(A)The Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) may consider an agency to have met a certification requirement if the agency can document to the satisfaction of ODJFS that it has met a comparable requirement to be accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation organization.

(B)The agency requesting such consideration shall submit a written request to the assigned ODJFS district office licensing specialist at the time of application for initial certification or at recertification, with the following documentation:

(1)A copy of the certificate, license or award letter of accreditation;.

(2)A copy of the written accreditation report;.

(3)A copy of any corrective action plans and the approval from the accreditation organization of such plans; and.

(4)Specific documentation on which certification requirements are met by accreditation, including a copy of the standards met.

(C)ODJFS may accept accreditation in lieu of certification requirements, in part or whole, after considering the following:

(1)Comparability of the accreditation organization's standards to ODJFS requirements; and

(2)Extent of compliance with the accreditation organization's standards.

(D)(C)If the accreditation organization does not have a comparable standard to an ODJFS certification requirement, the agency shall meet the ODJFS certification requirement.

(E)(D)The acceptance of accreditation in lieu of an ODJFS certification requirement is restricted to the accreditation period or current ODJFS certificate, whichever expires first.

(F)(E)The acceptance of accreditation in lieu of an ODJFS certification requirement rests solely at the discretion of ODJFS. The refusal of ODJFS to accept accreditation, in whole or in part, shall be final and shall not be construed as creating any rights to a hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.