ASF Certification — The Entry Pathway
Same tool. Same criteria. Lighter thresholds. Local decision. Fast timeline. A formal stepping stone to full international accreditation.
Quality care, locally assessed — in your language, by local experts. Certification is delivered by a National Adaptation Partner (NAP) authorised by ASF. The NAP trains local Monitors, conducts assessments in the national language, and makes the certification decision. ASF sets the standards and quality-assures the NAP; the NAP delivers.
How It Works
| Step | Activity | Who | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Self-assessment using the free ASF tool | Anyone | Days |
| 2 | Application to local NAP. Director signs declaration. | Director + Coordinator | 1 day |
| 3 | NAP reviews: Non-Negotiable met? Core ≥70%? Evidence stated? | NAP Coordinator | 3–5 days |
| 4 | Online assessment by NAP-certified Monitor, by video call (€200) | NAP Monitor | 1–2 hours |
| 5 | If the online assessment is passed: physical on-site visit (€250 Fitness & Wellness, €500 Ambulatory Clinic) | NAP Monitor | Half day |
| 6 | NAP certification decision. | NAP | 5 days |
| 7 | Silver badge issued — co-branded NAP and ASF. | NAP + ASF | 1 day |
| 8 | 12-month certification period. Quarterly cycle begins. | Facility | 12 months |
Threshold Comparison
| Requirement | ASF Certification | ASF Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Negotiable criteria | 100% met | 100% met |
| Core criteria | ≥70% met | ≥85% met |
| Standard criteria | No threshold | ≥70% met |
| Quarterly submissions | Not required | 4 per year |
| Decision body | Local NAP | ASF ADC |
| Timeline | Weeks to months | 3-year cycle |
| Badge | Silver | Gold |
| Annual fee | From €100/mo (varies by facility type), + €200 online assessment, + physical assessment if passed | From €375/mo, see Fees |
Why Certification Exists
Most facilities in most countries have never been accredited by anyone. The gap between “no accreditation” and “full international accreditation” is too large to cross in one step. Certification is the intermediate step — real, verified, meaningful recognition that a facility meets patient safety absolutes and the majority of core criteria, achievable in weeks rather than years.
It is also the mechanism by which ASF becomes locally owned. The NAP is a local institution — a public health institute, a professional association, a university — that carries the methodology forward in the national language and health system context. ASF does not want to run accreditation in every country. It wants every country to run its own.
From Certification to Accreditation
The 12-month certification period equals Year 1 of the accreditation cycle. Your certification history — the self-assessment, the Monitor visit, the evidence file — is recognised by the ADC. A certified facility that wants full accreditation does not start from zero: its 12-month certification record becomes the opening evidence of the 3-year accreditation cycle, with Year 1 of that cycle already under way.
Currently Available In
Georgia
Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG) — SheniEkimi Certification at certificate.ge. Assessment in Georgian. First NAP partner, operating since 2021.
Your country not listed?
ASF is actively seeking NAP partners in every region. If you represent a public health institute, professional body, or university with facility quality experience, we want to hear from you.
Apply Now →
Full Accreditation Pathway →
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