NAPBC Standards and Resources

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) is pleased to announce the revised release of its updated accreditation standards, Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards). The standards are available for download. This update was released in September 2024. Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards) are effective as of January 1, 2024.   

Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards) focuses on the patient care journey from screening and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, with an emphasis on providing value-based care with multidisciplinary support.

Interested in using content from Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards)? Please review the ACS Cancer Programs Accreditation Content Use Permission Requirements.

Please submit all questions related to Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards) on the CAnswer Forum.

Implementation Date

All NAPBC-accredited programs must begin implementing the accreditation requirements outlined in Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards) no later than January 1, 2024. 

Site Visits

Compliance requirements for NAPBC site visits will follow the information provided in the tables below. The tables reference the year of a scheduled or anticipated site visit, the year(s) of compliance data that will be reviewed during that site visit, and the standards version against which compliance will be measured.

Please reference the correct table for Renewal Sites undergoing a reaccreditation site visit, and Initial Sites undergoing their first NAPBC site visit.

Renewal Sites must follow the compliance requirements outlined in the table above.

*Initial Sites undergoing their first accreditation site visit in 2024 have the option of choosing which version of the standards they will be measured against to confirm compliance. This choice is at the discretion of the individual program. It is recommended that Initial Sites choose to demonstrate compliance with the 2024 Standards. However, if the Initial Site has been preparing for their initial site visit using the 2018 Standards, they will be allowed to demonstrate compliance at their initial site visit under the 2018 standards. All Initial Sites must begin implementing the 2024 Standards by January 1, 2024.

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) Standards Manual, 2018 Edition remains in effect as the sole measure of compliance for NAPBC Accreditation until January 1, 2024. NAPBC-accredited programs must continue to document compliance with the 2018 Standards for any upcoming site visits. Please see the tables above for more information on site visit timelines and effective compliance measures.

The 2018 NAPBC standards are maintained here for the duration of the transition to the new NAPBC standards, Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024).

Please submit all questions regarding the 2018 NAPBC standards to the CAnswer Forum.

2018 NAPBC Standards

NAPBC Clarifications, Reminders, and Frequently Asked Questions