WHAT IS THE NA PROCESS?

Not Applicable (NA) options are located intermittently throughout the standards and allow your organization, prior to the site visit, to take an NA on a specific standard or set of standards within a section. An NA is typically found directly under a standard or set of standards (see example 1). When your organization decides that an NA is applicable, you must be prepared to provide evidence that supports that determination.

You are also required to provide a list of all NAs applicable to your organization as an attachment in the narrative template.

When a standard does not include an NA option and your organization believes that a standard (or set of standards) is not applicable, an NA Request Form must be completed and submitted to your COA Coordinator via fax, e-mail, or mail for approval (see example 2). To download a copy of this form, see the Related Files. To expedite the process of evaluating the NA request, documentation in support of the NA should be included with the form. Documentation could include a board-approved policy, a procedure, a report, or minutes from a meeting. Forms are reviewed, approved or denied, and sent back to your organization typically within five business days.

Approved forms must be included in the Self-Study document in the applicable standards section.

If the request is denied, your Coordinator will explain why and will provide further information regarding how you should respond to the standard.