NABH Entry Level Certification
Your first step into NABH quality standards.
Entry Level certification covers the basic quality and patient-safety systems every hospital needs. It suits new hospitals and government hospitals that want a recognised starting point before full accreditation.
At a glance
- Programme
- NABH Entry Level Certification
- Timeline
- 4–6 months
- Valid for
- 2 years
- Best for
- New & government hospitals
- Max beds
- Up to 300 beds*
* Hospitals above 300 beds are no longer eligible after 1 Oct 2026.
Why pursue Entry Level Certification?
Recognised quality baseline
NABH Entry Level certification signals to patients, insurers and government schemes that your hospital meets minimum quality and safety standards.
Faster path than full accreditation
With a smaller set of requirements, Entry Level lets you build quality systems quickly — without the 12–18 month timeline of Full Accreditation.
Stepping stone to full accreditation
Every document, SOP and training record you create now counts toward SHCO or Full Hospital Accreditation later.
Scheme and insurer empanelment
Many government health schemes and TPAs now require or prefer NABH-certified hospitals. Entry Level starts that journey.
Who is eligible?
- New hospitals commissioned on or after 1 October 2026 (one certification cycle)
- Government-owned hospitals of any size
- Hospitals with up to 300 beds planning to move to Full Accreditation later
Hospitals above 300 beds are no longer eligible for Entry Level after 1 October 2026 and must apply for Full Hospital Accreditation instead. We confirm your eligibility at no charge in our first call.
What we deliver
Eligibility check and programme guidance
We review your licences, bed count and ownership type to confirm Entry Level is right for you.
On-site gap analysis
A structured visit to score your hospital against every Entry Level standard — with a written report and prioritised action list.
Costed action plan
A realistic plan showing what needs to be done, by whom, and an honest estimate of costs — including NABH fees, which you pay directly.
Tailored policies, SOPs, forms and registers
We write documents to match how your hospital actually works, not generic templates your staff will ignore.
Staff training
Practical, role-based sessions on patient rights, infection control, fire safety and emergency codes.
Quality indicator set-up
We define the right indicators, build your data-collection sheets and run your first monthly review meeting.
Mock assessment
A practice run conducted exactly like the real NABH assessment, with a written report and corrective actions.
Application support (HOPE portal)
Step-by-step help completing and submitting your application on the NABH HOPE portal.
Post-assessment non-conformity closure
One round of support to prepare and submit your responses to any non-conformities raised by NABH assessors.
Phase-by-phase plan
- 1
Eligibility and gap analysis
Weeks 1–3Site visit, licence review and a scored gap analysis report — so you know exactly where you stand before spending a rupee on documents.
- 2
Documents
Weeks 3–8Policies, SOPs, forms and registers written to match your hospital's size, services and workflows.
- 3
Training and implementation
Weeks 6–16Department-wise staff training, emergency drills, quality registers and indicator data collection — running every day, not just for assessment.
- 4
Mock assessment
Weeks 14–18A full practice assessment with written findings. We work through every non-conformity before you apply.
- 5
Application and assessment
Weeks 18+Online application on the HOPE portal, on-site assessment support and one round of non-conformity closure.
Documents you will need
- Hospital registration / Clinical Establishment licence
- Fire NOC
- Biomedical waste authorisation
- AERB licence (if X-ray, CT or other radiation equipment is in use)
- PCPNDT registration (if ultrasound is performed)
- Pharmacy licence
- Narcotics licence (if applicable)
- List of services offered, sanctioned beds and current staff with qualifications
- Any existing policies, SOPs or quality documents
Not included in our fee
- NABH application fee, assessment fee and certification fee — paid directly by your hospital to NABH
- Assessor travel and accommodation charges (if levied by NABH)
- Construction, renovation, equipment purchases or software
- Fees for obtaining or renewing government licences
Common questions
- Who can apply for Entry Level after October 2026?
- NABH has narrowed eligibility. New hospitals commissioned on or after 1 October 2026 can use it for one cycle, and government hospitals remain eligible. Hospitals above 300 beds can no longer apply. We confirm your eligibility in the first meeting.
- How long is Entry Level certification valid?
- Two years from the date of certification.
- How long must the hospital be running before applying?
- NABH requires the hospital to be functioning for at least six months and to have implemented the Entry Level standards for at least three months at the time of application.
- Can we move to full accreditation later?
- Yes. Entry Level builds the systems you need, so moving to SHCO or Full Accreditation becomes faster.
- Do we pay NABH fees through you?
- No. NABH fees are paid directly by your hospital to NABH. We only charge for our consulting services.
- What happens if we get non-conformities after the assessment?
- Our fee includes one round of support to prepare and submit your corrective action responses to NABH. Additional rounds, if needed, are billed separately.
Ready to get started?
Book a free 30-minute call. We confirm your eligibility, explain the process and give you an honest cost estimate — no obligation.
We are independent NABH accreditation consultants. We are not affiliated with, approved by, or empanelled by NABH or QCI. Accreditation decisions are made solely by NABH. NABH fees are paid directly by the hospital to NABH.