Please follow the steps below to complete and submit an application:

• Determine if your system is eligible to be qualified by the DLC and meets the NLC Technical Requirements.
  • Create or log into your MyDLC account.
    If you have not done so already, create a MyDLC account with the DLC. Once logged in, select the manufacturer you will be submitting on behalf of. Enter the Application Portal by clicking on the blue Application Portal button. Note that this button is only accessible for manufacturers and users authorized to submit applications. Quick-start guides on creating a MyDLC account can be found here.
  • The DLC recommends that the application be completed by a person with deep technical knowledge of the lighting system, such as a product manager or engineer. For faster processing, this person should be readily available through the duration of the application review process to answer any technical questions the DLC has on the submitted application. Experience has shown that applications submitted by sales, marketing, or administrative staff often lack important details which delay overall processing.
• Completing the Application:
  • Gather all of the reference documents needed to reference the functionality of the system.

• Start a new application
  • Select the program and application type you wish to submit, name the application for your reference, and select the manufacturer you are submitting on behalf of.
  • If you plan to submit multiple applications in a related family of systems, contact info@designlights.org to request a phone call to develop the application plan and sequence of applications. In most cases, you should complete one parent application first, and then additional family applications after the parent has been reviewed.

• Complete the online application questionnaire.
  Complete the application questionnaire ensuring that all required questions are answered and every answer is referenced with a supporting documentation for verification.  A common issue that usually delays the qualification timeframe is that claimed features are not supported by references in the application. Your answers will be auto-saved, and you may exit and return to the questionnaire at any time.
• The following documents are required for each application:
  • Warranty document(s): Legal warranty document explaining warranty terms and conditions.
  • Terms of Use Statement (signed after filling out the application form).
  • Private Label Form and Agreement, if applicable (completed via DocuSign).
  • All product literature and supporting documentation required by the Application Form.
• For “Required” capabilities, the references must be publicly available on a website, and/or included with the product packaging, and/or provided to the customer upon request. It should not be a document produced for the sole purpose of obtaining DLC qualification without further use for customers.
• Whenever possible, the DLC prefers to receive a public-facing marketing document, such as might be posted on a product website or sent to a potential customer. For some questions, the answer may be a screenshot or short video clip showing how to use an app or software program to achieve a particular result.
• Complete the Terms of Use agreement and submit the application.
  Application reviews will not begin until the application is submitted. Once you have clicked “Submit,” you will be presented with the Terms of Use agreement that includes the Logo Guidelines Compliance Statement, Surveillance Testing Compliance Statement, and Safety Certification Compliance Statement. Full text of the agreement is available here. Sign the agreement to submit your application.
• For those applicants who do not have the appropriate level of authority to agree to the Terms of Use, it is recommended that the signing authority create a DLC account under your company’s organization and digitally sign off once the application is complete.
• Application reviews will not begin until the application is submitted.
• Private Label applications are not submitted until after the Private Label agreement is completed in Docusign.
• Receive invoice from DLC and make payment.
  • The DLC will accept credit cards, check, or EFT
  • For New OEM applications, after the initial review complete an invoice will be issued. Once the invoice is paid, there will be a comprehensive review of the “Reported” capability information provided. After completion of the comprehensive review the system will be published on the QPL.
• For New Private Label applications, there is no initial review. After the comprehensive review is complete an invoice will be issued and upon payment the system will be published on the QPL.

• The DLC will provide feedback on the status of your application via the application portal.
  • You will receive notifications when a reviewer sends you a message regarding your application and must respond to these messages in the application portal which includes adding additional documentation.
  • Application materials submitted outside of the portal will no longer be accepted.
  • If your application is missing information, required information is insufficiently documented, or the provided information shows the system does not meet the Technical Requirements. The DLC will identify the specific areas in the application that need attention and allow you to fix problems and errors and resubmit. An application showing the system does not meet the Technical Requirements may not be resubmitted; it must be submitted as a new application with updated application materials and appropriate application fee.