The Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC) is the only national accrediting body dedicated exclusively to the quality of operation and services of birth centers, with 40 years of experience in birth center accreditation in 39 states and Washington, DC.  The mission of the CABC is to uphold national standards for high quality care through accreditation, education, and advocacy for community birth.

Read more about the history of CABC.

Accreditation is a rigorous process evaluating a birth center’s compliance with hundreds of specific Indicators or measures.  CABC reviews all aspects of the birth center, including:

• business operations and financial stability
• compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations and guidelines
• facility design and compliance with applicable architectural standards
• staff training and ongoing education and competency assessment
• safety, quality, and appropriateness of clinical care
• collaboration with medical, hospital, and EMS personnel
• continuous quality improvement program and
• data collection to allow evaluation of perinatal outcomes and client experience.

CABC requires sentinel event review by CABC-accredited birth centers and provides a formal complaint process for consumers and other stakeholders.

• Mandatory for Licensure: CABC (Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers) accreditation is required for state licensure in the following states:
  • Connecticut
  • Indiana
  • Illinois
  • Louisiana
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
• Deeming Status: CABC accreditation has deeming authority in these states, meaning it is accepted in lieu of a state inspection:
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Florida
  • Washington
• Medicaid and Insurance Contracting:
  • Many state Medicaid programs require CABC accreditation for facilities to qualify for contracts and reimbursement.
  • Several private insurance payers also require CABC accreditation as a condition for facility contracting.

The accreditation site visit is conducted over a three-day period, concluding with an Exit Conference to summarize preliminary findings and next steps.

Key Activities During the Site Visit:

• Chart Review
• Personnel File Review
• Staff and Stakeholder Interviews
• Facility Walkthrough
• Review of the Quality Assurance Program

Access and Support Requirements:

To ensure an efficient and thorough review, the Accreditation Specialist will require:

• Access to the birth center and the availability of key staff throughout the visit.
• During the health record review, a clinical staff member who is familiar with the birth log and charting processes or the electronic health record (EHR) system should be available to assist.
• For the personnel file review, an administrative staff member knowledgeable about the files and documentation should be accessible.

CABC’s goal is for a smooth and successful accreditation review!

The CABC typically renders accreditation decisions 4-6 weeks after the site visit.

CABC Accreditation Specialists have extensive training and mentoring in the conduct of birth center site visits and determining a birth center’s compliance with specific CABC Indicators. They have a deep understanding of both the content and intent of each Indicator.  The Accreditation Specialists verify information and offer guidance on how to improve your program.

Read more about the Accreditation Specialists.

First download the CABC Indicators for Compliance and review what is required for accreditation.

This is a living document, updated regularly, and new editions will be published to show any updates in response to:

• New evidence relevant to maternity and newborn care encompassing the antenatal, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn time frames
• Updates in the AABC Standards for Birth Centers
• Updates in relevant professional guidelines