Vital Records and Health Statistics (VRHS) accreditation is a Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) program that reviews a state or territorial vital records and health statistics unit against PHAB's VRHS Standards & Measures. It is for the units in the 57 jurisdictional areas that PHAB lists as eligible. Integral Healthcare Solutions (IHS) organizes your unit's documentation and evidence against PHAB's vital records measures; your registrars and statisticians own the substance, and your unit submits through e-PHAB.

Last reviewed: October 2026. PHAB pages read on October 2, 2026. The VRHS Standards & Measures are distributed through PHAB's Learning Center and are not quoted on this page.

What is VRHS accreditation?

PHAB states that it "developed the Vital Records and Health Statistics (VRHS) Accreditation Program in partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS)" (PHAB VRHS page). The program began in 2018 (PHAB news release, August 12, 2024).

The governing texts, by PHAB's names:

• For initial accreditation, the "VRHS Standards & Measures and Guide, Version 2018," and the "Supplement to VRHS Accreditation, 2025," both distributed in the PHAB Learning Center (PHAB VRHS page).
• For reaccreditation, the VRHS Reaccreditation Program, which "took effect on January 1, 2025" (PHAB VRHS page).

The 2025 supplement adds no requirements. PHAB states that "The Supplemental Guidance does not introduce new accreditation requirements or alter any of the existing requirements outlined in the Standards & Measures for National Accreditation of VRHS Units (Version 2018)" (PHAB blog, February 25, 2025).

PHAB's fee schedule describes the review the annual fee supports: "A comprehensive review of documentation against the accreditation standards by a team of experts," "A site visit report with identified opportunities for improvements, areas of excellence and conformity comments," "A thoughtful and deliberative review of the site visit report by PHAB's Accreditation Committee," and "If needed, a full review of the Accreditation Committee Action Requirements (ACAR)" (PHAB VRHS fee schedule (file titled Version 2022; amount matches PHAB's fees page as of October 2, 2026)).

Who needs it and what triggers it

PHAB notes that "The collection of vital records — including information on births, deaths, and other life events — is the legal responsibility of the states and US territories/freely associated states, not the federal government" (PHAB VRHS page). Eligibility follows from that: "Eligible applicants for Vital Records/Health Statistics accreditation include the 57 jurisdictional areas identified by the National Center for Health Statistics within the National Vital Statistics Collaborative Program" (PHAB VRHS page).

The work usually starts in one of two ways:

• A unit decides to seek initial accreditation. The state or territorial health department "does not have to be accredited for the VRHS Unit to apply," but approval from the health department director, or from the Secretary of State in New Hampshire, is required (PHAB VRHS page).
• An accredited unit prepares for reaccreditation under the program in effect since January 1, 2025, whose standards and measures "aim to embed equity, incorporate updated infrastructure and workforce guidance, and include data modernization concepts" (PHAB news release).

How IHS helps

IHS works from the copy of the PHAB VRHS measures your unit holds from the Learning Center. The process:

1. A gap assessment of your unit's procedures against each measure, supported by questionnaires drawn from the measures your unit holds.
2. A crosswalk from each measure to the documentation your unit already has, with gaps named.
3. Drafted documents where your evidence is missing against a measure in your unit's copy of the Standards & Measures, for your experts to correct and approve.
4. An accreditation evidence index and a mock review of the documentation before your unit submits it.
5. Drafted responses to reviewer findings, for your unit to submit through e-PHAB.

What you supply: current procedures, data-quality reports, your statutory framework, and time from your registrars, statisticians and legal officers.

The limit: records law, statistical validity and disclosure decisions belong to your unit's experts. PHAB makes the accreditation decision. IHS drafts; your unit submits.

What to have ready

Each item ties to PHAB's VRHS program page or fee schedule, read October 2, 2026.

• Confirmation that your unit serves one of the 57 jurisdictional areas NCHS identifies within the National Vital Statistics Collaborative Program (PHAB VRHS page).
• Approval from your health department director, or from the Secretary of State in New Hampshire (PHAB VRHS page).
• Registration in PHAB's Learning Center (PHAB VRHS page).
• Your copy of the VRHS Standards & Measures and Guide, Version 2018 (PHAB VRHS page).
• Your copy of the Supplement to VRHS Accreditation, 2025 (PHAB VRHS page).
• For an accredited unit, the reaccreditation standards and measures in effect since January 1, 2025 (PHAB VRHS page).
• Registration in e-PHAB, used "to submit the application and documentation materials" (PHAB VRHS page).
• Documentation organized measure by measure for "A comprehensive review of documentation against the accreditation standards by a team of experts" (PHAB fee schedule).
• Staff available for the site visit that leads to PHAB's site visit report (PHAB fee schedule).
• Budget for PHAB's annual fee, which "is invoiced each year, beginning with the Initial VRHS Accreditation Application submission" (PHAB fee schedule).

To go through the list with IHS, book the introductory call below.

How it compares

What it costs

PHAB publishes its fee. Its fees page lists "Annual VRHS Accreditation Services $4,100," with the note that "Fees are subject to review for potential annual expense adjustments to take effect on July 1st of each year. Any changes to the fee amount will be announced in January of that same year" (PHAB fees page). The fee schedule adds that the fee "is invoiced each year, beginning with the Initial VRHS Accreditation Application submission. The Annual Accreditation Services Fee also covers the reaccreditation process" (PHAB VRHS fee schedule (file titled Version 2022; amount matches PHAB's fees page as of October 2, 2026)). Verify current fees with PHAB. IHS scopes each engagement after a free introductory call.

What this is not

• This page is not legal advice, and IHS does not make records-law, statistical or disclosure decisions for your unit.
• IHS does not guarantee an accreditation decision. PHAB's Accreditation Committee decides.
• IHS does not submit to or correspond with PHAB for your unit. Your unit submits through e-PHAB.

Frequently asked questions

What is PHAB Vital Records and Health Statistics (VRHS) accreditation?

It is a PHAB accreditation program for state and territorial vital records and health statistics units, developed with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS). PHAB started the program in 2018. Initial accreditation uses the VRHS Standards & Measures and Guide, Version 2018, with the Supplement to VRHS Accreditation, 2025.

Which vital records offices are eligible for VRHS accreditation?

PHAB lists as eligible the 57 jurisdictional areas identified by NCHS within the National Vital Statistics Collaborative Program. PHAB notes that collecting vital records is the legal responsibility of the states and US territories and freely associated states, not the federal government.

Does our state health department have to be PHAB-accredited before the vital records unit can apply?

No. PHAB states that the health department does not have to be accredited for the VRHS unit to apply. Approval from the director of the state or territorial health department is required, or from the Secretary of State in the case of New Hampshire.

What are the steps to apply for VRHS accreditation?

PHAB lists three entry steps: register in PHAB's Learning Center, review the VRHS Standards & Measures and Guide, Version 2018, and the Supplement to VRHS Accreditation, 2025, and register in e-PHAB to submit the application and documentation materials.

What changed in the 2025 supplemental guidance?

PHAB states that the Supplemental Guidance does not introduce new accreditation requirements or alter any of the existing requirements in the Standards & Measures for National Accreditation of VRHS Units (Version 2018). The requirements stay as written in Version 2018.

How is VRHS reaccreditation different from initial accreditation?

Reaccreditation runs under the VRHS Reaccreditation Program, which took effect on January 1, 2025, with its own standards and measures. PHAB says those standards aim to embed equity, incorporate updated infrastructure and workforce guidance, and include data modernization concepts. PHAB's annual fee also covers the reaccreditation process.

How much does VRHS accreditation cost each year?

PHAB's fees page lists Annual VRHS Accreditation Services at $4,100. PHAB says fees are subject to review for adjustments taking effect on July 1 each year, with any change announced in January. The fee is invoiced each year beginning with the initial application submission. Verify current fees with PHAB.

What happens in the VRHS review after documents are submitted?

PHAB's fee schedule lists a review of documentation against the standards by a team of experts, a site visit report with opportunities for improvement, areas of excellence and conformity comments, and a review of that report by PHAB's Accreditation Committee. If needed, it also lists a full review of Accreditation Committee Action Requirements (ACAR).

How long does VRHS accreditation take from application to decision?

The PHAB pages we reviewed do not state a timeline from application to decision, so this page does not give one.

What is the difference between VRHS accreditation and NAPHSIS technical assistance?

VRHS accreditation is PHAB's review and decision on a unit against its standards. PHAB describes NAPHSIS as providing jurisdictional webinars, training sessions and consultation services, which are support for units rather than accreditation.