Key takeaways
- Eligible: hospitals with at least 25 operational beds, excluding emergency beds, and 2 to 10 emergency beds depending on total bed strength.
- 2nd Edition (September 2025), effective 1 April 2026: 8 chapters, 47 standards, 276 objective elements.
- Implement the standards for at least 3 months before applying; certification is valid for 2 years, with renewal due 6 months before expiry.
- The standards apply to the whole hospital, not only the emergency department, and to public and private hospitals alike.
What the programme is
NABH started its emergency certification programme in 2016 to set a national benchmark for emergency care: timely triage, safe resuscitation, credentialed staff and clear transfer and discharge processes. NABH also positions it as an objective basis for empanelment by insurance companies and other third parties. The current standard is the 2nd Edition, published in September 2025 and effective from 1 April 2026.
Who can apply
- Hospitals with at least 25 operational beds, excluding emergency beds.
- A functioning emergency department with the minimum number of emergency beds for the hospital's size:
| Total operational beds | Minimum emergency beds |
|---|---|
| Up to 50 | 2 |
| 51–100 | 4 |
| 101–200 | 6 |
| 201–350 | 8 |
| More than 350 | 10 |
- The standards implemented for at least three months, and a commitment to all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
The standards apply to the whole hospital, not only the emergency department, and to public and private hospitals alike: the patient who arrives in emergency depends on the laboratory, pharmacy, blood supply, wards and staff behind it.
How the 2nd Edition is structured
| Chapter | Standards | Objective elements |
|---|---|---|
| Access, Assessment and Information (AAI) | 11 | 94 |
| Patient Care and Rights (PCR) | 10 | 59 |
| Management of Medication (MOM) | 7 | 43 |
| Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) | 3 | 13 |
| Patient Safety and Quality Improvement (PSQ) | 3 | 16 |
| Responsibilities of Management (ROM) | 3 | 13 |
| Facility Management and Safety (FMS) | 5 | 16 |
| Human Resource Management (HRM) | 5 | 22 |
| Total | 47 | 276 |
The weight sits where emergency care succeeds or fails: access, triage and assessment (AAI) and patient care and rights (PCR) together carry more than half the objective elements.
Fees
NABH's programme page lists the following, plus 18% GST. The table is headed "1st Edition June 2016", so confirm current amounts with NABH before you apply.
| Fee | 25–200 beds | 201 beds and above |
|---|---|---|
| Application | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| Annual | ₹25,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Virtual assessment | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| Re-issue of certificate | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 |
Each additional emergency site adds ₹10,000 to the application fee.
The process
- Download the 2nd Edition standards and do a gap analysis of your emergency department and the services behind it.
- Implement the standards for at least three months, with training, audits and records.
- Apply online through NABH's portal and pay the application fee.
- Undergo the assessment, which NABH may conduct on-site, remotely, as a desktop review or as a hybrid.
- Close any non-conformities; NABH's certification committee reviews the report and grants certification.
- Certification is valid for two years. Apply for renewal at least six months before expiry.
What assessors look at in an emergency department
- A triage system with defined categories and response times, and reassessment of waiting patients.
- Medico-legal case handling as the law requires.
- A resuscitation area with a standard crash cart, defibrillator, airway equipment and emergency medicines.
- Credentialed doctors and nurses with current life-support training.
- Clear criteria and records for admission, transfer and discharge, including patients brought dead.
- Disaster and mass-casualty readiness, and infection control in a crowded space.
These mirror the emergency requirements in the 6th Edition hospital standards; our COP chapter guide covers them in detail. Bed occupancy rules for NABH programmes are in our 2026 occupancy norms guide.
Is it worth it?
For hospitals of 25 beds and more that are not ready for full accreditation, emergency certification is a focused way to prove the service patients judge you by first, and a useful step towards full NABH accreditation. We run gap analyses against the 2nd Edition and train emergency teams on triage, resuscitation roles and documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Which hospitals can apply for NABH emergency department certification?
Hospitals with at least 25 operational beds, excluding emergency beds, that run a functioning emergency department with the minimum number of emergency beds for their size: 2 beds up to 50 hospital beds, 4 for 51–100, 6 for 101–200, 8 for 201–350 and 10 above 350.
How many standards are in the NABH emergency department standards?
The 2nd Edition (September 2025, effective 1 April 2026) has 8 chapters, 47 standards and 276 objective elements, covering access and assessment, patient care and rights, medication, infection control, quality, management, facility safety and human resources.
How long is NABH emergency department certification valid?
Two years. Hospitals should apply for renewal at least six months before the certification expires.
What is the NABH fee for emergency department certification?
NABH's published fee table lists a ₹2,000 application fee and an annual fee of ₹25,000 for 25–200 beds or ₹50,000 above 200 beds, a ₹2,000 virtual assessment fee and ₹10,000 extra per additional emergency site, plus 18% GST. The table is labelled with the 1st Edition, so confirm current fees with NABH before applying.
Is emergency department certification the same as full NABH accreditation?
No. It is a separate certification focused on emergency care, although its standards apply across the hospital. Hospitals with full NABH accreditation already meet emergency care requirements through the 6th Edition's COP chapter.
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 6th Edition COP Chapter: Care of Patients ExplainedNABH 6th Edition COP chapter explained: 20 standards, 136 objective elements, 13 Core elements, from emergency and ICU care to surgery and high-risk patients.
- NABH Bed Occupancy Norms 2026: What Changed for SHCO, Hospitals and Entry LevelNABH's revised bed occupancy norms (January 2026): 20% for the final assessment, 25% at surveillance, 30% at renewal, day-care beds and how to calculate occupancy.
- Hospitals above 50 beds (6th Edition)NABH 6th Edition accreditation for hospitals above 50 beds: 10 chapters, 100 standards, 639 objective elements, scoring rules, NABH fees and timeline.
- TPA & insurance empanelmentJoin insurer and TPA cashless networks: ROHINI ID, IRDAI hospital criteria, GIPSA PPN for public sector insurers, documents and tariffs.