The majority of states require that a licensed physician be the provider performing an abortion procedure. States may also require additional qualifications for all abortion providers, including advanced training and experience, hospital admitting privileges, and OB/GYN certification. In Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt (2016), the U.S. Supreme Court found that Texas’ admitting privileges requirement placed an undue burden on abortion access, in violation of the Constitution.
This dataset captures state laws that establish standards for abortion provider qualifications, in effect as of August 31, 2020 as well as case law and attorney general opinions that affect the enforceability of these laws.
This map was created as part of the Abortion Law Project, a collaboration between the Policy Surveillance Program, Guttmacher Institute, Resources for Abortion Delivery (RAD), American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Reproductive Rights, National Abortion Federation, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.