Sequential Credential Fees
The ICONIC Board uses a tiered fee structure that reflects the increasing depth of review required at each credential level. Entry-level credentialing is intentionally priced to be accessible. Senior-tier fees reflect the extensive committee review, doctoral verification, and examination administration involved at those levels.
| Tier | Credential | Application Fee | Annual Renewal (IBC-HHC™) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | IBC-HHA™ | $149 | $75 / year |
| II | IBC-HHP™ | $199 | $149 / year |
| III | IBC-HHE™ | $449 | Included in membership |
| IV | IBC-HHD™ | $495 | Included in membership |
| V | IBC-DHH™ | $795 | Included in membership |
| VI | IBC-HHF™ | $0 (Board-Conferred) | Included in membership |
| — | IBC-HHC™ (entry) | $95 (initial) | $75 / year |
Note on IBC-HHC™: The IBC-HHC™ designation denotes active credential maintenance (the "Continuing" or "Current" suffix). Entry-level practitioners who hold only the IBC-HHA™ pay a $95 initial maintenance fee and $75 annually thereafter. Practitioners at Tier III and above have annual maintenance included with their membership — no separate fee is required.
Parallel Designation Fees
Parallel designations are specialty credentials that can be held alongside any sequential tier credential. They recognize advanced competency in a specific modality or scope of practice. Each parallel designation has its own application fee and annual renewal rate, independent of the sequential credential fees.
| Designation | Full Name | Application Fee | Annual Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBC-HHS™ | Holistic Health Specialist | $195 | $145 / year |
| IBC-HHS-SV™ | Holistic Health Specialist — Senior Validated | $345 | $245 / year |
| IBC-HHX™ | Holistic Health Expert | $295 | $195 / year |
| IBC-HHR™ | Holistic Health Researcher | $395 | $295 / year |
What Each Fee Covers
The ICONIC Board application fee is an all-inclusive credentialing fee. It is not split into separate review, issuance, and listing fees. The single application fee covers:
- Document review and verification — all submitted materials are reviewed by a credentialing specialist.
- Eligibility assessment — confirmation that you meet all prerequisites and documentation requirements for the tier.
- Committee review (Tier III and above) — your application is reviewed by a panel of credentialing committee members.
- Credential issuance — your official credential document, verification number, and designation authorization.
- First-year directory listing — your name and credential appear in the ICONIC Board's public practitioner directory for one year from the date of approval.
- Examination administration (IBC-DHH™ only) — the written and applied examination scheduling, proctoring, and scoring are included in the $795 examination fee.
The application fee does not cover:
- The cost of your underlying training or education program.
- Continuing education credits required for annual renewal.
- Physical certificate printing and mailing (available as an optional add-on at the time of issuance).
- Rush processing fees (if applicable).
- Certified translation fees for non-English documents.
Refund and Cancellation Policy
ICONIC Board application fees are non-refundable once the review process has been initiated. The review process is considered initiated when a credentialing reviewer has been assigned to your application, which typically occurs within 3–5 business days of submission.
If you wish to withdraw your application before a reviewer has been assigned, you may request a 50% partial refund by contacting the board within 5 business days of your submission date. After a reviewer has been assigned, no refund is available regardless of the outcome of the review.
If your application is declined, the application fee is not refunded. You may reapply once you meet all requirements, and the full application fee applies to the new submission. There is no expedited reapplication path.
If you withdraw your application at any point after a reviewer has been assigned, the fee is forfeited. This policy reflects the significant staff time invested in reviewing each application.
"We set our fees at a level that allows practitioners at every stage of their career to invest in credentialing without financial hardship — while maintaining the integrity of the review process that makes the credential meaningful."
Payment Plans
Payment plans are available for the two highest-fee sequential credential applications:
- IBC-HHD™ ($495): Split into two payments of $247.50. First payment due at submission; second payment due within 30 days.
- IBC-DHH™ ($795): Split into two payments of $397.50. First payment due at submission; second payment due within 30 days.
The review process begins only after the first payment is confirmed. If the second payment is not received within 30 days, the application is placed on hold. Payment plans must be arranged with the board before submitting your application — they cannot be set up retroactively after submission.
Payment plans are not currently available for Tier I (IBC-HHA™), Tier II (IBC-HHP™), or Tier III (IBC-HHE™) applications. Parallel designation payment plans are also not available at this time.