Once you submit your application, NCQA will determine if your organization is eligible for automatic accreditation. If you apply before February 1, 2013 and NCQA determines your organization is eligible for automatic accreditation then NCQA will award the accreditation status in the first quarter of 2013. If you apply after February 1, 2013 and NCQA determines your organization is not eligible for automatic accreditation then NCQA will award the accreditation status about two months after you apply.
If upon review of your application, NCQA determines that your organization is eligible for automatic accreditation, NCQA staff will contact you to schedule a date to start your Exchange Add-on survey and issue an ISS tool to you to complete and submit on the start date. If your organization achieves accreditation then the status will be awarded about three months after the start of the survey.
Note that NCQA posts accreditation status updates on its Web site once a month on the 15th of each month for statuses effective as of the end of the previous month.