The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) is the regulative body of the Healthcare Sector in the Emirate of Abu
u Dhabi and ensures
excellence in Healthcare for the community by monitoring the health status of the population.
The regulation of Health Professionals by means of licenses issued by HAAD is one of the most important ways in which HAAD
can ensure the provision of safe, effective, ethical and high quality healthcare in Abu Dhabi.
In its capacity as the primary regulatory authority for the healthcare sector and sole licensor of health professionals, the HAAD
assumes oversight over the entry into the practice of health care in Abu Dhabi through licensing the following categories of
health professional:
1. Physicians and Dentists
2. Nurses and Midwives
3. Allied Health Professionals (including Pharmacists)
The following 3 essential processes must be completed for initial licensure of all health professionals:
1. Primary Source Verification (PSV):
The process through which the HAAD validates credentialing information from the institution that originally conferred or issued
the credential (e.g. authenticity of educational degrees). This is done through our partnership with Dataflow group. Please click
here for more information on dataflow.
All health professionals must undergo the PSV process upon initial licensure application or license renewal (for licensed health
professionals whose qualifications had not previously undergone PSV). Please note that each document only requires to be
verified once. Health professionals may be required to repeat the PSV process for verification of newly acquired
credentials/qualifications as required for credentialing purposes (e.g. Acquisition of new educational degree).
ALL APPLICANTS FOR LICENSURE MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE VERIFIED DATAFLOW REPORT TO COMPLETE LICENSING PROCESSES.
2. Credentialing
Upon completion of primary source verification, all health professionals applying for licensure are credentialed in accordance with
the HAAD Professional Qualifications Requirements (PQR). The PQR is a comprehensive document which sets out the standards of
education, qualification, training, and professional experience that are required of specific health professional categories.
Please click here to access the PQR.
ALL APPLICANTS FOR LICENSURE MUST SATISFY MINIMAL PQR REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC LICENSURE TITLES/POSITIONS.
3. Assessment/Examination
Certain professionals may require formal assessments (examinations) to ensure clinical competence and safe practice.
Examinations are provided in a variety of formats including:
o
Written
Oral
Practical
Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Computer-Based Testing (CBT)/Online Testing
PLEASE NOTE, SELECT HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES HAVE THE OPTION OF SITTING THE REQUIRED HAAD EXAMINATION
BEFORE INITIATING THE LICENSING PROCESS. This is usually reserved for health professional categories where online testing is
available (e.g. medical practitioners, registered nurses).
For details on examination requirements, exemptions, and exam registration procedures please click here to access the HAAD
website.
1. Equivalence of qualifications
The HAAD cross recognizes select qualifications related to specific health professional categories as equivalent to the related
HAAD competency based examination. Individuals who show proof of current attainment of these qualifications are waived from
undergoing the equivalent HAAD examination.
Please click here for details on examination exemptions policies.
2. Facility sponsorship requirement
All practicing health professionals in Abu Dhabi must have a designated facility sponsor whose name appears on the HAAD
license. Evidence of sponsorship is provided by completing the facility declaration form in section 3.0 of the HAAD licensure
application.
Though individuals may start and complete the 3 essential components of licensure (PSV, credentialing, and examinations)
process without facility sponsorship (as an unsponsored applicant) final license issuance requires a facility sponsor. Thus,
unsponsored applicants will be prompted to provide evidence of sponsorship before issuance of license.
3. Proof of Medical Fitness
All health professionals over age 60 who wish to apply for licensure must provide a medical fitness clearance form. After
submission of the HAAD licensure application, applicants over 60 will receive a notification from HAAD licensing officials with
detailed instructions on how and where to complete the medical fitness requirement. Please note that medical fitness reports
must be issued from specific HAAD designated facilities ONLY.
4. Security Clearance (CID)
All health professionals must submit a CID (staff data form) form to be used for security clearance purposes (this will appear as
part of the licensure application form). Please note that applicants who are unable to complete the last two sections of the form
(requiring proof of UAE visa and appointment dates) may leave these sections blank. These applicants can proceed with all
licensure processes but may be prompted to provide the missing CID clearance information before the final step of license
issuance.
5. Gap of Practice
The HAAD has strict time allowances for health professionals who have experienced a gap of clinical practice. To access the gap
of practice policy, please refer to page 14 of the PQR 2011.
The following is a checklist of requirements of all health professionals submitting licensure applications for the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi. We highly recommend that you prepare the following required documents before starting your application:
Recent passport size photograph (white background)
Passport copy, only pages showing personal details and expiry
If the applicant is inside the country they need to submit a copy of the residence/visit visa for CID purposes.
Experience Letters (to cover the minimal and most recent experience duration as required by the PQR title being applied
to). Please note the following:
o
Experience is defined as a salaried position as a licensed health professional. Volunteer and training/trainee
positions do not qualify.
Experience letters must be issued as official documents from the relevant human resources department(s)
If submitting part time experience please attach an official record of hours worked.
Copy of license valid and current professional license(s) (to cover the minimal and most recent experience duration as
required by the PQR title being applied to)
Certificate(s) of Good Standing from the relevant regulatory authority (to cover the most recent experience duration as
required by the PQR title being applied to AND the most recent 10 years of clinical practice. Please note:
o
If duration required by PQR is over 10 years, then please provide certificate(s) of good standing to cover the
experience as required by PQR .
If the applicant has less than 10 years of clinical practice, please provide certificate(s) of good standing to cover the
entire duration of practice.
If you do not have a regulatory authority that issues certificates of good standing (e.g. U.S. and Canadian
professional license holders) professional licensure status will be reviewed by the Health Authority independently.
For applicants whose regulatory authority will not issue good standing certificates to individuals (e.g. GMC license
holders), you may have it sent to the following address:
Health Authority Abu Dhabi
Division of Health Regulations
Department of Health Professional
Licensing P.O. Box 5674
Abu Dhabi, UAE
PLEASE INCLUDE/ENCLOSE YOUR HAAD LICENSE APPLICATION NUMBER
Facility Declaration Form (applicable only to applicants with facility sponsorship, provided in the application)
CID/staff data clearance form (provided in the application)
Letter of Authorization (provided in the application)
Educational qualifications (must provide the relevant qualifications as required by the PQR title being applied to). Below is
a summary table of educational requirements according to health professional category.
Below is a summary table of educational requirements according to health professional category.
HOWEVER PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BELOW TABLE REPRESENTS AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF REQUIREMENTS;
PLEASE REFER TO THE PQR FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Physicians and Dentists
Nursing and Midwifery
Allied Health Professionals
Clinical
Non Clinical Roles
Medical Practitioners
(Physicians) - Internship Medical School Degree
(M.B.B.S./MD or equivalent)
from WHO/IMED/FAIMER
recognized institution got
GP/MP)
Transplant coordinators
Biomedical Engineers
Cast Technician Central
Sterile Services
Technician/Assistant Level Discharge Planners
Practical Nurse/Midwife - High
-Diploma/Certificate of
Medical Secretary
School certificate - Nursing
proficiency in relevant field of Health Educator
School with NLT 18 months study
study
Please refer to PQR
for details of
requirements for non
clinical AHPs
General Practitioners
(Dentists) - Internship - Dental
School Degree (BDS, DMD, DDS
or equivalent) from FDI World
Dental Federation recognized
institution for GP position
Registered Nurse/Midwife
- Above requirements - Bachelor
of Science degree in nursing or
equivalent qualification of NLT 3
years study
Specialists and Consultants ADON/DON - Above
(Dentists and
requirements - Post Graduate
Physicians) - Above
Technologist/Senior
Technologist - Bachelors
degree in relevant field - Post
graduate degree
(Masters/PhD/higher diploma
for some senior positions)
Manager/Supervisor
- Bachelors degree in relevant
field - Post graduate degree
requirements - Dental/Medical
Board Certification(s) and/or
Masters/PhD degree (s)
Degree (Masters/PhD)
(Masters/PhD/higher diploma)
Please Note: Please refer to
PQR for recognized
medical/dental board
certifications
Please note: All Nurses and
Midwives must provide evidence
of BLS certification Advanced
Life Support Certification e.g.
ALCS, PALS, ALSO, NRP are
required for select
nursing/midwivery titles
Please note: Some positions
are restricted to UAE Nationals
only Some positions require
proof of membership in
specific qualifying associations
HOWEVER PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE TABLE REPRESENTS AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF
REQUIREMENTS; PLEASE REFER TO THE PQR FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
After submission of your HAAD e-licensing application, there are two principle methods of having of obtaining application status
updates:
1. Automatic SMS updates of application status will be sent directly to UAE mobile numbers if provided in the application form
2. Applicants may also check the status of their application by logging into the Health Authority website at [Link] and
logging into the e-licensing system or click on the following link.
An email will be sent with a different user name and password .
End of application instructions. By clicking the NEXT button, you will begin the HAAD e-licensing application.
Category
Content
- Nursing &
Midwifery
- Pharmacy
- Clinical Support
- Alternative
Medicine
1. Education - Verification of 1 relevant Educational Qualification
2. Employment - Verification of last 2 years of experience
3. Health License - Verification of 1 professional License
Fee
950 AED
4. Certificate of Good Standing
Additional Component (Education/Employment/License) charge per check
300 AED
1. Education - Verification of Post Graduate degree (Masters, PhD, Board
Certification)
- Specialty
Physician
- Specialist Dentist
2. Employment - Verification of last 3 years of experience
3. Health License - Verification of 1 professional License
1600
AED
4. Certificate of Good Standing
Additional Component (Education/Employment/License) charge per check
300 AED
1. Education - Verification of Post Graduate degree (Masters, PhD, Board
Certification)
2. Employment - Verification of last 3 years of experience
- GP Dentist
3. Health License - Verification of 1 professional License
1200
AED
4. Certificate of Good Standing
Additional Component (Education/Employment/License) charge per check
300 AED
1. Education - Verification of MBBS/MD/BDS/DMD/DDS or Equivalent
2. Employment - Verification of last 3 years of experience
- Medical
Practitioner
3. Health License - Verification of 1 professional License
1200
AED
4. Certificate of Good Standing
Additional Component (Education/Employment/License) charge per check
- Consultant
1. Education - Verification of Post Graduate degree (Masters, PhD, Board
Physician
Certification)
- Visiting
2. Employment - Verification of last 8 years of experience
Consultant
- Consultant Dentist
3. Health License - Verification of 1 professional License
300 AED
1600
AED
4. Certificate of Good Standing
Additional Component (Education/Employment/License) charge per check
300 AED
3.1
Facilit
y
Name
(if
spons
ored
by a
facilit
y) *
------Select Facility--------
3.2
Uploa
d
signed
Facilit
y
Declar
ation
form *
3.3
Applic
ation
for: *
3.4
Speci
alty *
3.5
Subs
pecial
ty *
3.6
Pears
onVu
e
Regis
tratio
n ID
(if
applic
able)
Upload / View / Delete
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