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Scope Note
Learn how to Submit papers to PubMed Central (PMC) in accordance with the NIH Public Access Policy. More information on submitting papers is available on the PMC site.
This page provides information about the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy, which goes into effect on July 1, 2025. For those with questions during this transition, please see the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy’s Frequently Asked Questions. Information on the 2008 NIH Public Access Policy will remain available on the NIH Scientific Data Sharing site through June 30, 2025.
Overview of Submission Methods
| Version of Paper Submitted | Final Published Article | Author-Accepted Manuscript (AAM) |
|---|---|---|
| Submission Process | Publisher posts the paper directly to PMC, upon the official date of publication. | Papers are required to be submitted via the NIHMS upon acceptance for publication. Publishers, authors or their designee deposit files and the NIHMS converts them to the PMC native format. |
| Approve Submission | Publisher | Author, via NIHMS |
| Approve PMC web version | Publisher | Author, via NIHMS |
| Responsible Party | NIH Awardee | NIH Awardee |
| To cite papers, from acceptance for publication to 3 months post publication | PMCID or “PMC Journal- In Process” | PMCID or NIHMSID |
| To cite papers, 3 months post publication and beyond | PMCID | PMCID |
Guidance on submitting to PubMed Central is forthcoming.