---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 14922"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "14922"
heading: "Process for accreditation and approval; role of accrediting entities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/14922"
units:
  - "Chapter 143 — Intercountry Adoptions"
  - "Subchapter II — Provisions Relating to Accreditation and Approval"
---

# §14922. Process for accreditation and approval; role of accrediting entities

- (a) **Designation of accrediting entities—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/14902.md?p=16) shall enter into agreements with one or more qualified entities under which such entities will perform the duties described in [subsection (b)](#b) in accordance with the [Convention](/usc/42/14902.md?p=9), this subchapter, and the regulations prescribed under [section 14923 of this title](/usc/42/14923.md), and upon entering into each such agreement shall designate the qualified entity as an [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Qualified entities—** In [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the term “qualified entity” means—
    - (A) a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) private entity that has expertise in developing and administering standards for entities providing child welfare services and that meets such other criteria as the [Secretary](/usc/42/14902.md?p=16) may by regulation establish; or
    - (B) a public entity (other than a Federal entity), including an [agency](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) or instrumentality of [State](/usc/42/14902.md?p=17) government having responsibility for licensing adoption [agencies](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4), that—
      - (i) has expertise in developing and administering standards for entities providing child welfare services;
      - (ii) accredits only [agencies](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) located in the [State](/usc/42/14902.md?p=17) in which the public entity is located; and
      - (iii) meets such other criteria as the [Secretary](/usc/42/14902.md?p=16) may by regulation establish.
- (b) **Duties of accrediting entities—** The duties described in this subsection are the following:
  - (1) **Accreditation and approval—** Accreditation of [agencies](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4), and approval of [persons](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14), to provide [adoption services](/usc/42/14902.md?p=3) in the United States in cases subject to the [Convention](/usc/42/14902.md?p=9).
  - (2) **Oversight—** Ongoing monitoring of the compliance of [accredited agencies](/usc/42/14902.md?p=1) and [approved persons](/usc/42/14902.md?p=5) with applicable requirements, including review of complaints against such [agencies](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) and [persons](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) in accordance with procedures established by the [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2) and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/42/14902.md?p=16).
  - (3) **Enforcement—** Taking of adverse actions (including requiring corrective action, imposing sanctions, and refusing to renew, suspending, or canceling accreditation or approval) for noncompliance with applicable requirements, and notifying the [agency](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) or [person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) against whom adverse actions are taken of the deficiencies necessitating the adverse action.
  - (4) **Data, records, and reports—** Collection of data, maintenance of records, and reporting to the [Secretary](/usc/42/14902.md?p=16), the United States [central authority](/usc/42/14902.md?p=7), [State](/usc/42/14902.md?p=17) courts, and other entities (including on [persons](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) and [agencies](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) granted or denied approval or accreditation), to the extent and in the manner that the [Secretary](/usc/42/14902.md?p=16) requires.
  - (5) **Report on use of Federal funding—** Not later than 90 days after an [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2) receives Federal funding authorized by [section 14943 of this title](/usc/42/14943.md), the entity shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that describes—
    - (A) the amount of such funding the entity received; and
    - (B) how such funding was, or will be, used by the entity.
- (c) **Remedies for adverse action by accrediting entity—**
  - (1) **Correction of deficiency—** An [agency](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) or [person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) who is the subject of an adverse action by an [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2) may re-apply for accreditation or approval (or petition for termination of the adverse action) on demonstrating to the satisfaction of the [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2) that the deficiencies necessitating the adverse action have been corrected.
  - (2) **No other administrative review—** An adverse action by an [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2) shall not be subject to administrative review.
  - (3) **Judicial review—** An [agency](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) or [person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) who is the subject of an adverse action by an [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2) may petition the United States district court in the judicial district in which the [agency](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) is located or the [person](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) resides to set aside the adverse action. The court shall review the adverse action in accordance with [section 706 of title 5](/usc/5/706.md), and for purposes of such review the [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2) shall be considered an [agency](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) within the meaning of [section 701](/usc/42/701.md) of such title.
- (d) **Fees—** The amount of fees assessed by [accrediting entities](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2) for the costs of accreditation shall be subject to approval by the [Secretary](/usc/42/14902.md?p=16). Such fees may not exceed the costs of accreditation. In reviewing the level of such fees, the [Secretary](/usc/42/14902.md?p=16) shall consider the relative size of, the geographic location of, and the number of [Convention adoption](/usc/42/14902.md?p=10) cases managed by the [agencies](/usc/42/14902.md?p=4) or [persons](/usc/42/14902.md?p=14) subject to accreditation or approval by the [accrediting entity](/usc/42/14902.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–279, title II, § 202, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 831; Pub. L. 112–276, § 3(b), Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2467.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), 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.

### Amendments

2013—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 112–276 added par. (5).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 6, 2000, with transition rule, see section 505(a)(1), (b) of Pub. L. 106–279, set out as an Effective Dates; Transition Rule note under section 14901 of this title.