Accreditation Return Schedule
This page is where you'll find the latest information on the Museums Accreditation return schedule.
The schedule
The schedule
An award of Full Accreditation is usually valid for approximately five years, we would then invite your museum to provide a return- to show that you’re still complying with the Accreditation Standard.
Since the pause of the scheme in 2020-2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been taking a phased approach to re-opening the Accreditation scheme in England. This means that some museums would have had their Accreditation award extended for longer than five years.
Last year we published an interim schedule which covered our expected rollout until December 2023. This group mostly includes museums whose last award date was before February 2015.
We are pleased to be able to share the return schedule for those fully Accredited Museums which are due to submit in the first portion of 2024.
Full accreditation award
Full accreditation award
If your museum holds a Full Accreditation award you do not need to wait for your invite or return date to begin preparing for your return, especially if you know you have policies and plans that are due for a review or update soon. See Maintaining the requirements of the Accreditation standard between returns for more information about what you can prepare in advance.
Find out about maintaining the requirements of the Accreditation standard between returns
Keeping in touch
Keeping in touch
You can keep up to date with the latest updates to the Scheme (plus wider news from the Museums and Cultural Property team at Arts Council) via the quarterly museums newsletter.
We also recommend keeping in touch with your regional museum development team as we’ll also share any updates with them.
content listing
Have a look at the museums interim schedule
Find out more about the Return schedule 2024 and beyond
Find out about maintaining the requirements of the Accreditation standard between returns