To advance the quality of senior centers nationwide, NISC has developed nine standards of excellence for senior center operations. These standards serve as a guide for all senior centers to improve their operations today — and position themselves for the future.

NISC also offers the nation's only National Senior Center Accreditation Program. Accreditation provides official recognition that a senior center meets the nine standards of senior center operations.

More than 200 senior centers have been accredited, and many more are in the process. Baltimore County, MD, is the first major metropolitan area to secure national accreditation status for all of its senior centers.

National accreditation status is good for five years, at which time centers revisit the accreditation process.

Why Get Accredited?

"The benefits of senior center accreditation were many for our organization," says Pat Branson, executive director, Senior Citizens of Kodiak, Inc. "We received a Tier 2 remodel grant from an Alaska Foundation and other capital and operating grants from the state. The accomplishment empowered the staff and board and gave pride to the community, funders, and — most importantly — participants.

"I love being able to say that we are nationally accredited and first in the state. Our organization's accountability and quality of services was proven. Going through accreditation also brought community members to the center to see how things are done and offer suggestions for improvements. We had the borough and city mayors, council and assembly members, bankers, lawyers, and accountants — and they are now our community advocates."

Accreditation Resources

• List of Accredited Centers
• Benefits of Accreditation
• Certified Trainers
• Costs
• Process
• Self-Assessment
• BUILDING EXCELLENCE: Senior Center Self-Assessment and National Accreditation Manual CD (NCOA/NISC members can download the standards manual at no cost from the NISC Member Resources page at NCOA.org.)
• NISC Member Resources
• Join NCOA/NISC and download the standards manual at no cost.