Article Processing Charges

1) APC rate (current)

Item Applies to Amount (USD) Notes
Article Processing Charge (APC) All accepted articles (research, reviews, QI, case reports/series, protocols, perspectives) $2,949 Rate reviewed periodically; taxes may apply depending on payer location.

CJNCP has no submission fee and does not add per-figure, color, or supplementary-file surcharges for standard online publication. Authors unable to pay may request a waiver/discount (see Section 6).

2) What the APC covers

Editorial & coordination

  • Final editorial checks and communication post-acceptance.
  • Ethics, consent, and transparency verification; plagiarism and image integrity checks where applicable.
  • Preparation of updates and notices (corrections, expressions of concern, retractions) if needed.

Production services

  • Professional copyediting and language refinement.
  • Layout and typesetting for HTML and PDF; accessibility checks (alt text prompts, contrast, structure).
  • Figure optimization, table QA, and reference validation.

Publishing & stewardship

  • DOI reservation and registration; metadata distribution to discovery services.
  • Open-access hosting with CDN delivery and uptime monitoring.
  • Long-term preservation and archiving of the version of record.
  • Indexing submissions/updates; search engine optimization with structured metadata.

Community & compliance

  • Support for funder and institutional open-access mandates.
  • Article landing-page enhancements (license display, citation tools, sharing widgets).

3) What the APC does not cover

  • Optional print/reprint orders (quoted separately).
  • Specialist services arranged by authors (e.g., advanced illustration, translation, or extensive language polishing beyond standard copyediting).
  • Third-party permissions/licensing fees for reused content (if required by the rights holder).

If you anticipate specialist needs, contact the editorial office—our team can recommend reputable vendors. These costs are independent of the APC.

4) Who pays, and when

Invoicing & timing

  • An invoice is issued upon acceptance to the corresponding author or designated payer (e.g., institution, funder).
  • Standard settlement window: 10–15 business days from invoice date, unless otherwise agreed.
  • Production begins promptly after acceptance; publication follows confirmation of payment or approved waiver/arrangement.

Payment methods

  • Secure card payment (major cards accepted).
  • Bank transfer (include manuscript ID and invoice number as reference).
  • Institutional purchase orders where available (provide PO details in advance).

Receipts are issued electronically. Bank/FX charges are borne by the payer unless your institution’s policy specifies otherwise.

5) No submission fees or hidden surcharges

  • No submission fee: Submitting to CJNCP is free at all stages of peer review.
  • No rejection fees: Articles not accepted incur no charge.
  • No per-figure or color charges: Standard online publication includes reasonable numbers of figures, tables, and supplementary files without extra fees.

Editorial independence

Acceptance decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and clinical relevance. The ability to pay the APC does not influence editorial outcomes. If payment is a concern, submit a waiver/discount request at submission; requests are assessed independently of peer review.

6) Waivers and discounts

CJNCP supports equitable participation in scholarly publishing. Eligible authors may request up to 50% waiver/discount. Requests should be made at submission or during initial checks and must include a brief justification (e.g., lack of funding, trainee-led work, or residency in an economy where publishing costs are prohibitive). Waiver decisions are handled separately from editorial assessment to protect impartiality.

Eligibility signals (illustrative)

  • Affiliation or residence in economies commonly recognized as low or lower-middle income.
  • Demonstrated absence of grant or institutional funds for APCs.
  • Trainee-led submissions or independent researchers without access to APC support.

Request process

  • Indicate your request when submitting, or email the editorial office during initial checks.
  • Provide a short rationale and any supporting documentation your institution requires.
  • We’ll confirm the outcome in writing so you can plan budgeting before acceptance.

Waivers are not applied retroactively after an invoice is issued, except in rare, documented circumstances approved by the Editor-in-Chief. See the dedicated Waiver Policy page for detailed tracks and documentation.

7) Funder and institutional compliance

  • We publish open access under clear licenses and expose machine-readable rights metadata on article pages.
  • Our repository policy allows immediate deposit of the Accepted Author Manuscript and, once published, the Version of Record where permitted.
  • On request, we provide formal quotes/pro forma invoices for grant budgeting and purchase orders.

8) Refunds, duplicates, and chargebacks

After acceptance, APC payments are generally non-refundable because production activity begins promptly. Duplicate payments, verified processing errors, and journal-initiated cancellations prior to publication are handled per the Refund Policy. We prefer direct resolution over card chargebacks for faster outcomes and cleaner documentation.

9) Examples (illustrative budgeting scenarios)

Scenario A — Standard institutional payment

An Original Research article is accepted. The department requests the invoice, quotes the purchase-order number, and pays within 10 business days. Production and publication proceed without delay; the open-access article is posted with a DOI and license statement.

Scenario B — Waiver request approved

A trainee-led QI report from a lower-middle-income economy requests a waiver during submission, demonstrating no grant support. A 50% discount is approved in writing, reflected on the acceptance invoice.

Scenario C — Duplicate payment

An institution accidentally pays by card and bank transfer. The finance office emails both receipts; the duplicate is refunded to the original source, and a confirmation note is added to the invoice record.

Scenario D — Specialist services

Authors commission a third-party illustrator for complex figures. Those vendor costs are external to the APC; the article is published normally, with figure credits included in legends.

10) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions

Do you charge to submit a manuscript?
No. There is no submission fee at CJNCP. Charges apply only if your article is accepted.

Does the APC vary by article type or length?
No. A single rate applies to accepted articles across standard types. Very unusual production needs (e.g., extensive multimedia hosting) are discussed in advance.

How do I budget for APCs in a grant?
Request a formal quote from the editorial office. We will list the APC and any approved waiver/discount so your finance team can allocate funds.

Are there extra charges for figures, color, or supplementary files?
No. Reasonable numbers are included in the APC for standard online publication.

When should I request a waiver?
At submission or during initial checks. Late requests may delay production or be declined after invoicing starts.

Are APCs refundable if we withdraw after acceptance?
Generally no, because production services start promptly. See the Refund Policy and Withdrawal Policy for details and limited exceptions.

11) Contact for quotes and invoices

To request a quote, waiver assessment, or invoice assistance, contact the editorial office via the journal’s official contact page. Include your manuscript title, type, anticipated payer (e.g., institution/grant), and any required tax or vendor documentation.