Key takeaways
- NABH's "Find a Healthcare Organisation" directory lists organisations holding NABH accreditation, certification or empanelment, including those under renewal.
- Every NABH certificate carries a certificate number (programme prefix, year and serial), "Valid from" and "Valid thru" dates and a scope of accreditation.
- NABH's certificates say that authenticity can be verified by writing to verification@nabh.co.
- Accreditation covers only the services listed in the scope, at the organisation named on the certificate.
- Entry-level certification is a genuine NABH status, but it is not the same as full accreditation.
Why it is worth checking
The NABH name appears in a lot of hospital advertising. Patients choosing where to be treated, insurers and TPAs building networks, doctors referring patients and hospitals choosing a partner laboratory all have a reason to confirm that the status is real, current and covers the service in question. Checking takes a few minutes.
Step 1: Search NABH's directory
Go to nabh.co → Find a Healthcare Organisation. You can choose a state and city, or let the page use your location, and filter by speciality, such as dentistry or Panchakarma. NABH says the directory lists organisations holding NABH accreditation, certification or empanelment, including those under renewal.
NABH also notes that some directory information may be temporarily incomplete or inconsistent while its data is migrated. If a facility does not appear, do not conclude anything yet: go to steps 2 and 3.
Step 2: Read the certificate
Ask the facility for its NABH certificate; accredited hospitals usually display it at reception. Check four things:
| What to check | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Certificate number | A programme prefix, the year and a serial number, such as SHCO-2024-0000. Prefixes seen on NABH's portal include H (hospitals), SHCO (small healthcare organisations), D (dental facilities) and AH (AYUSH hospitals). |
| Valid from / Valid thru | The accreditation period. Hospitals, SHCOs and dental facilities run on four-year cycles with surveillance in between; entry-level certifications last two years. A past "valid thru" date means you should ask whether renewal is in progress. |
| Scope of accreditation | The services covered, grouped under clinical, diagnostic, laboratory, pharmacy and other headings. A service that is not listed is not covered. |
| Issuer and verification line | The certificate is issued by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers and tells you how to verify it. |
When a facility adds services after accreditation, NABH has to extend the scope and reissue the certificate, so the scope on the wall should match what the facility offers today.
Step 3: Confirm with NABH
NABH's certificates carry the line: "To verify the authenticity of certificate, reach us on verification@nabh.co." Email that address with the organisation's name, its city and the certificate number. This is the most reliable check, and the right route if anything about a certificate looks wrong.
Accredited, certified or empanelled: what the words mean
- Accredited means the facility met the full NABH standard for its type, such as the 6th Edition for hospitals above 50 beds, SHCO 3rd Edition for hospitals up to 50 beds, or the dental (DHSP) 3rd Edition.
- Certified usually means entry-level certification, a foundation standard valid for two years and designed as a first step towards accreditation. It also qualifies hospitals for AB-PMJAY's Silver quality level.
- Empanelled refers to NABH's empanelment programmes, in which NABH assesses facilities for schemes such as CGHS.
All three are genuine. The point is to know which one a facility holds; our comparison of entry-level and full accreditation explains the difference in detail.
Red flags
- Wording that is not an NABH status. NABH accredits, certifies and empanels. Phrases like "NABH approved", "NABH registered" or "built as per NABH norms" say nothing about an actual assessment.
- A logo with no certificate number anywhere on the site, brochure or reception wall.
- An expired "valid thru" date with no renewal under way.
- A different address or branch. The certificate names a specific organisation; a group's other branches need their own accreditation.
- Services outside the scope. A hospital may be accredited while a newly added service is not yet covered.
For hospital owners: show your status the right way
Put your certificate number and validity on your website, keep the displayed certificate current, apply to NABH for a scope extension before you advertise new services, and follow NABH's rules on using its accreditation mark. Patients and insurers increasingly check, and a clean, verifiable claim builds more trust than a large logo.
If you are preparing for accreditation, our step-by-step guide to the NABH process explains what happens from application to certificate, or ask us for a free gap assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a hospital is NABH accredited?
Search for it in the Find a Healthcare Organisation directory on nabh.co, then ask the hospital for its NABH certificate and check the certificate number, the validity dates and the scope of services. To be certain, email the certificate number to verification@nabh.co.
Is there an official way to verify an NABH certificate?
Yes. NABH certificates state that the authenticity of the certificate can be verified by writing to verification@nabh.co. Send the organisation's name, city and certificate number.
What does the NABH certificate number mean?
The number combines a programme prefix, the year and a serial number, for example SHCO-2024-0000 for a small healthcare organisation. Prefixes seen on NABH's portal include H for hospitals, SHCO, D for dental facilities and AH for AYUSH hospitals.
How long is NABH accreditation valid?
Accreditation for hospitals, small healthcare organisations and dental facilities runs on a four-year cycle with a surveillance assessment in between. Entry-level certifications are valid for two years. The exact dates are printed on the certificate as Valid from and Valid thru.
Is NABH entry-level certification the same as NABH accreditation?
No. Entry-level certification assesses a foundation-level standard and lasts two years; full accreditation assesses the complete standard for that type of facility. Both are genuine NABH statuses, so check which one a facility actually holds.
What if a hospital is not in NABH's directory?
NABH notes that some directory information may be temporarily incomplete while its data is migrated. If you cannot find a facility, ask it for the certificate and confirm the number with verification@nabh.co before concluding anything.
Official sources
Fees and rules change. Always confirm on the official page before you apply.
Get a free gap assessment for your facility
Tell us your facility type, bed or chair count and city. Dr. Ashutosh Sharma will tell you which NABH programme fits, what it will cost and how long it will realistically take — before you commit to anything.
Read next
- What Is NABH Accreditation? Full Form, Meaning, Benefits and ProgrammesNABH full form and meaning, who runs it, every programme, whether it's mandatory, what it costs and how to check a hospital's NABH status.
- NABH Entry-Level vs Full Accreditation: Which Should Your Hospital Choose?NABH entry-level vs SHCO vs full accreditation: eligibility, standards, NABH fees, validity, PMJAY incentives and a simple decision guide.
- NABH Accreditation Process: 10 Steps from Gap Analysis to Certificate (2026)The NABH accreditation process in 10 steps: programme choice, gap analysis, documents, 3-month implementation, assessments and surveillance.
- NABH accreditationEvery NABH programme explained — hospitals, SHCO, entry-level, AYUSH, Panchakarma, dental, eye care, clinics and labs — with eligibility, fees and timelines.