Blog/ Hospital management
ONA certificate: how the process of obtaining it works
The ONA certificate attests that hospitals and clinics follow the healthcare industry’s quality and safety standards. See how the process of obtaining it works, how long it is valid at each level and why it also protects hospital billing.
- By
- Rivio, Editorial team
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- 4 minutes
The ONA certificate is the document issued by the National Accreditation Organization (ONA) to hospitals, clinics and other healthcare services that meet the quality and safety standards set by the organization. Unlike a legal requirement, certification is voluntary and depends on a structured evaluation process conducted by accredited institutions.
Understanding how the process of obtaining it works, how long the certificate is valid and what changes between levels helps hospitals plan their accreditation journey with more predictability.
What the ONA certificate is
The ONA certificate is the formal recognition granted by the National Accreditation Organization to healthcare institutions that meet the standards defined in the Brazilian Accreditation Manual. The document proves that the institution follows patient safety, process management and continuous improvement protocols.
ONA is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization that has been responsible since 1999 for developing and monitoring Brazilian healthcare accreditation standards. The process is voluntary, periodic and confidential: the information collected during the evaluation is not made public.
How the process of obtaining it works
Internal self-assessment
The institution carries out a preliminary review of its own processes, identifying strengths and gaps against ONA standards. This stage guides the action plan before the external evaluation.
Hiring a Certified Accrediting Institution
The evaluation is not done directly by ONA, but by Certified Accrediting Institutions (IACs), authorized to conduct the process following the guidelines of the Brazilian Accreditation System. The healthcare institution chooses an IAC and formalizes the evaluation contract.
External evaluation and issuance of the certificate
IAC auditors check documents, processes and clinical practices on site, comparing the institution’s performance against the standards required for each level. Once the criteria are met, the evaluation report is sent to ONA for approval and issuance of the certificate.
Certificate validity by level
The certificate’s validity varies according to the accreditation level achieved.
| Level | Validity | Compliance criterion |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (Accredited) | 2 years | 90% or more of the quality and safety standards, plus the CORE requirements |
| Level 2 (Fully Accredited) | 2 years | 80% or more of the integrated management standards, plus the CORE requirements |
| Level 3 (Accredited with Excellence) | 3 years | 80% or more of the ONA Management Excellence standards, plus the CORE requirements |
When the validity period ends, a new evaluation is required to renew the certificate. The three levels represent increasing degrees of organizational maturity. To understand what each level requires in detail, see the types of hospital accreditation and the ONA levels. This process is part of a broader concept, hospital accreditation.
Why the ONA certificate matters for hospital billing
Certified hospitals follow standardized clinical documentation processes, which reduces filling errors and inconsistencies between the medical record and the hospital claim, two common causes of denials. The standardization ONA requires also makes internal and external audits easier, since records follow a predictable pattern.
Health plans tend to see certification as an indicator of reliability, which can influence contract negotiations and credentialing processes. Learning about other accredited hospitals and how certification translates into results helps gauge this impact.
The ONA certificate is an ongoing process, not a one‑time achievement
Obtaining the ONA certificate requires planning and the involvement of the entire institution, but the work does not end when the document is issued. Maintaining the standards throughout the validity period, with maintenance evaluations, is what sustains the benefits of certification day to day.
Artificial intelligence tools help hospitals maintain the documentation standards ONA requires, reducing the risk of denials and sustaining the quality gains achieved with certification.
Frequently asked questions about the ONA certificate
What is the ONA certificate?
It is the document issued by the National Accreditation Organization to healthcare institutions that meet the quality and safety standards defined in the Brazilian Accreditation Manual.
How long is the ONA certificate valid?
Validity varies by level: two years for levels 1 and 2, and three years for level 3, with maintenance evaluations during the period.
Who evaluates the institution to grant the ONA certificate?
The evaluation is conducted by Certified Accrediting Institutions (IACs), authorized by ONA to carry out the audit process and issue the report on which the certificate’s approval is based.
Is the ONA certificate mandatory?
No. Certification is voluntary, but it is widely valued by the private healthcare market as an indicator of quality and safety.
Does the ONA certificate reduce billing denials?
Indirectly. The standardization of processes and documentation that certification requires reduces inconsistencies between the medical record and the hospital claim, one of the common causes of administrative denials.
