COA Accreditation is a full-organization accreditation for social and human services organizations, run by Social Current and measured against the edition of the COA Accreditation standards assigned to your organization; for new assignments that is the 2026 edition. This service is for multiservice behavioral health and human services organizations preparing for accreditation or reaccreditation. Integral Healthcare Solutions (IHS) maps your programs to the COA standards and drafts the policies and evidence; your service leaders own practice decisions.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Social Current's COA Accreditation, standards library and 2026 updates pages checked on October 2, 2026.
What is COA Accreditation?
Social Current describes the program this way: "COA Accreditation accredits the full continuum of social and human services. Our more than 1,700 accredited organizations are in all 50 states, six Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, and military bases worldwide" (Social Current COA Accreditation page).
The governing text is the COA Accreditation standards, 2026 edition, published free in Social Current's 2026 Standards PDF Library (COA standards library). There are two U.S. editions: the Private Organization Standards, for nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and the Public Agency Standards, for government agencies. The 2026 private library groups three kinds of standards:
- Administration and Management standards (AFM, FIN, GOV, HR, NET, PQI, RPM);
- Service Delivery Administration standards (ASE, BSM, CR, PRG, TS);
- 46 service-standard sections.
The review covers the whole organization in most cases: "Most organizations that achieve COA Accreditation are private organizations and receive full-organization accreditation. We conduct in-depth reviews of all services for which we have standards, as well as administration and management practices" (Social Current).
Social Current describes the process in steps, including these. It reviews the application and confirms eligibility, then provides "an agreement for you to sign and return with your accreditation fee." The organization completes a self-evaluation in which it "reviews current policies, procedures, and practices against COA Accreditation standards" and "collects and submits narratives and documentation that demonstrate implementation of the standards." Then "A team of volunteer peer reviewers conducts the onsite review," and the "Accreditation Commission reviews the report and your documentation, and it approves your accreditation or requests more information" (Social Current).
Who needs it and what triggers it
- Multiservice organizations that want one accreditation covering every program and the administration behind them, since COA reviews "all services for which we have standards" (Social Current).
- Organizations seeking public contracts or rates tied to accreditation. Social Current states: "Where applicable, recognitions make accredited organizations eligible for public agency contracts and higher reimbursement rates" (Social Current). This page does not list specific funder or state recognitions; confirm the requirement in your own contract or rule.
- Behavioral health organizations building integrated care. Social Current says "COA Accreditation also supports Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) accreditation and Whole-Person Care through our Health Home/Integrated Care standards" (Social Current).
- Accredited organizations nearing the end of a cycle. "COA Accreditation is valid for four years, except for opioid treatment programs, which are mandated by SAMHSA to be accredited for three years" (Social Current).
How IHS helps
IHS works from the 2026 standards your organization is assigned. The process:
- Scoping. IHS takes the organization program by program and maps each program to the COA service sections in your assigned edition (the 2026 sections for new assignments), plus the Administration and Management and Service Delivery Administration standards.
- Gap assessment. A questionnaire per program, then a comparison of current policies and practice against each assigned standard.
- Document and evidence mapping. One consolidated crosswalk from each standard to the policy, record or data that shows it is met.
- Drafting. IHS drafts policies, client-rights procedures and performance and quality improvement processes, and writes service content for your program professionals to review and approve.
- Mock review. Before the self-evaluation goes in, IHS reviews the evidence against the standards and lists what is missing.
- Readiness support. After the peer review, IHS drafts responses to findings for your organization to review and submit.
What you supply: program descriptions, current policies, quality data and a service leader for each program. Your organization submits the self-evaluation through COA's portal.
The limit: practice decisions stay with your service leaders, and the accreditation decision is the Accreditation Commission's. IHS works from the published standards, and an organization with many programs needs its scope set program by program before the work can be planned.
What to have ready
- The edition that applies to you, Private Organization Standards or Public Agency Standards, from the 2026 Standards PDF Library (COA standards library).
- A list of every program and service, so each can be matched to one of the 46 service-standard sections (COA standards library).
- Your current administrative and management policies, to compare against the Administration and Management standards (AFM, FIN, GOV, HR, NET, PQI, RPM) (COA standards library).
- Your quality improvement plan and recent quality data, to compare against the PQI standards in the Administration and Management group (COA standards library).
- Client rights procedures and service delivery records, to compare against the Service Delivery Administration standards (ASE, BSM, CR, PRG, TS) (COA standards library).
- Narratives and documents for the self-evaluation, in which your organization "collects and submits narratives and documentation that demonstrate implementation of the standards" (Social Current).
- A plan to host the onsite review by "a team of volunteer peer reviewers" (Social Current).
- If you are already in process, your standards assignment in the MyCOA portal, since "The 2026 edition of updates will not impact organizations that are currently pursuing accreditation or re-accreditation and have already been assigned standards in the MyCOA portal" (2026 updates notice).
- An owner for the annual report, since "Organizations must submit an annual report to maintain the implementation of standards" (Social Current).
To go through the list with IHS, book the introductory call below.
How it compares
The table compares the COA tracks described in Social Current's own materials. Which one applies depends on how your organization is set up.
| Route | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Private Organization Standards | For nonprofit and for-profit U.S. organizations; most accredited organizations are private and receive full-organization accreditation (Social Current). |
| Public Agency Standards | For government agencies. "The process typically takes 18-48 months, depending on agency size and accreditation track" (Social Current). |
| 2026 edition vs. an existing assignment | "Standards assignments for COA Accreditation using the new standards began April 20"; organizations already assigned standards in MyCOA are not affected by the 2026 updates (Social Current). |
| IHS gap assessment and drafting | Program-by-program scoping, a consolidated crosswalk, drafted policies and a mock review before the self-evaluation. It does not replace your service leaders or the Accreditation Commission. |
What it costs
Social Current does not publish a fee schedule on the pages we reviewed; fees depend on scope. Its page states: "The cost varies based on an organization's size and services. Organizations that are members of our Network Champions are eligible for a discount on the accreditation fee" (Social Current, read October 2, 2026). Verify current fees with Social Current. IHS scopes each engagement after a free introductory call.
What this is not
- IHS is not Social Current or COA and does not grant, predict or influence an accreditation decision.
- IHS does not contact, submit to or speak for your organization to COA. IHS drafts; your organization submits through the portal.
- IHS does not make clinical or service decisions, and this page is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is COA Accreditation and who runs it now?
COA Accreditation is an accreditation for social and human services organizations, now offered by Social Current. Social Current says it has more than 1,700 accredited organizations in all 50 states, six Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and military bases worldwide.
Which COA standards apply to my organization?
Nonprofit and for-profit U.S. organizations use the Private Organization Standards; government agencies use the Public Agency Standards. Both editions are published free in the 2026 Standards PDF Library. The 2026 Private Organization library groups Administration and Management standards, Service Delivery Administration standards and 46 service-standard sections.
Does COA accredit the whole organization or individual programs?
Most organizations receive full-organization accreditation. Social Current says it reviews all services for which it has standards, as well as administration and management practices.
What are the steps in the COA accreditation process?
Social Current reviews your application and confirms eligibility, then sends an agreement to sign and return with the fee. Your organization completes a self-evaluation with narratives and documentation, volunteer peer reviewers conduct an onsite review, and the Accreditation Commission approves accreditation or requests more information.
How long does COA accreditation take?
For public agencies, Social Current says the process typically takes 18 to 48 months, depending on agency size and accreditation track. The page we reviewed does not state a timeline for private organizations, so IHS sets one with you after scoping.
How much does COA accreditation cost?
Social Current does not publish a fee schedule on the pages we reviewed. It says the cost varies with an organization's size and services, and that Network Champions members are eligible for a discount. Verify current fees with Social Current.
What changed in the 2026 COA standards, and do they apply if we have already started?
Social Current says standards assignments using the new standards began April 20. The 2026 updates do not affect organizations already pursuing accreditation or reaccreditation that have been assigned standards in the MyCOA portal.
How long does COA accreditation last?
Social Current says accreditation is valid for four years, except for opioid treatment programs, which SAMHSA mandates be accredited for three years. Accredited organizations must submit an annual report.
What does the COA self-evaluation require us to submit?
Your organization reviews its policies, procedures and practices against the standards, then collects and submits narratives and documentation that show the standards are implemented.
Does IHS submit our self-evaluation or talk to COA for us?
No. IHS drafts policies, maps evidence and runs a mock review. Your organization submits the self-evaluation and any responses through COA's portal.