The process to pursue designation as an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education begins well before the submission of the initial application. It begins by engaging in discussions about whether you are ready to apply and the category in which you will apply. Once these decisions have been made, the formal process begins with the submission of the initial application by October 15th. The consultant visit is typically scheduled sometime in February or March, and the final application is due by May 15th. Notification of the award occurs in July, and the actual presentation is made at the NLN Education Summit in September. The formal process, therefore, takes approximately nine months.