License application
Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, no birth center shall be established, operated, or maintained in the state without first obtaining a license from the Minnesota Department of Health.
New applicants please visit the Minnesota Department of Health Licensing System. More information can be found at the Minnesota Department of Health Licensing System Help Page.
Temporary license
MDH may issue a temporary license to the birth center that is valid for a period of six months from the date of issuance. A temporary license may be renewed for one additional six-month period. The birth center must apply online, upload required document(s) and pay the applicable fee for licensure.
Required documents:
- Documentation that the birth center has submitted an application for accreditation to the CABC.
Full initial license
To be eligible for licensure, a birth center must be accredited by the CABC or must obtain accreditation within six-months of the date of the application for licensure. Upon receipt of accreditation from the CABC, the birth center must apply online for a new license, upload required documents and pay the required applicable fee for licensure.
Required documents:
- Documentation that the accreditation has been issued, including the accreditation decision letter from the CABC showing the effective and expiration dates of the accreditation.
- Date of the last visit by the CABC.
- The self-evaluation report.
- Any reports from the CABC following a site visit.
- Procedures in place specifying criteria by which risk status will be established and applied to each woman at admission and during labor.
- Evidence of Compliance with Workers’ Compensation Coverage Provisions.
Renewal license
Current license holders will receive a renewal notice from the system at least 90 days prior to their expiration date. Please do not create a new account to submit a renewal application. If all your correspondence from MDH is going through a shared email box, please check your spam folder or ask the staff person who monitors the shared email box for instructions.
Required documents:
- A current documentation that the accreditation has been issued, including the accreditation decision letter from the CABC showing the effective and expiration dates of the accreditation.
- Date of the last visit by the CABC.
- The self-evaluation report.
- Any reports from the CABC following a site visit.
- Procedures in place specifying criteria by which risk status will be established and applied to each woman at admission and during labor.
- Evidence of Compliance with Workers’ Compensation Coverage Provisions.
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Related statutes
Before completing an application online, read and understand all applicable statutes.
Minnesota Statutes, section 144.615 – Birth Centers
Minnesota Statutes, section 144.651 – Health Care Bill of Rights
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Accreditation organization
To be eligible for licensure, a birth center must be accredited by the CABC or must obtain accreditation within six months of the date of the application for licensure. If the birth center loses its accreditation, the birth center must immediately notify MDH.
Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC)
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