---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 14921"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "14921"
heading: "Accreditation or approval required in order to provide adoption services in cases subject to the Convention"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/14921"
units:
  - "Chapter 143 — Intercountry Adoptions"
  - "Subchapter II — Provisions Relating to Accreditation and Approval"
---

# §14921. Accreditation or approval required in order to provide adoption services in cases subject to the Convention

- (a) **In general—** Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, no [person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) may offer or provide [adoption services](/usc/42/14902.md?p=3) in connection with a [Convention adoption](/usc/42/14902.md?p=10) in the United States unless that [person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14)—
  - (1) is accredited or approved in accordance with this subchapter; or
  - (2) is providing such services through or under the supervision and responsibility of an [accredited agency](/usc/42/14902.md?p=1) or [approved person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=5).
- (b) **Exceptions—** [Subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply to the following:
  - (1) **Background studies and home studies—** The performance of a background study on a child or a home study on a prospective adoptive parent, or any report on any such study by a social work professional or organization who is not providing any other [adoption service](/usc/42/14902.md?p=3) in the case, if the background or home study is approved by an [accredited agency](/usc/42/14902.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Child welfare services—** The provision of a child welfare service by a [person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) who is not providing any other [adoption service](/usc/42/14902.md?p=3) in the case.
  - (3) **Legal services—** The provision of legal services by a [person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) who is not providing any [adoption service](/usc/42/14902.md?p=3) in the case.
  - (4) **Prospective adoptive parents acting on own behalf—** The conduct of a prospective adoptive parent on his or her own behalf in the case, to the extent not prohibited by the law of the [State](/usc/42/14902.md?p=17) in which the prospective adoptive parent resides.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–279, title II, § 201, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 830.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this title”, meaning title II of Pub. L. 106–279, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 830, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Tables.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective upon entry into force for the United States of the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, pursuant to Article 46(2)(a) of the Convention, with transition rule, see section 505(a)(2), (b) of Pub. L. 106–279, set out as an Effective Dates; Transition Rule note under section 14901 of this title.