Apply for Accreditation

The NAPBC provides the structure and resources needed to develop and operate a high-quality breast program. Achieving accreditation by the NAPBC shows your care team is committed to providing the best care throughout the entire course of treatment.

Through the NAPBC, sites will be able to:

Educate and train their program staff with web-based education and in-person workshops focused on understanding the NAPBC standards, best practices to support compliance, and tips and techniques for NAPBC site visit prep.
Utilize tools and templates to assist you in recording and tracking your program’s activity for select standards either in between or in preparation for site visits.
Develop program support with the CAnswer Forum online community where you can ask questions, search topics, and connect with other NAPBC programs across the country.
Gain marketing resources that help promote your NAPBC accreditation across your community including certificates, posters, banner stands, and digital assets.

Key Application Information

Programs must be able to demonstrate compliance with either Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards) or Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2027 Standards), based on the year of compliance, for the most recent complete calendar year. See the table below for more information.
Programs must be prepared to schedule an in-person initial site visit to take place after March 1, of the calendar year following the year of compliance.
Programs must be accredited by the Commission on Cancer if applying in 2026 or beyond.
All initial onsite visits will be scheduled within 6–9 months after the application is approved and access to QPort is provided.

Anticipated Year of Site Visit	Standard Compliance Period	Version of Standards
2026	2025	2024 Standards
2027	2026	2024 Standards
2028	2027	2027 Standards
2029	2028	2027 Standards

Networks

Beginning with site visits in 2028, programs may be reviewed as an Integrated Network Breast Program (INBP). If you are interested in applying as an INBP, please review the Guidelines to Form an INBP.

Important Accreditation Process Information

Before Accredited status is granted, corrective action must be completed for any non-compliant standards noted in the accreditation report.
Programs undergoing an initial site visit that have five or more non-compliant standards will be rated Not Accredited and will need to reapply for accreditation after one calendar year.

Pre-Review Questionnaire (PRQ)

The PRQ provides necessary information and documentation for site reviewers to assess compliance with the standards.

Program must meet compliance measures for all applicable standards.
Program must submit the complete PRQ through QPort at least 60 calendar days before the confirmed site visit date.

Site Visit

Undergo an in-person site visit by an NAPBC-trained reviewer.
Initial NAPBC site visits review one calendar year (January 1–December 31) of compliance with all standards.

Outcome

An Accreditation Report documents the results of the visit.
- Before Accredited status is granted, corrective action must be completed for any non-compliant standards noted in the accreditation report.
- Programs undergoing an initial site review that has seven or more non-compliant standards will be rated Not Accredited and will need to reapply for accreditation after one full calendar year.
The Site Visit Experience Survey must be completed within 14 calendar days.
Promotional materials are available once accreditation is achieved.
Once accredited, the accreditation term is 3 years from the date of the initial site visit.

New Program Checklist

Applications should not be submitted until the program demonstrates one calendar year (January 1–December 31) of compliance with all standards.

Pre-Submission

Download and review the applicable standards manual:
- Anticipated site visit in 2027: Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards).
- Anticipated site visit 2028 and beyond: Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2027 Standards).
Establish a Breast Program Leadership Committee and appoint a Breast Program Director.

Submission

Complete the online application once the program can demonstrate one calendar year (January 1–December 31) of compliance with all standards.
Verify that the program has a current Business Associate and Data Use Agreement (BA/DUA) agreement with the American College of Surgeons. Programs that currently participate in any of the ACS quality improvement programs do not need to sign another BA/DUA agreement. If your program does not have a BA/DUA with the ACS, please email napbc@facs.org for further assistance.
Complete the site profile once the application is processed.
Receive an initial annual accreditation fee invoice.
Receive full access to the Quality Portal (QPort) upon receipt of payment, which includes access to the PRQ and the ability to submit four preferred dates for the initial site visit.
Submit four preferred site visit dates.

Post-Submission

Receive formal notification of the site visit date.
Undergo an in-person site visit by a NAPBC-trained site reviewer.
Receive the Accreditation Report, which documents the site visit results, within 45 days of the site visit, or as soon as practical thereafter, of the site visit.
Promote your NAPBC accreditation once Accredited status is achieved.

Apply Today

Renewals/Reaccreditation Process (Accredited Programs)

NAPBC-accredited programs are required to undergo a site visit every 3 years to maintain accreditation. More information regarding reaccreditation can be found in the Resources section of the Quality Portal.

Preparation Resources

The following resources can help programs in preparing for the accreditation process