Charges Policy
Clinical Journal of Nursing & Clinical Practice (CJNCP) provides a transparent, equitable fee policy. There are no submission charges at any stage of peer review. An Article Processing Charge (APC) is requested only upon editorial acceptance, supporting open access publication and long-term stewardship. We also outline optional services, administrative fees related to author-initiated withdrawal, taxes and invoicing practices, and our waiver framework to ensure equitable participation in scholarly publishing.
1) Policy summary at a glance
- No submission fees: Submitting a manuscript is free. Rejected papers incur no charge.
- APC only upon acceptance: The APC applies after editorial acceptance and does not influence acceptance decisions.
- No hidden surcharges: No per-figure, per-table, or per-supplement fees for standard online publication.
- Optional services: Reprints/prints and other optional services are available on request and billed separately.
- Withdrawal administrative fees: Stage-based fees may apply when authors withdraw after editorial resources have been expended (see Section 7).
- Waivers and discounts: Eligible authors may request up to 50% waiver/discount according to our Waiver Policy (request at submission).
2) Article Processing Charge (APC)
The APC supports professional editorial and production services to deliver an open, accessible version of record. It is assessed per accepted article, regardless of author count, and invoiced to the corresponding author or designated payer.
What the APC covers
- Editorial checks and coordination following acceptance.
- Professional copyediting, layout/typesetting (HTML/PDF), and figure quality assurance.
- DOI reservation and registration; metadata distribution to discovery services.
- Secure online hosting, accessibility enhancements, and uptime monitoring.
- Long-term preservation and archiving of the version of record.
- Indexing submissions and updates to record changes (corrections/retractions).
What the APC does not cover
- Optional print/reprint orders.
- Third-party permissions fees for reused content (if any).
- Language polishing beyond standard copyediting (author’s choice of vendor).
- Specialist services (complex illustration, translation) arranged by authors.
If specialized services are needed, our office can suggest vendors; these costs are independent of the APC.
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, request a waiver/discount at submission; the request is handled separately from peer review.
3) No-fee items and “no hidden charges” commitments
- No submission fees: Initial checks, similarity screening, and peer review are free to authors.
- No rejection fees: Articles not accepted incur no charges.
- No per-figure or per-supplement surcharges: Reasonable numbers of figures, tables, and supplementary files are included in the APC for standard online publication.
- No color charges: Color figures online are included; there are no color surcharges.
- No page charges: We do not levy page-based fees.
4) Rate card and formal quotes
CJNCP maintains a transparent APC rate card on the journal website. If you require a formal quote or pro forma invoice (e.g., for a grant or institutional purchase order), contact the editorial office with your tentative title and manuscript type. We will provide a written quote including any approved waiver/discount.
| Item | Applies to | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article Processing Charge (APC) | Accepted research and review articles | See the APC page for the current rate | Waivers/discounts up to 50% may apply per policy. |
| Submission fee | All submissions | $0 | No submission or rejection fees. |
| Withdrawal administrative fee | Author-initiated withdrawals after certain stages | $0–$949 (stage-based) | See Section 7 and the Withdrawal Policy for details. |
| Optional reprints/prints | On demand | Quoted | Shipping/taxes vary by country. |
5) Invoicing, payment methods, and timelines
Invoices and due dates
- Invoices are issued upon acceptance to the corresponding author or nominated payer.
- Standard settlement window: 10–15 business days from invoice date, unless otherwise agreed.
- Production proceeds in parallel; publication follows confirmation of payment or approved waiver/arrangement.
Payment methods
- Secure card payment (major cards accepted).
- Bank transfer (include invoice number and manuscript ID as reference).
- Institutional purchase orders, where available (provide PO details for the invoice).
Receipts are issued electronically. Bank charges and FX conversion costs are borne by the payer unless your institution specifies otherwise.
6) Taxes, compliance, and payer information
- VAT/GST and local taxes: Taxes may apply depending on payer location and current regulations. Provide your institution’s tax details (e.g., VAT number) when requesting the invoice.
- Currency: Invoices are issued in USD unless a different currency is agreed in writing for institutional payers.
- Documentation: If your finance office requires a vendor form or W-8/W-9 equivalent, contact us early to avoid delays.
7) Withdrawal administrative fees (author-initiated)
To respect reviewer and editorial time, CJNCP may apply a stage-based administrative fee when a manuscript is withdrawn by authors after certain editorial milestones. These fees are independent of APCs and apply only in the event of withdrawal.
| Editorial stage at request | Fee (USD) | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Before similarity screening | $0 | Minimal handling to date. |
| After screening, pre-external review | $349 | Editorial checks and admin time incurred. |
| After external review invited/received | $549 | Reviewer time and coordination costs incurred. |
| After acceptance / during proofs | $949 | Production, DOI/metadata preparation already underway. |
In public-interest ethics cases (e.g., emergent patient-safety concerns), the Editor-in-Chief may reduce or waive these fees. See the Withdrawal Policy for full details.
8) Refunds, duplicates, and chargebacks
After acceptance, APC payments are generally non-refundable because production work begins promptly. Duplicate payments, verified processing errors, and journal-initiated cancellations prior to publication are handled according to the Refund Policy. Direct resolution with CJNCP is preferred over card chargebacks for faster outcomes and clearer documentation.
9) Waivers and discounts
CJNCP supports equitable participation through a waiver program offering up to 50% discounts for eligible authors (e.g., authors in certain economies, genuine funding constraints, editorial initiatives, trainee-led work). Requests should be made at submission or during initial checks; decisions are independent of editorial outcomes. See the Waiver Policy for eligibility tracks, documentation, and timelines.
Request timing
Submit waiver/discount requests at submission. Late requests risk delaying production or may be declined once invoicing begins.
10) Optional services (on request)
Reprints and printed copies
- High-quality printed reprints are available on request.
- Pricing depends on quantity, pagination, and shipping destination.
- Taxes and customs duties, if applicable, are the recipient’s responsibility.
Other optional items
- Certificates or letters (e.g., acceptance or publication confirmations) are provided free electronically.
- Specialist artwork, translations, or media production are arranged directly by authors with third-party vendors.
11) Responsibilities of authors and institutions
- Secure internal approvals (e.g., grant or department authorization) prior to acceptance to avoid delays.
- Supply accurate billing details and purchase order numbers early when required by your institution.
- Notify the editorial office promptly about payer changes or special vendor documentation needs.
- Disclose funder mandates that affect licensing or repository deposit so invoices and metadata align with requirements.
12) Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Common questions
Do you charge to submit or for rejected articles?
No. There are no submission fees and no charges for rejected manuscripts.
Are there any hidden charges for figures, tables, or supplementary files?
No. Standard online publication includes reasonable numbers of figures, tables, and supplementary files without extra charges.
Can my institution pay directly?
Yes. We can invoice your institution or process a purchase order if required.
What if we need more time to pay?
Contact us before the due date. Short extensions or staged arrangements may be possible.
Are APCs refundable if we withdraw after acceptance?
Generally no, because production services start promptly. See the Refund Policy for limited exceptions and the Withdrawal Policy for stage-based fees.
When should I request a waiver/discount?
At submission or during initial checks. Requests made later may be declined or delay production.
Do you offer discounts for special issues?
Sometimes. Calls for papers will indicate any discount frameworks or quotas.
13) Governance, updates, and contact
- Versioning: This policy is versioned; the date modified above indicates the current version.
- Review cycle: CJNCP periodically reviews fee structures to reflect community expectations and operational costs.
- Contact: For quotes, invoices, waivers, or vendor documentation, contact the editorial office via the journal’s official contact page. Include your manuscript ID, invoice number (if issued), and a concise description of your request.