SHA Licensing Process in Sharjah: Complete Guide for Healthcare Professionals
If you are planning to work as a healthcare professional in Sharjah, understanding the SHA licensing process is an important first step. The Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) provides healthcare professional assessment and licensing services for professionals working in SHA-regulated healthcare facilities.
The applicable licensing authority depends on the healthcare facility. Therefore, professionals should confirm whether their prospective employer is regulated by SHA before starting an application. A licence issued by another UAE health authority should not be treated as an SHA licence.
This guide explains the SHA licensing process, eligibility requirements, documents, assessment, examination, professional licensing, renewal and common application issues.
What Is SHA Licensing?
SHA licensing is the process through which the Sharjah Health Authority assesses and licenses eligible healthcare professionals to practise in SHA-regulated healthcare facilities in Sharjah.
SHA was formed in May 2010 and regulates healthcare services and professional licensing in Sharjah. Its professional licensing requirements are aligned with the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR).
An SHA professional licence is specific to the Sharjah regulatory pathway. Dubai uses DHA, Abu Dhabi uses DOH, while MOHAP regulates the applicable Northern Emirates. The exact authority should always be confirmed based on the healthcare facility.
Who Needs an SHA License?
Healthcare professionals who intend to practise in an SHA-regulated facility may need to complete the SHA assessment and licensing pathway. This includes professionals such as:
Physicians, general practitioners, specialists and consultants
Dentists
Nurses and midwives
Pharmacists and pharmacy-related professionals
Allied health professionals
Technicians and other regulated healthcare professionals
Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practitioners, where applicable
Professionals moving from another UAE authority should not assume that their existing DHA, DOH or MOHAP credential is automatically converted into an SHA licence. The applicable recognition or exemption route depends on the current PQR requirements and SHA assessment rules.
SHA Licensing Requirements
SHA applies the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). Requirements are title-specific, so the qualification, training and experience needed depend on the professional category and title being requested.
Educational Qualification
Healthcare professionals must hold recognised qualifications appropriate to the professional title. Physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals are assessed according to the specific PQR requirements for their title.
For example, the PQR sets specific qualification, internship or training and experience requirements for physician titles such as general practitioner, specialist and consultant. Applicants should therefore check the exact title they intend to apply for rather than relying on a general qualification rule.
Professional Experience
Experience requirements also vary by professional title. The PQR specifies the minimum relevant clinical experience for each category. For example, the PQR requires two years of clinical experience after internship for the general practitioner title.
SHA's professional licensing service also requires the professional not to have a practice gap exceeding three years under the standard licensing pathway. Longer gaps may require additional training or a return-to-practice route, depending on the category.
SHA Licensing Process Step by Step
The overall SHA licensing pathway normally involves assessment first, followed by professional licensing through an eligible healthcare facility.
Create or access your SHA account through the applicable SHA portal or service channel.
Submit the Healthcare Professional Assessment application with the correct professional category and title.
Upload the required educational, professional and supporting documents.
Pay the applicable assessment fees. SHA's published assessment service lists AED 500 for physicians, dentists and TCIM practitioners, and AED 300 for allied health professionals, nursing/midwives and pharmacists. Additional DataFlow or examination fees may apply where applicable.
Complete the required primary-source verification. SHA asks applicants to provide recent DataFlow reports if available and may require additional verification.
Wait for the assessment review. SHA currently publishes an application-review service duration of 8 working days.
Complete the required examination if an exam is applicable to your professional title and profile.
Upload or submit the examination result as required and complete any remaining assessment requirements.
Receive the SHA Healthcare Professional Assessment Certificate after the applicable requirements have been fulfilled.
Secure an offer from an SHA-licensed healthcare facility.
The healthcare facility submits the professional licence application through SHA's facility channels with the required supporting documents and malpractice insurance.
Once approved, the professional licence is issued through the healthcare facility.
Is a Prometric Exam Required for SHA Licensing?
Not every applicant follows the same examination route. Whether an examination is required depends on the professional title, qualifications, existing UAE licensing or assessment status and the applicable PQR rules.
Prometric lists Sharjah Health Authority as an examination programme. Where an examination is required, the examination format depends on the professional title. Under the PQR, examination formats may include written, oral or OSCE assessments.
Applicants required to take an SHA examination must complete the examination specified for their title.
Exemptions may apply under the Unified PQR and UAE authority recognition rules.
Certain valid UAE authority licences or assessment credentials may support examination exemption, subject to the applicable conditions.
Do not assume an exemption applies until it is confirmed through the applicable SHA process.
SHA does not publish one universal examination fee for every professional category, so applicants should confirm the amount applicable to their application.
For exam preparation, candidates should focus on the syllabus and requirements relevant to their professional title rather than using a generic healthcare exam strategy.
Documents Required for SHA Licensing
Document requirements vary according to the professional category and stage of the application. Common documents may include:
Passport and recent photograph
Educational qualification certificates and transcripts, where required
Internship or training completion certificate, where applicable
Postgraduate qualification certificates for specialist titles
Professional experience certificates with complete employment dates and verifiable details
Current professional licence or registration, where applicable
Certificate of Good Standing, where required
Primary-source verification / DataFlow report, where required or available
Evidence of applicable examination exemption or recognition, where required
Other supporting documents requested by SHA for the professional category
Healthcare facility offer or approval documentation at the professional licensing stage
Medical malpractice insurance for professional licence activation
The Unified PQR states that a Good Standing Certificate must be valid and not older than six months at the time of applying for a licence. Applicants should also ensure that experience certificates contain accurate dates and verifiable information to avoid verification delays.
SHA Assessment Fees and Processing Time
SHA's published Healthcare Professional Assessment service currently lists the following assessment fees:
AED 500 – Physicians, Dentists and TCIM Practitioners
AED 300 – Allied Health Professionals, Nursing/Midwives and Pharmacists
SHA publishes an application-review service duration of 8 working days for the professional assessment service. Professional licence processing is also published with a service duration of 8 working days. Actual end-to-end timelines can be longer because document verification, examinations, employer processing and other requirements may take additional time.
SHA Professional License
Completing the professional assessment does not by itself authorise a healthcare professional to start practising. SHA states that an official professional licence is required.
The first professional licence application is submitted through the healthcare facility. The facility must have an active licence, and the professional must have a valid assessment certificate before the professional licence can be issued.
SHA's published professional licensing service includes requirements such as an offer letter, malpractice insurance and other supporting documents depending on the licence type.
SHA License Validity
SHA currently states that full-time and part-time professional licences are valid for one year. Visiting licences are stated as valid for two months, while temporary licences are stated as valid for three months.
The exact validity and conditions depend on the licence type issued. Applicants should check the details of their specific SHA licence rather than relying on a general validity period.
SHA License Renewal
SHA professional licence renewal is submitted through the healthcare facility. Renewal should be planned before the existing licence expires and requires the applicable renewal conditions to be met.
Valid Emirates ID, where applicable
CME/CPD evidence meeting the applicable requirements
BLS/ACLS certification where applicable
Valid medical malpractice insurance
Medical or mental health report where applicable, including the published requirement for professionals over 60
Surgical logbook where applicable
Clearance of outstanding fines or other applicable requirements
SHA publishes an 8-working-day service duration for renewal. Full-time and part-time licences can be renewed up to three months before expiry according to the published renewal service.
SHA License Transfer
SHA provides a professional licence transfer service for movement between SHA-licensed healthcare facilities. The transfer service applies to active SHA full-time and part-time licences and is not the same as converting a DHA, DOH or MOHAP licence into an SHA licence.
The published SHA transfer service has an AED 500 fee and an 8-working-day service duration. Temporary and visiting licences are not transferable under the stated service.
Common SHA Licensing Mistakes to Avoid
Applying to the wrong UAE health authority without first confirming the regulator of the target facility.
Assuming a DHA, DOH or MOHAP licence automatically becomes an SHA licence.
Choosing the wrong professional title during the assessment application.
Submitting incomplete or unverifiable experience certificates.
Allowing a Good Standing Certificate to become older than the permitted period.
Assuming an examination exemption applies without confirmation.
Submitting verification documents that do not cover the required qualification or professional title.
Ignoring an extended practice gap before starting the application.
Assuming that an assessment certificate alone allows you to start clinical practice.
Waiting until the licence expires before starting the renewal process.
Frequently Asked Questions About SHA Licensing
Is SHA separate from MOHAP?
Yes. SHA is the health regulator for Sharjah, while MOHAP regulates the applicable Northern Emirates. The correct authority depends on the healthcare facility.
Do I need an SHA licence to work in Sharjah Healthcare City?
Healthcare professionals working in an SHA-regulated facility need the applicable SHA professional licensing pathway. Facility or free-zone licensing and individual professional licensing are separate processes.
Can I transfer my DHA licence to SHA?
SHA's internal transfer service is for movement between SHA-licensed facilities. A DHA licence is not automatically converted into an SHA licence. The applicable SHA assessment or recognition route must be followed.
Do I always need to take an SHA exam?
No. Examination requirements depend on the professional title and the applicant's qualifications and existing licensing or assessment status. Exemptions may apply under the PQR.
Can I use my existing DataFlow report?
A recent DataFlow report may be considered where applicable, but SHA may request additional verification depending on the documents and application.
How long does SHA licensing take?
SHA publishes 8 working days for professional assessment review and 8 working days for professional licence processing. The complete journey may take longer because verification, examination and employer processing can add time.
Should I cancel my existing UAE licence before applying for SHA?
Do not cancel an existing licence at the beginning of the process unless instructed by the relevant authority or employer. Confirm the correct transition or recognition route first.
What if I have a career gap?
The standard SHA professional licensing service states that the professional should not have a practice gap exceeding three years. Longer gaps may require additional training or return-to-practice requirements depending on the category.
Conclusion
The SHA licensing process involves several stages, from professional assessment and document verification to examination where applicable and final licence activation through an SHA-licensed healthcare facility. Understanding the correct professional title, eligibility requirements, documents and examination route can help reduce avoidable delays.
If you are planning to work in Sharjah, confirm the licensing authority of your target facility before paying fees or beginning the application. Alzantra supports healthcare professionals with SHA licensing guidance, document preparation, DataFlow support and exam preparation.
Contact Alzantra to review your profile and understand the applicable SHA licensing pathway.