Pathway to Excellence Program Fees
2026 Pathway to Excellence® Application & Appraisal Fee Update
All Pathway applications submitted on or after February 1, 2026, will be subject to the 2026 Pathway Application & Appraisal Fee Schedule.
These updates ensure the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) can continue advancing the highest standards of nursing excellence. Through participation in the Pathway to Excellence Program, organizations contribute to the advancement of nursing excellence—supporting ongoing work that strengthens the nursing profession and healthcare worldwide.
Applied Before February 1, 2026?
Applications submitted before February 1, 2026 remain under the 2022 fee structure. Click here to view the 2022 fee schedule.
2026 Pathway Application & Appraisal Fee Structure:
Invoices will be uploaded to the Online Application Portal one month prior to the document submission date, and payment is due within 30 days of receipt. The Appraisal and Support Services Fee must also be paid within 30 days of invoicing. The appraisal process will begin once payment is received. Fees are determined based on the number of licensed beds or visits per year.
- Applicant Registration Fee - $4,750.00 (Fees apply to all health care organizations, including long-term care facilities)
- Fee is due at time of registration, is non-refundable, and is subject to change
- Includes membership to the Pathway Learning Community
- Appraisal Review Fees (Fees apply to all health care organizations including long term care institutions. If you’re an ambulatory setting, please contact the Pathway Program Office.)
- Appraisal Fee
- Based on licensed bed size (see chart below); fee for additional campus(es) included.
- Annual Payment (year 1, 2 and 3 post-designation year)*
- Based on licensed bed size (see chart below)
- Due every year on designation month
- Appraisal Fee
- Actual Payment (year 1, 2, and 3 post-designation year)*
- Based on licensed bed size (see chart below)
- Due every year on designation month
International Tax Notice: International organizations may be required by applicable law to pay or withhold taxes from any payment to ANCC. International organizations are responsible for paying the full fees to ANCC exclusive of any non-US taxes or withholdings. International organizations are responsible for any required withholdings or taxes owed in addition to payment of the full fees to ANCC. ANCC may require international organizations to provide proof of such tax payment or withholding to the applicable tax authorities
All fees are in USD, subject to change, and are non-refundable or transferable.
Questions? Contact pathwayinfo@ana.org.
| APPLICATION REGISTRATION | DATE DUE | FEE |
| All applicants | Submission of Pathway Applicant registration | $4,750.00 |
APPRAISAL REVIEW FEES
| LICENSED BED SIZE: <50-100 | DUE DATE | FEE |
| Appraisal Fees | Document Submission | $16,530.00 |
| Year 1 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 1 | $5,510.00 |
| Year 2 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 2 | $5,510.00 |
| Year 3 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 3 | $5,510.00 |
| Total over 4 years | $33,060.00 | |
| Application registration fee for redesignating organizations | 8 months before Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
| Appraisal Fee for redesignating organizations | Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
*N/A if not designated
| LICENSED BED SIZE: 101-299 | DUE DATE | FEE |
| Appraisal Fees | Document Submission | $23,718.00 |
| Year 1 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 1 | $7,906.00 |
| Year 2 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 2 | $7,906.00 |
| Year 3 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 3 | $7,906.00 |
| Total over 4 years | $47,436.00 | |
| Application registration fee for redesignating organizations | 8 months before Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
| Appraisal Fee for redesignating organizations | Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
*N/A if not designated
| LICENSED BED SIZE: 300-399 | DUE DATE | FEE |
| Appraisal Fees | Document Submission | $30,906.00 |
| Year 1 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 1 | $10,302.00 |
| Year 2 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 2 | $10,302.00 |
| Year 3 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 3 | $10,302.00 |
| Total over 4 years | $61,812.00 | |
| Application registration fee for redesignating organizations | 8 months before Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
| Appraisal Fee for redesignating organizations | Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
*N/A if not designated
| LICENSED BED SIZE: 400-599 | DUE DATE | FEE |
| Appraisal Fees | Document Submission | $38,094.00 |
| Year 1 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 1 | $12,698.00 |
| Year 2 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 2 | $12,698.00 |
| Year 3 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 3 | $12,698.00 |
| Total over 4 years | $76,188.00 | |
| Application registration fee for redesignating organizations | 8 months before Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
| Appraisal Fee for redesignating organizations | Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
*N/A if not designated
| LICENSED BED SIZE: 600-699 | DUE DATE | FEE |
| Appraisal Fees | Document Submission | $43,845.00 |
| Year 1 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 1 | $14,615.00 |
| Year 2 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 2 | $14,615.00 |
| Year 3 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 3 | $14,615.00 |
| Total over 4 years | $87,690.00 | |
| Application registration fee for redesignating organizations | 8 months before Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
| Appraisal Fee for redesignating organizations | Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
*N/A if not designated
| LICENSED BED SIZE: 700+ $45 for each bed over 700 |
DUE DATE | FEE |
| Appraisal Fees | Document Submission | $43,845.00+ |
| Year 1 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 1 | $14,615.00+ |
| Year 2 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 2 | $14,615.00+ |
| Year 3 Annual Payment* | Designation anniversary year 3 | $14,615.00+ |
| Total over 4 years | $87,690.00+ Actual fees depend on bed size |
|
| Application registration fee for redesignating organizations | 8 months before Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
| Appraisal Fee for redesignating organizations | Designation anniversary year 4 | See fee calculator or contact the Pathway Program Office |
ALGORITHM FOR PATHWAY APPLICANTS WITH REMOTE LOCATIONS
| IN-PATIENT CARE ORGANIZATIONS (E.g., Hospital, LTC facilities |
FREE STANDING AMBULATORY CARE ORGANIZATIONS (E.g., Clinics, ED, Urgent Care, Infusion Center, Medical Groups, Dialysis Center) |
|
| STEP 1 | Is the organization primarily compromised on in-patient beds? If yes, see steps below and fees for in-patient beds. ELIGIBILITY | Is the organization compromised of out-patient services only? If yes, see steps below and contact pathwayinfo@ana.org for ambulatory organization fees |
| STEP 2 | Is the CNO accountable for nursing practice across the organization? See CNO Role Defined | Is the CNO accountable for nursing practice across the organization? See CNO Role Defined |
| STEP 3 | Is the applicant organization comprised of remote locations (additional geographic locations outside of the primary site)? If yes, do the remote locations meet the Pathway to Excellence campus* definition? | Is the applicant organization comprised of remote locations (additional geographic locations outside of the primary site)? If yes, do the remote locations meet the Pathway to Excellence branch** definition? |
| STEP 4 | If yes, may be eligible to include campus(es) in a single Pathway application. Email pathwayinfo@ana.org for additional campus information.Attach nursing service organizational chart and a brief description of nursing operations. | If yes, may be eligible to include branch(es) in a single Pathway application. Email pathwayinfo@ana.org for additional branch fees.Attach nursing service organizational chart and a brief description of nursing operations. |
|
*Campus = For Pathway purposes, campuses are remote care sites of an in-patient organization (e.g., Hospital, Rehab, LTC facilities). The CNO of the applicant organization is accountable for nursing practice at the campus(es). The executive leadership and Board of Directors are shared across the applicant site and campus. Policies and procedures are the same for the applicant site and campus, as are ancillary resources. Campuses typically provide services to augment the full set of services offered at the primary site. If the additional campus is an acute care setting, the nurses are shared between the acute care sites. See more. |
**Branch = For Pathway purposes, a branch is a remote care site of a free-standing ambulatory care organization (e.g., Clinics, ED, Urgent Care, Infusion Center, Medical Groups, Dialysis Center) that provides only ambulatory services. The CNO of the applicant organization is accountable for nursing practice at the branch(es). The executive leadership and Board of Directors are shared across the applicant site and branches. Policies and procedures are the same for the applicant site and branches, as are ancillary resources. |
Depending on availability, applicants requesting a Pathway Standards Document extension may choose from the subsequent 2 submission cycles. Applicants requesting to extend beyond 2 submission cycles must reapply.
Extension Fee: $1,500.00
Due if/when an organization requests an extension prior to 30 days of the approved document submission date.
Appraisal Preparation Cancellation Fee: $2,500.00
Due if/when an organization requests an extension within 30 days of the approved document submission date.
Nurse Survey Translation Fee: $2,500.00
Due with Appraisal Process fee when translation of the Pathway Survey is required.
Nurse Survey Extension Fee: $2,000.00
Due if/when an organization requests an extension for the Pathway Survey.
International Organizations:
Documents must be submitted in English. Organizations outside of the US needing translation of the nurse survey must contact the Pathway Program Office immediately to discuss additional fees.
International Tax Notice: International organizations may be required by applicable law to pay or withhold taxes from any payment to ANCC. International organizations are responsible for paying the full fees to ANCC exclusive of any non-US taxes or withholdings. International organizations are responsible for any required withholdings or taxes owed in addition to payment of the full fees to ANCC. ANCC may require international organizations to provide proof of such tax payment or withholding to the applicable tax authorities
Payment Terms
All fees must be paid by check or credit card in the online application portal.
Remit Address:
ANCC Pathway
P.O. Box 7411531
Chicago, IL 60674-1531
Overnight Address:
ANCC Miscellaneous/7411531
540 W. Madison Street, 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661
Updated January 15, 2026