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Extended Accreditation Term

In 2019, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission announced that the accreditation term will be extended from five to seven years for land trusts successfully completing their third renewal. This new term recognizes the hard work and commitment of land trusts that have achieved accreditation for 15 consecutive years or longer while maintaining the high standards of the accreditation process.

Eligibility

Any land trust that is applying for its fourth consecutive accreditation term (which is awarded after a third renewal application) qualifies for a seven-year extended term. One way to think of it is, has your land trust been accredited for at least 15 consecutive years? If so, your land trust qualifies!

Extended Term Timeline

Once renewed, your land trust can expect to hear from the Commission at specific times over the seven-year term. Below is an example of activities and communications you can expect and when, but the times for individual land trusts may vary.

Extended Term Report

Your land trust’s third renewal application will contain familiar components that your organization has seen in its previous renewal rounds. During the extended term, there will be an Extended Term Report that will ensure the integrity of the accreditation seal and will help build your fourth renewal application. Let's explore each of the familiar and new areas:

The third renewal application and process will be the same as previous applications for first and second renewal. As in previous renewal rounds, to complete the application on or before your land trust's assigned due dates, your land trust will use the:

As with your land trust's previous two applications, the focus of the renewal application is on your land trust's activities over the past five years as an accredited land trust. There are no additional sections of the application for third renewal

Please note that while the application has not changed, please ensure that the correct version of the Accreditation Agreement is signed.

Review of your land trust's application for third renewal will be in accordance with the procedures and policies that are already in place for all renewal applications. The same is true for the Commission decision.

To ensure the integrity of the accreditation seal and to build your land trust's application for its fourth renewal, a mid-term Extended Term Report will be required. The Commission understands that over an accredited term, a land trust and the land trust movement can change. The Extended Term Report requires the land trust to provide a few general updates; the report also provides the land trust the option to submit additional information. Through this report, the land trust and Commission can identify areas the land trust needs to strengthen before submitting its next renewal application.

  • Timing – Generally, a land trust can expect the report to be due in the third year of its extended accredited term. The Commission will contact the land trust about a year prior to give notice of the specific due date. The report must be submitted online via the Accreditation Management System (AMS).

  • Review of Extended Term Report – The land trust can expect to hear back from the Commission within approximately three months of submitting the report. If the land trust elects to submit the optional information, the Commission will review it and share feedback about any areas where the land trust can take action to strengthen its next application. In the rare event the land trust has a major organizational change not yet reported, the Commission may require additional information.

  • Cost for Extended Term Report – There is no additional fee for the Extended Term Report. The accreditation fee is all inclusive. See Extended Term Fee section below, for more information.

Fees

The extended term fee is all inclusive, meaning it covers the application review, the Extended Term Report, outreach calls, any consultations over the accredited term with Commission staff, and all other accreditation actions and activities (except appeals).

Application fees for the extended term will follow the same guidelines as previous renewals with the exception that the application fee will be pro-rated to a term of seven years (e.g., a $10,000 fee for five years is $2,000/year; so, a seven-year fee would be $14,000).

Extended Term FAQs

The seven-year term is not optional. This avoids confusion and avoids having a two-tier system where some land trusts after third renewal have a five-year term and others have a seven-year term.

Staying connected with the Commission is easy and encouraged! Land trusts can reach out to staff through our website or by calling the office. Questions about requirements, how to approach an Expectation for Improvement (EFI) or general accreditation questions are always welcomed.

The Commission also has a compliance confirmation policy where a land trust is required to notify the Commission when there are major changes in the organization.

There is no additional fee associated with the Extended Term Report. The extended term fee (due at the time of application) is all inclusive, meaning it covers the application review, the Extended Term Report, outreach calls, any consultations over the accredited term with Commission staff, and all other accreditation actions and activities (except appeals).

What's Next?

Prepare your land trust for the renewal process.

Learn More