If you’re reading this, you’re likely considering an amazing opportunity to help others: becoming a surrogate in North Carolina.
Maybe you’ve been thinking about this for months, or maybe the idea just sparked something in you recently. Either way, you’re probably wondering if you’d actually qualify—and more importantly, if this path would be right for your life and your family.
Learn More About Choosing the Right Surrogacy Agency
Here’s what we’ve learned from working with hundreds of women across North Carolina: the selection process is thorough and selective, but understanding the requirements upfront can help you make a realistic assessment of your candidacy.
The requirements might seem daunting at first glance, but knowing exactly what programs are looking for can help you determine if this path is worth exploring. We’ll walk you through exactly what programs are looking for, why each requirement exists, and how to honestly evaluate whether this extraordinary opportunity might be right for you.
Do You Qualify to Be a Surrogate in North Carolina?
Wondering if you can be a surrogate in North Carolina? Understanding what reputable surrogacy programs in North Carolina look for will help you make a realistic assessment of your candidacy.
What North Carolina Surrogacy Programs Are Looking For
Quality surrogacy programs in North Carolina—including established agencies like American Surrogacy—generally work with women who:
- Are between 21 and 40 years old
- Have successfully carried at least one pregnancy to term
- Are in good physical and mental health
- Have completed their own families (meaning they’re content with their current family size)
- Are financially stable
- Have a supportive home environment
Before you start second-guessing yourself because of any of these criteria, remember that each situation is unique. What matters most is the bigger picture of who you are and what you bring to this experience.
In our experience working with surrogates, the requirements in North Carolina aren’t random. They’re based on decades of medical research and legal precedent. The goal is to create a positive experience for everyone involved, including you. Think of it this way: intended parents want to work with someone who feels confident and prepared for the path ahead. Honestly, that’s exactly what you want for yourself too.
While these requirements might seem straightforward, there’s more nuance to each one than most people realize. Understanding the reasoning behind each qualification (and how agencies actually evaluate candidates) can help you see where you truly stand.
Your Health and Medical Background: What Matters Most
When it comes to medical requirements, the health qualifications that established North Carolina agencies follow are comprehensive, but they’re designed to help ensure everyone’s wellbeing throughout the process.
BMI, Pregnancy History, and Current Health Status
BMI Requirements Most reputable programs call for a BMI between 18.5 and 32. While BMI isn’t a perfect measure of health, it’s what insurance companies and medical professionals use to assess pregnancy-related risks. The BMI guidelines that quality North Carolina agencies follow are there to help minimize potential complications during pregnancy and delivery.
Previous Pregnancy Success You’ll need to have carried at least one pregnancy to term without major complications. This shows that your body has successfully navigated pregnancy before, which gives everyone confidence in your ability to do it again.
Current Health Status You can’t be pregnant or breastfeeding when you apply. This makes sense: you need to be in a position to begin a new pregnancy when the time is right.
Professional surrogacy programs will review your medical history, including any past pregnancy complications, chronic health conditions, mental health history, and family medical history. Here’s something important to know: having a medical issue doesn’t automatically disqualify you. We’ve seen many women with well-managed conditions like diabetes or thyroid issues become successful surrogates. What matters most is whether your condition is stable and well-controlled.
What to Expect During Medical Screening
Once accepted into a program, expect to undergo comprehensive medical screening. This includes:
- Physical exam and lab work
- Psychological evaluation
- Infectious disease screening
- Pap smear and mammogram (if age-appropriate)
This thorough evaluation might seem extensive, but these screenings are there to protect you too. You want to feel confident that you’re healthy enough for this experience.
The medical requirements represent just one piece of the puzzle. Programs evaluate candidates holistically, considering your overall health profile, age, lifestyle, and personal situation together to determine if you’re a good fit for their program.
Age Limits and Family Completion Status
The age requirements that reputable North Carolina agencies follow typically fall between 21 and 40 years old. Understanding the reasoning behind these age ranges will help clarify what they mean for your situation.
Why Age Matters and the Family Completion Rule
At 21, you’re considered mature enough to make this significant decision thoughtfully. By this age, women have usually had time to think about their own family planning (or at least know they want children of their own first). As pregnancy-related risks tend to increase with age, agencies want to help minimize potential complications, which is why 40 is often the upper limit (though some may work with women over 40 depending on their individual health profile).
Here’s an important requirement that deserves explanation: you’ll need to have completed your own family. This doesn’t mean you can never have more children—it means you feel content with your current family size and wouldn’t be heartbroken if pregnancy complications somehow affected your future fertility.
Why this matters: surrogacy involves medical procedures that could potentially impact your ability to have children down the road. Quality programs want to make sure you’re completely at peace with this possibility before moving forward.
Your Support System and Financial Stability
Your current life situation matters too. Questions about relationship stability, support systems, and financial stability aren’t about judging your choices. They’re about making sure you have the foundation you need during this process.
Mental Health and Emotional Readiness
Surrogacy involves complex emotions, which is why psychological requirements are just as important as the physical ones.
The Psychological Evaluation Process
Candidates undergo a psychological evaluation with a licensed mental health professional. This evaluation ensures you’re emotionally prepared for the unique challenges of surrogacy. The assessment typically covers several key areas:
- Your motivation for becoming a surrogate
- Your understanding of the surrogacy process
- Your ability to handle the emotional aspects
- Your support system
- Any history of mental health issues
Important considerations include your ability to carry a baby that isn’t yours, your preparedness for the relationship with intended parents, and your understanding that this experience will have ups and downs. These are genuine considerations that help determine if surrogacy is right for you.
Getting Your Family on Board
Your family’s support is crucial. Partners (if applicable) need to be supportive of your decision. Children need to understand what’s happening in age-appropriate ways. Programs typically require partners to participate in the psychological evaluation too, ensuring everyone in your household is prepared for the path ahead.
North Carolina’s Surrogacy Laws and Legal Process
North Carolina has specific laws that govern surrogacy, and understanding these legal aspects is helpful for making your decision.
How North Carolina Protects Surrogates and Intended Parents
North Carolina is considered a surrogacy-friendly state with clear legal frameworks that protect everyone involved. The state allows gestational surrogacy (where you carry an embryo created through IVF using the intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material). North Carolina courts can issue pre-birth orders, which means the intended parents can be recognized as the legal parents before the baby is born.
The process includes creating a detailed surrogacy agreement that outlines everyone’s rights and responsibilities. This agreement must be reviewed by independent legal counsel, meaning you’ll have your own lawyer who works separately from the intended parents’ attorney. While North Carolina doesn’t have strict residency requirements for surrogates, many programs prefer working with women who live in the state. This makes coordinating medical care easier and ensures everyone is familiar with local laws.
Background Checks and Reference Verification
The application process includes some background screening to help ensure everyone’s safety and peace of mind. This typically includes checking criminal history, reviewing your financial situation, and verifying references.
Common Disqualifiers (And Why They Exist)
Time to address the elephant in the room: what disqualifies you from being a surrogate in North Carolina? Transparency is important because you deserve to know.
Health Conditions and Lifestyle Factors That May Disqualify You
Serious Health Conditions: Several health issues can create significant pregnancy risks:
- Uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or other serious medical conditions
- BMI below 18.5 or above 32 (though some programs might be flexible depending on overall health)
- History of serious pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, poorly controlled gestational diabetes, or multiple miscarriages
- Current drug use, heavy alcohol consumption, or smoking (industry standard requires being smoke-free for at least a year)
Financial and Living Situation: Stability factors include:
- Receiving government assistance like food stamps or housing assistance (programs want to ensure you’re not becoming a surrogate out of financial desperation)
- Frequent moves, unstable housing, or chaotic home environments
- Lack of a support system or having a partner who opposes your surrogacy decision
Criminal History and Legal Issues
Serious criminal convictions, especially those involving violence, drugs, or crimes against children, will disqualify candidates. Current involvement in custody disputes or child protective services cases also presents barriers.
Worth remembering: Being disqualified now doesn’t mean you can never become a surrogate. Many of these issues can be addressed over time. Lost weight? Quit smoking? Resolved financial issues? Future applications may be possible.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
Ready to understand what the application process looks like? Here’s what you can expect when you decide to move forward with a reputable agency.
Submitting Your Application and Initial Interview
You’ll begin with an online application that covers your personal information, medical history, pregnancy history, lifestyle questions, and your reasons for wanting to become a surrogate. This initial step helps quality programs understand whether you meet the basic qualifications.
Strong applications typically lead to a phone or video conversation with someone from the agency. This gives you a chance to ask questions and helps them get to know you as a person beyond the paperwork.
Medical Clearance, Legal Review, and Matching
Next, you’ll move forward to a comprehensive medical evaluation. This includes:
- Physical exam and lab work
- Infectious disease screening
- Psychological evaluation
- Review of your medical records
You’ll also meet with a reproductive law attorney who will help you understand your rights and responsibilities throughout the process.
Once you’re approved, the program will work to match you with intended parents who share your values and preferences. After you’re matched, legal teams will create the surrogacy agreement that outlines everyone’s expectations and responsibilities.
In our experience, the entire process typically takes 2-4 months from application to approval. Matching with intended parents can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on your preferences and the program’s available families.
Start Your Surrogacy Journey in North Carolina
Now that you understand the requirements, you’re in a much better position to make an informed decision. The truth is, many women who think they might not qualify actually do meet the criteria—and those who don’t qualify now often can address the issues that are holding them back.
What sets successful surrogates apart isn’t perfection; it’s preparation and the right support system. The best surrogacy programs in North Carolina don’t just check boxes—they work with you to understand your unique situation and help you navigate the process confidently.
If you’re feeling that pull toward surrogacy, there’s probably a reason. That feeling deserves exploration, not second-guessing. The families you could help are looking for someone exactly like you—someone who’s done their homework, understands what’s involved, and is ready to make a real difference.
Connect with a North Carolina surrogacy specialist today to discuss your specific situation and find out if surrogacy is the right fit for you.