Nursing Licensing in the UAE
Everything a nurse needs to know about getting licensed to practice in the UAE — across DHA, DOH, and MOHAP — in one place.
Nursing Eligibility Requirements in the UAE
Nurses need a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing or a recognized equivalent, from an institution recognized on the authority's approved list.
Post-graduation clinical experience: generally 2 years of clinical experience post-graduation is required.
BLS certification: nurses and midwives must hold a minimum of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Nursing Title Categories
Nurses and midwives are licensed under one of four titles:
- Assistant Nurse — Diploma of Nursing (minimum 18 months), no experience required.
- Registered Nurse — Bachelor's degree in nursing, no experience required.
- Specialty Nurse — two paths: a Registered Nurse qualification plus a Clinical Master's degree or postgraduate clinical nursing specialty qualification (minimum 1 year course duration) plus 1 year of post-qualification related experience; or a Bachelor's degree in one of the nursing specialties (minimum 3 years course duration) plus 2 years of post-qualification related experience.
- Nurse Practitioner — Registered Nurse with a Clinical Master's or Doctoral degree in nursing (or an equivalent in pharmacology, differential diagnosis, or advanced health assessment), or national certification/license as a Nurse Practitioner. 2 years of post-qualification experience as a Nurse Practitioner either way.
Recognized Nursing Specialties
19 recognized specialty titles exist, including Critical Care Nurse, Emergency Nurse, Oncology Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, Mental Health Nurse, Neonatal Nurse, and Wound Care Nurse, among others. A Registered Nurse can be granted specialization privileges after 4+ years of experience in that specialty area.
UK Nurses & Midwives: Experience Exemption
Nurses and midwives holding a valid license/registration from one of 20 countries — including the UK — are exempt from the standard experience requirement, provided:
- The qualification was obtained within the last 2 years, or there's been no gap in practice since their last day of employment
- They submit a valid Good Standing Certificate
- They complete Primary Source Verification
- They provide English proficiency proof if they didn't study in English or hold a license from a non-English-speaking country (TOEFL ≥500, IELTS ≥5.0, OET ≥C, or Cambridge Assessment English ≥169)
Full list of exempt countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA.
Source: Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements, jointly issued by MOHAP, DOH, DHA, and Sharjah Health Authority, April 2025 (PQR §13.1.11, §13.1.15, §14–15, pp.68–72).
Nursing Licensing by Authority
DHA — Dubai
| DHA Registered Nurse Exam | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 Hrs |
| Number of Questions | 150 |
| Fee | USD 240 |
| Pass Score | 50% |
Source: DHA CBT Exam Guideline.
DOH — Abu Dhabi
The DOH exam is administered by Pearson VUE — 150 questions over 180 minutes, with a passing score of 55%.
MOHAP — Northern Emirates
The MOHAP exam is a Computer-Based Test administered by Prometric. The test consists of 150 questions, with a 165-minute time limit, and a fee of USD 130.
Source: MOHAP Nursing Exam Info.
How Healthcare Licensing Help Supports Nurses
We manage the technical, administrative, and regulatory heavy lifting for nurses applying to DHA, DOH, or MOHAP — from eligibility review through license activation:
- Eligibility Review — pre-evaluating your nursing degree and experience against the PQR's title categories — Registered Nurse, Specialty Nurse, or Nurse Practitioner — including checking whether you qualify for the UK/20-country experience exemption, before submitting official files.
- Document Preparation — collecting all necessary documents including transcripts, experience certificates, BLS certification, Good Standing, and licenses in preparation for DataFlow verification.
- DataFlow Coordination — managing your PSV account and tracking verification of your nursing degree, BLS certification, and any specialty qualifications across issuing institutions.
- Exam Guidance — Booking and scheduling support for your DHA (Prometric), DOH (Pearson VUE), or MOHAP (Prometric) licensing exam.
- Application Handling — managing your Sheryan, TAMM, or MOHAP portal profile and regulatory communications.
Explore profession-agnostic details on our DHA, DOH, and MOHAP licensing services pages.
Frequently Asked Questions: Nursing Licensing
A Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing or a recognized equivalent, from an institution on the authority's approved list.
A Registered Nurse holds a Bachelor's degree in nursing with no experience required. A Specialty Nurse has gone further via one of two paths: a Registered Nurse qualification plus a Clinical Master's or postgraduate clinical nursing specialty qualification (minimum 1 year course duration) plus 1 year of post-qualification related experience, or a Bachelor's degree in one of the nursing specialties (minimum 3 years course duration) plus 2 years of post-qualification related experience.
Generally yes — your post-graduation clinical experience counts toward the standard 2-year requirement, verified through Primary Source Verification (PSV). Nurses and midwives holding a valid license from certain countries, including the UK, may be exempt from the experience requirement entirely under specific conditions.
Nurses and midwives holding a valid license or registration from one of 20 countries — including the UK — are exempt from the standard experience requirement, provided the qualification was obtained within the last 2 years (or there's no gap in practice since their last day of employment), they submit a valid Good Standing Certificate, complete Primary Source Verification, and provide English proficiency proof where required.
Ready to Start Your Nursing Licensing Journey?
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