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ACCREDITATION

What Is Accreditation?

Accreditation is formal recognition that a Chamber of Commerce / Board of Trade has met the highest national standards of excellence in leadership, governance and operations.

To become accredited, a Chamber of Commerce / Board of Trade must pass a rigorous review of its policies and procedures by the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada (CACC). The CACC promotes Accredited Chambers of Commerce / Boards of Trade for standing out as exceptional organizations and leaders in the Chamber network.

The standards of accreditation are a framework of policies, procedures and practices that set a strong foundation for success as a Chamber of Commerce / Board of Trade. The standards of Accreditation were first created in 2004 by a team of Chamber executives, in conjunction with provincial and territorial chambers and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

What Are The Benefits of Accreditation?

Your Chamber of Commerce / Board of Trade can acquire a range of benefits through Accreditation, including:

Establishing dependable governance policies and procedures;
Aligning with baseline standards and best practices that build resilient core operations;
Sharpening your Chamber’s strategic focus;
Growing your Chamber’s competitive edge and encouraging member engagement;
Showcasing your community as a great place to do business, backed by an exceptional Chamber of Commerce/Board of Trade;
Verifying to your Board of Directors and membership that you are running a high quality Chamber with good governance;
Strengthening your Chamber’s brand and credibility with corporate sponsors; and
Providing assurance to grant funders that your Chamber has robust financial policies in place and can deliver impactful projects with reliable reporting.

The CCAC publicly congratulates all accredited Chambers through a press release and provides these Chambers with official accreditation logos that can be used to promote their status.

What Is The Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada?

The Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada (CACC) is a non-profit formed to oversee the Accreditation of Chambers of Commerce / Boards of Trade in Canada. The CACC is governed by a Board of Directors made up of provincial Chamber executives from across Canada.

How Do Chambers Become Accredited?

Chambers of Commerce / Boards of Trade seeking Accreditation must submit the application form before the following deadlines:

Round 1 Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 (for decision on June 13th, 2024)

Round 2 Application Deadline: Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 (for decision on October 2nd, 2024)

Applications for Accreditation, along with the required documentation, must be submitted to the CACC Executive Director, Deneen Belliveau by email at: ExecutiveDirector@CCEC.biz

Applications for Accreditation are reviewed by provincial Chamber executives volunteering as Board members with CACC.

Accreditation applicants will be notified shortly after a decision has been made about their application. Annually in October, CACC publishes a press release announcing new and re-Accredited Chambers over the past year, and provides successful applicants with official Accreditation logos and promotional materials to share the news about their Accreditation.

How Much Does It Cost?

Accreditation costs vary based on the size of the Chamber of Commerce / Board of Trade:

$150 for Small Chambers (Less than 100 members and/or less than $100k total Chamber revenues)

$300 for Medium Chambers (100 to 500 members and/or $100k to $500k total Chamber revenues)

$400 for Large Chambers (Over 500 members and/or over $500k total Chamber revenues)

Once approved, accredited status is valid for five years, after which the Chamber of Commerce / Board of Trade must apply for re-accreditation. All re-accreditation applications cost $150.

Apply Now!

Download the application form here.

Download the application guide here.

Submit your completed application form and supplementary documentation to: ExecutiveDirector@CCEC.biz

Applications submitted throughout 2024 will receive a 5-year Accreditation from 2025-2029.