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Certification Standards

The Oregon School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) Standards for Certification outline the minimum requirements Oregon SBHCs must meet to be certified by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division's SBHC State Program Office (SPO). Communities may decide to extend services beyond these base requirements.

State certification is also voluntary; a SBHC may choose not to participate in state certification and still operate independently. However, only state certified SBHCs are eligible for OHA SBHC Program grant funding per OAR 333-028-0260. See the SBHC Funding page for more detail on available funding.

The OHA SBHC SPO has authority to develop certification standards under Oregon Revised Statute 413.223. Since 2014, Oregon Administrative Rules 333-028-0200 through 333-028-0260 have defined the procedures and criteria the Oregon Health Authority uses to certify, suspend, decertify and fund SBHCs. Section A of the Standards for Certification outlines these rules.

Reference to certification requirements can be found OARS 333-028-0200 through 333-028-0250 and in the Local County Health Department contracts under Program Element 44: School-Based Health Centers.


SBHC Certification Standards

All Oregon certified SBHCs are required to meet the SBHC Standards for Certification, Version 5

Standards for Certification
Version 5



SBHC Certification Process

Initial Certification

Process for
Application and Certification
for New SBHCs

If you are interested in SBHC Certification please email sbhc.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov  and request an Initial Certification Application.

New SBHCs Process



The Standards:

  • Define the Oregon SBHC model of care;
  • Reduce site-to-site variability;
  • Center the needs of Oregon youths; and
  • Increase the availability of quality health care for children and adolescents.

Benefits of certification:

  • Inclusion in the SPO funding formula;
  • Access to grant projects and funding through the SPO;
  • Access to technical assistance through the SPO;
  • Increased capacity to leverage money from other sources (such as federal grants); and
  • Access to statewide network of SBHCs.