NIH Public Access Policy

There are four methods to ensure that the version of an article accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal on or after July 1, 2025 arising from NIH-funded research are submitted to PubMed Central (PMC) in compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy. 

Authors should use the method most appropriate for them that is consistent with their publishing agreement. Information about determining the submission method are below in the Workflow section.

Attribution: Becker Medical Library at Washington University School of Medicine  

The updated 2024 Policy will follow the same workflow as the 2008 Policy.* The workflows are determined by the version of the work: the Final Published Article or the Author Accepted Manuscript.

• Final Published Article (Submission Methods A and B)
  • The Final Published Article is submitted to PubMed Central (PMC) by journals or publishers with formal agreements with the National Library of Medicine, for public availability upon the Official Date of Publication.
• Author Accepted Manuscript (Submission Methods C and D)
  • The Author Accepted Manuscript is submitted to PubMed Central (PMC) after processing in the NIH Manuscript Submission system (NIHMS)**, for public availability upon the Official Date of Publication. 
  • Author Accepted Manuscripts can be submitted by Authors or third parties. 
  • During the submission process to NIHMS, Authors grant NIH the right to make the Author Accepted Manuscript publicly available through PMC via Government Use License. 

*Additional information about submission methods can be found on the "2008 Policy Manuscript Submission Methods" page of this guide--the difference is that there will be no embargo, and the published article or author-submitted accepted manuscript will be available when the article is accepted.

**Information about using the NIH Manuscript Submission system (NIHMS) can be found on the "NIH Manuscript Submission System (NIHMS)" page of this guide. Again, the difference is that the author will upload the accepted version of the manuscript and it will be made available in PubMed Central at the time of acceptance.

Attribution: Becker Medical Library at Washington University School of Medicine  

Checklist for the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy for Publications

• Plan ahead. Communicate with co-authors about publication decisions before submitting a manuscript for peer review. The 2024 NIH Policy for Publications applies to works accepted for publication on or after July 01, 2025.
• Confirm that publisher policies allow you to comply with the NIH Policy. Journal policies for manuscripts being prepared for submission should be reviewed to confirm that authors have the right to comply with the 2024 NIH Policy for Publications. 
  • Does the journal stipulate an embargo period? If yes, reach out to the journal and advise them that works accepted for publication on or after July 01, 2025, are not subject to an embargo period—the full text must be made available in PubMed Central (PMC) upon official date of publication.
  • How will the work be submitted to NIH Manuscript Submission System (NIHMS) to prepare for posting to PMC? 
  • Which version of the work will be submitted? 
  • Which author is responsible for the NIHMS approval steps?
• Include the NIH Rights Statement in manuscripts submitted for peer review. This can be included with the grants acknowledgement section. The NIH Rights Statement serves to inform publishers and journals that the work is subject to the NIH Policy and that NIH, as the funding agency, has the right to make the Author Accepted Manuscript publicly available in PubMed Central upon the Official Date of Publication.
  “This manuscript is the result of funding in whole or in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is subject to the NIH Public Access Policy. Through acceptance of this federal funding, NIH has been given a right to make this manuscript publicly available in PubMed Central upon the Official Date of Publication, as defined by NIH.”
• Acknowledge NIH funding on manuscripts submitted for peer review.
• Keep copies of all final peer-reviewed manuscripts (Author Accepted Manuscript), including tables, figures, and supplemental files.
• Submit the Author Accepted Manuscript to the NIH Manuscript Submission System (NIHMS) upon acceptance of publication to prepare for posting to PubMed Central (PMC), if the publisher does not provide this service.
• Complete approval steps in NIHMS to ensure timely PMCID assignment.
•  Add the citation to your My Bibliography.*
• Monitor the compliance status of your publications using your My Bibliography.

*Information about using My Bibliography to ensure and track compliance can be found on the "MyNCBI and My Bibliography" page of this guide.

Attribution: Becker Medical Library at Washington University School of Medicine