Accreditation is awarded for a period of five years at which point a land trust must renew its accreditation. To design the renewal process, the Commission formed a committee in the fall of 2010 and contracted with an accreditation expert to outline renewal options for consideration. The committee included current and former commissioners (including representatives of accredited land trusts), Land Trust Alliance board members whose land trusts are accredited, and an Alliance staff member. The Commission adopted the framework recommended by the committee in summer 2011, and that framework is reflected in the Applicant Handbook.

Accredited land trusts planning and preparing for renewal should download and read the following documents:

• The Applicant Handbook (revised June 2012), which includes information on the renewal process; 
• The Requirements Manual (introduced June 2012; second edition released April 2013), which augments and replaces the information previously published in the Commission’s Guidance Documents and now provides, all in one manual, information on the elements the Commission evaluates for every indicator practice; and
• The Application for Renewal of Accreditation reference edition (released June 2012).
• The User Manual (2MB) for the application for renewal online system, which includes information about logging into the online application system, uploading and referencing documents, etc. 

For your convenience in completing forms required for renewal, below are individual templates for your use:

• Land Conservation Project List (required as part of the pre-application),
• Renewal of Accreditation Agreement (required as part of the pre-application),
• Renewal of Accreditation Board Resolution (required for practice 1D documentation).
• Schedule of Dedicated and Restricted Funds (required for practice 6B documentation),
• Project Documentation Checklist (updated 4/23/13 effective for applications due after June 2013; one is required for each project selected by the Commission) and 
• Final Submittal Certification (download, sign, scan and upload as part of Final Submittal Certification).
• Renewal Time Tracking Form. This form is optional; it will be requested by the Commission and need only be provided if the land trust opted to track the time.

If applying with related entities, also review the reference copies of the Addendum for Multiple Corporations – Basic and the Addendum for Multiple Corporations – Intermediate (as applicable; updated 9/20/12).

Note: If your organization is already accredited and its accreditation term expires in 2013 or January 2014, the Commission sent information about your organization's application for renewal due date. The application for renewal due dates in 2013 are as follows:

• 2013 Round 1 application for renewal due date: May 16, 2013 (pre-application due March 14, 2013)
• 2013 Round 2 application due date: November 19, 2013 (pre-application due September 5, 2013)

The Commission has sent your accreditation contact the registration information specific to your organization (this generally occurs within six months of its application due date). To confirm or change your accreditation contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the updated information to the Commission. 

• Land trusts preparing for renewal in 2014 have been assigned to one of the following renewal due dates:
  • 2014 Round 1 application due date: April 17, 2014 (pre-application due January 23, 2014)
  • 2014 Round 2 application due date: October 9, 2014 (pre-application due July 15, 2014)
• Land trusts preparing for renewal in 2015 will receive preliminary correspondence from the Commission in May 2013.

Preparing for Renewal

Accredited land trusts can take steps now to prepare for renewal:

• Read the Requirements Manual carefully to become aware of and better understand changes to the indicator practices and requirements that were published after your land trust was accredited (for example, practice 6D. Financial Review or Audit and practice 9H. Title Investigation).
• Review any expectations for improvement your land trust received and what progress is being made to address them. View a new fact sheet with FAQs about Expectations for Improvement and the Expectations for Improvement web page.
• Plan now to complete an assessment against the full Land Trust Standards and Practices within three years of your application for renewal due date.

• Review the renewal application.

To stay current on accreditation requirements, land trusts are encouraged to review the Requirements Manual and read our monthly eNewsletter which often contains important news and tips on particular standards and practices.

If you have questions, please email Jennifer Brady-Connor, Program Manager, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 518-587-3143.