also assist in navigating to these areas.

A deadline to complete the needed information will be included within the email. If documentation has not been received by the deadline, the review will be delayed and the agency will be contacted regarding possible next steps. A written request to extend the deadline may be requested by the agency, but it must be received before the deadline. Depending on when the application was submitted and how many requests for information preceded the outstanding inquiry, the application may be suspended for the next round of review or denied certification. Please refer to the APCO Agency Training Program Certification application Guidelines for more information.

The agency POC will receive an email stating when the review has been completed. The email will notify the agency that no further information is needed and the review has been completed. This will not include the results of the review, an official notification will be sent (see below).

Step 6: The Declaration

Upon completion of the review, the P33 Certification Sub-Committee will provide their recommendation for the Agency’s Training Program to the Call Center Standards Committee regarding APCO Agency Training Program Certification.

Approval
A formal letter will be sent to the agency from the Chair of the Call Center Standards Committee notifying them of their certification award before July 1. Agencies achieving Training Program Certification will be recognized at the APCO International Annual Conference and Exposition, depending on when the application was submitted.

APCO International will produce a press release announcing the certification and assist the agency with planning public relations activities once APCO has made the official announcement. After certification has been achieved, the agency may place the certification mark on training materials, Web site and other approved items. Certification is good for three years from the date recognized at conference or until the standards have been updated, whichever happens first, never to exceed three years.

Denial of Certification
If certification is not granted, the agency will receive a formal letter from the Chair of the Call Center Standards Committee including information on deficiencies. If the review does not indicate the submitted program meets the standard or the submitted materials are otherwise lacking sufficient documentation to conduct a thorough review, the applicant shall receive notice of eligibility of an extension. No additional application fee is required. The applicant is solely responsible for making a formal request for the extension in writing to APCO International’s Comm Center & 9-1-1 Services Staff, 351 N. Williamson Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 within thirty (30) days of notification of certification denial. Agencies failing to receive certification after a second review will be required to reapply for certification in a subsequent review cycle and submit a second non-refundable application fee.

Final Submission

Please review the application, standards and supporting documentation and explanations provided for completeness before final submission. Once the final submit below is completed, the application cannot be accessed again until after the review.