The Journal of Clinical Nephrology (JCN) is an open-access journal committed to providing high-quality publishing services while maintaining transparency in publication charges. As part of our open-access model, the journal requires an Article Processing Charge (APC) to cover editorial, production, and archiving costs.

Article Processing Charge (APC)

To sustain the open-access publication model, authors are required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) of $2589 USD upon acceptance of their manuscript. This charge supports:

• Editorial processing and manuscript evaluation.
• Double-blind peer review and quality assurance.
• Typesetting, formatting, and final production.
• Open-access hosting, indexing, and long-term archiving.
• Digital preservation through Portico and etc..

When is the APC Payable?

The APC is payable only after the manuscript has successfully passed peer review and has been accepted for publication. Authors will receive an official invoice with payment instructions.

Waiver and Discount Policy

JCN aims to support researchers from all backgrounds and provides waivers or discounts in the following cases:

• Authors from low-income and lower-middle-income countries (as classified by the World Bank) may apply for a partial APC waiver.
• Corresponding authors with no institutional funding may request a discount on APCs.
• Authors submitting high-impact research of exceptional quality may be eligible for a discount based on editorial discretion.

Authors seeking an APC waiver must submit a formal request at the time of initial manuscript submission. Requests made after peer review will not be considered.

Additional Fees (If Applicable)

While the APC of $2589 USD covers standard publication costs, certain additional services may incur fees:

• Article Withdrawal: As per the Withdrawal Policy, withdrawal after editorial processing may attract fees.
• Language Editing Services: If required, professional language editing services are available for an additional charge.
• Expedited Peer Review: If an author requires fast-track peer review, an additional charge may apply upon request.

Refund Policy

Once the APC has been paid, it is non-refundable. Refunds are not issued in cases where:

• The author withdraws the manuscript after payment.
• The article is retracted due to ethical violations (e.g., plagiarism, data falsification).
• The author decides not to proceed with publication after final acceptance.

For detailed refund policies, please refer to the Refund Policy.

Payment Methods

The APC payment can be made through the following methods:

• Credit/Debit Card: Secure online payment system.
• Bank Transfer: Authors will receive bank details for wire transfer.
• PayPal: Available upon request.

Payment details and invoice instructions will be provided upon manuscript acceptance.

Why Does JCN Charge an APC?

JCN operates as a fully open-access journal, ensuring that all published research remains freely accessible to readers worldwide. The APC covers:

• Editorial and peer-review management.
• Journal hosting and DOI registration via CrossRef.
• Indexing in Google Scholar, BASE, and university libraries.
• Long-term digital preservation (Portico, and PKP PN).

Contact for APC Inquiries

For any inquiries related to APCs, waivers, or payment procedures, please contact the editorial office at assistant-jcn@clinnephrologyjournal.org.