MOHAP License for Healthcare Professionals in the UAE

Checking Your Eligibility

Your eligibility depends on your title. The ministry assesses your qualifications and experience against the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR); for Specialist and Consultant titles, the PQR tier of the country where you trained also counts, and physicians trained in Tier 3 countries cannot hold the Consultant title. We review your documents against the PQR first, so your application matches the title you can hold. Common titles need:

• General Practitioner: the internship year, then two years in clinical practice
• General Dentist: the internship, then two years of practice
• Registered Nurse: a bachelor's degree in nursing; no minimum experience
• Pharmacist: two years after qualifying, not counting work for pharmaceutical companies or in sales

Preparing Your Application on the MOHAP Portal

Applications go through the ministry portal, using the licensing or re-licensing of health professional service. DataFlow confirms your degrees, experience, licenses and good standing with the institutions that issued them. We get your documents ready for DataFlow, submit the application and track the verification, so you always know what is still needed.

Passing the MOHAP Exam

Titles that need an exam sit the ministry licensing exam with Prometric. We explain the requirements for your title and help you book, so the exam fits the timing of your application.

Checking for an Exam Exemption

Three groups may be exempt from the exam: UAE nationals; holders of a qualification or registration on the PQR lists, such as US or UK board certification, PLAB, USMLE or NCLEX; and professionals who already hold a valid DHA, DOH or SHA license for the same title, with a good standing certificate and a full DataFlow report. We check your case against these rules before you register for the exam.

Moving From DHA or DOH

Apply to MOHAP for a transfer while your current license is still valid. Your DataFlow report is transferred to MOHAP, which may ask for more verification. Your new employer then activates the license. Most transfers take 3 to 5 weeks. See license transfers between authorities.

Activating and Keeping Your License

After the ministry confirms your eligibility, the license is activated by your employer: a licensed facility in the Northern Emirates employs you and activates it. Every year you complete continuing education in your specialty: 40 CME credits for physicians and dentists, 20 for nurses and pharmacists, and 10 for allied health professionals. Surgical specialists also submit a logbook every two years for renewal.

Avoiding Delays

• Time your good standing certificate. It has to come from the regulator where you last practised, dated no more than six months before you apply.
• Account for any career break. A break of more than three years means CME credits and a training period in an approved setting under the PQR, and non-UAE nationals cannot apply after five years away.
• Claim an exemption early. Once you have been out of practice for more than two years, no exemption applies.

The license is issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Dubai (DHA), Abu Dhabi (DOH) and Sharjah (SHA) license their own healthcare professionals, so a MOHAP license does not cover them. Not sure which authority applies to you? Compare DHA, DOH and MOHAP.