Key takeaways
- NABH requires the standards to be implemented for at least three months before you apply.
- Hospital, SHCO and entry-level applications go through a desktop assessment of documents before the on-site assessment.
- Under the 6th Edition, every Core element must score at least 4 out of 5 and Commitment elements must reach 80% compliance.
- Hospitals and SHCOs run on a 4-year cycle with surveillance in year 2; entry-level certifications last 2 years.
Step 1: Choose the right programme
NABH has separate programmes by system of medicine and size: hospitals above 50 beds, SHCO up to 50 beds, entry-level, AYUSH hospitals, AYUSH entry-level, Panchakarma clinics, dental, entry-level dental, clinics and laboratories. Check eligibility carefully — operating period, beds, chairs or tables, occupancy and exclusions. Choosing wrongly can waste months.
Step 2: Buy the standards and guidebook
Each programme has its own standards document and guidebook, available from NABH. Some standards are free to download; guidebooks are paid. For entry-level applicants, NABH's free E-Mitra tool adds sample policies and forms.
Step 3: Run a gap analysis
Compare how your facility actually works with every applicable objective element. A good gap analysis is done on the floor — in wards, OT, pharmacy, kitchen, stores and records — not in an office. Score each element the way NABH will (1 to 5) so you know where the real risk is.
Step 4: Fix statutory licences first
NABH assessors check that you hold every approval your services require: clinical establishment registration, fire NOC, biomedical waste authorisation, pollution consents, AERB for X-ray and CT, PC-PNDT for ultrasound, drug licence, FSSAI, lift licence and others. Expired or missing licences stall applications — so start these early. See licences and registrations.
Step 5: Build documentation that matches reality
Policies, SOPs, formats, registers, committee terms of reference and a document control system. Write them around how your teams work and make sure staff know them. Our NABH documentation checklist lists what a typical hospital needs, chapter by chapter.
Step 6: Implement for at least three months
NABH requires the standards to be implemented for at least three months before you apply. During this period:
- train every department on the procedures that affect them;
- run committees (quality, infection control, pharmacy and therapeutics, safety) and minute them;
- collect quality indicators monthly and analyse them;
- conduct audits — hand hygiene, medical records, medication charts;
- hold fire and code drills.
The records you generate here are your evidence.
Step 7: Internal audit and mock assessment
Audit yourself exactly as NABH will — patient tracers, staff interviews, record reviews — and score the result. Under the 6th Edition, every Core element must score at least 4, Commitment elements need 80% overall compliance, every standard and chapter must average at least 4, and no standard may have more than one element at 2 or below. Fix what fails before applying.
Step 8: Apply online and pay the fees
Register on the NABH portal for your programme, upload documents and the self-assessment, and pay the application fee. Fees vary widely by programme — see our NABH fee guide.
Step 9: Desktop assessment, on-site assessment and NC closure
For hospital, SHCO and entry-level programmes NABH first conducts a desktop assessment of your documents. Then trained assessors carry out the on-site assessment: they walk the facility, interview staff at all levels, trace patients and review records. Any non-conformities must be closed with evidence within the time NABH allows. The accreditation committee then decides.
Step 10: Keep the system running
Accreditation is not a one-time event:
| Programme | After accreditation |
|---|---|
| Hospitals (HCO), SHCO | Surveillance in year 2; re-apply in year 4 |
| Dental (DHSP 3rd Edition) | Surveillance at 21–24 months; 4-year cycle |
| AYUSH hospitals (new 1st Edition), eye care (2nd Edition), allopathic clinics (2nd Edition) | 4-year cycle with a mid-term surveillance assessment |
| Panchakarma clinics, blood centres | Surveillance at 15–18 months; re-apply in year 3 |
| Entry-level certifications, lab certification | Renew every 2 years, applying 6 months before expiry |
How long does it all take?
| Starting point | Typical time to certificate |
|---|---|
| Small facility, entry-level certification | 4–6 months |
| SHCO or AYUSH hospital, full accreditation | 6–9 months |
| Hospital above 50 beds, 6th Edition | 6–12 months |
These are our typical experiences, not NABH commitments; assessment scheduling and how quickly gaps are closed make the biggest difference. If you'd like a realistic plan for your facility, ask for a free gap assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps of NABH accreditation?
Choose the right programme; buy the standards and guidebook; carry out a gap analysis; fix statutory licences; prepare policies, procedures and records; implement for at least three months with training, committees and quality indicators; conduct an internal audit or mock assessment; apply online with fees; complete NABH's desktop and on-site assessments and close non-conformities; then maintain the system for surveillance and renewal.
How long does the NABH accreditation process take?
NABH's minimum is three months of implementation before applying. In practice, small facilities usually reach entry-level certification in 4 to 6 months and full accreditation takes 6 to 12 months, depending on infrastructure, staffing and existing documentation.
What happens in a NABH desktop assessment?
For hospital, SHCO and entry-level programmes, NABH reviews the documents you submit — policies, licences, staff details and self-assessment — before the on-site visit. Gaps found at this stage must be addressed before assessors are scheduled.
Is pre-assessment mandatory for NABH?
Not for most current programmes. For SHCO and AYUSH hospitals NABH describes the pre-assessment as optional, and for dental 3rd Edition applicants pre-assessment is optional. A consultant's mock assessment serves a similar purpose.
What happens after NABH accreditation is granted?
The organisation must keep the system running. Hospitals and SHCOs have a surveillance assessment in year 2 and re-apply in year 4; dental providers have surveillance at 21–24 months; AYUSH hospitals, Panchakarma and allopathic clinics have surveillance at 15–18 months; entry-level certificates must be renewed every two years.
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
- NABH Documentation Checklist: Policies, SOPs, Registers and Records (6th Edition)A chapter-wise NABH documentation checklist: policies, SOPs, registers, committees, quality indicators and licences under the 6th Edition.
- NABH Accreditation Cost in India (2026): Official Fees for Every ProgrammeNABH fees 2026 for hospitals, SHCO, entry-level, AYUSH, dental, eye, blood centres, imaging, clinics and labs, with GST and first-year examples.
- NABH 6th Edition Standards: Chapters, Objective Elements and How Hospitals Are ScoredNABH 6th Edition explained: 10 chapters, 100 standards, 639 objective elements, Core to Excellence levels, scoring rules and key dates.
- How to Choose a NABH Consultant: Fees, NABH MITRA and 12 Questions to AskChoosing a NABH consultant in 2026: what a good one does, consultant fees, NABH's MITRA empanelment and free E-Mitra toolkit, red flags and 12 questions.
- How our NABH consultancy worksOur NABH consultancy method: eligibility check, gap analysis, documentation, training, mock assessment, application and assessment support, with fees.