1) Plan Summary
ICC 2026 Certification Plan is limited to 100 certifications issued in North America. Applications are reviewed as they are received and decisions are released on a rolling basis until annual capacity is reached.
2) Capacity & Intake Rules (Rolling Review)

• Annual capacity: 100 certifications issued (not 100 applications received).

• Rolling review: ICC reviews applications continuously and issues Assessment Invitations (“offers”) as candidates qualify.

• Pause of intake: ICC may pause new applications when issuance is projected to reach annual capacity.

• Waitlist: When intake is paused, applicants may request to join the waitlist. ICC may reopen intake if capacity becomes available.

3) Eligibility (Who May Apply)
Applicants should be professional Chinese cuisine chefs working in North America, or chefs with verifiable professional experience who are currently based in North America for work.
4) What You Submit (Evidence Package)

• Identity & contact information

• Professional profile (role, years, kitchen setting)

• Work history (at least one verifiable experience)

• Portfolio evidence (photos/menu/links; recommended 6–12 items)

• One reference (chef/owner/manager/peer)

• Declarations & consent for verification

5) How the Process Works

1. Submit Application (form + uploads)

2. Eligibility Review (completeness + verification checks)

3. Assessment Invitation (Offer)

   • If eligible, ICC issues an Assessment Invitation and payment instructions.

   • Invitations may expire if not accepted by the stated deadline.

4. Standards-based Assessment (format scheduled by ICC)

5. Decision & Issuance

   • If approved: Certificate + Credential ID + Registry verification status

   • If not approved: “Not Yet” decision (no certificate issued)

6) Fees & Payment (Final)
A) Application Processing Fee: $150 (USD)

• Due at submission.

• Non-refundable once review begins. (A non-refundable application/pre-approval fee is common across credentialing programs.)

B) Assessment & Credential Fee: $850 (USD)

• Payable only after receiving an Assessment Invitation.

Payment Plan (for the $850 Assessment & Credential Fee)

• Available upon invitation: 6 months / 6 payments of $150 (total $900)

• Autopay required

• Total includes a $50 payment plan admin fee

• Credential issuance occurs only after the Assessment & Credential Fee is paid in full

7) Refunds, Withdrawals, and No-Shows (Clear, defensible)
Application Processing Fee ($150)

• 24-hour cancellation window: full refund if the applicant requests cancellation within 24 hours of payment and ICC has not started review.

• After review begins: non-refundable.

• If ICC pauses intake before review starts, ICC will either (a) refund the application fee, or (b) hold the fee as a credit for the next open intake window (applicant choice).

Assessment & Credential Fee ($850) / Payment Plan

• If an applicant withdraws before an assessment is scheduled, ICC refunds 70% of the amount paid toward the assessment fee.

• If an applicant withdraws after scheduling but before assessment begins, ICC refunds 55% of the amount paid toward the assessment fee.

• No-show or withdrawal after assessment begins: no refund.
  (Refund windows and forfeiture rules are standard practice in exam/certification programs.)

• Payment plan admin fee is non-refundable.

8) Decisions, Retake, and Appeals (to reduce disputes)
Possible outcomes

• Approved → Credential issued

• Conditional / Additional Evidence Required → ICC-DESK requests specific missing items within a stated deadline

• Not Yet → No credential issued

Retake (if “Not Yet”)

• Retake is available after a waiting period set by ICC.

• Retake fee and scheduling are provided in the decision email.

Appeals (two-track, standard governance)

• Administrative Review (no fee): for alleged administrative or procedural errors (e.g., missing document handling). Must be submitted within the stated timeframe in the decision email.

• Formal Appeal: written appeal reviewed under ICC procedures within the stated timeframe in the decision email.
  (Separating administrative review from formal appeals is common in certification governance.)

9) Verification, Integrity, Suspension/Revocation

• Credential status is verifiable by Credential ID in the ICC Registry.

• ICC may conduct verification checks and audits. Material misrepresentation may result in denial, suspension, or revocation.

10) Ready Employer™ (single, non-promotional statement)
Credential holders may opt in to introductions within the Ready Employer™ 卓越雇主网络. Introductions are not job guarantees; hiring decisions are made solely by employers.
Contact
All inquiries are handled by ICC-DESK: desk@icc.education