Planning to work in Sharjah as a physiotherapist, laboratory professional, radiographer or another allied healthcare professional? Before starting your application, confirm which authority regulates your intended workplace.
For a facility licensed by the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA), the professional licensing pathway has two main stages:
- Professional assessment: SHA reviews your credentials and determines your professional title.
- Professional licensing: Your hiring facility applies for permission for you to practise.
An assessment certificate alone does not authorise clinical practice. You must receive the professional licence before starting work.
Who Should Apply for an SHA Licence?
This route applies to professionals seeking employment in SHA-licensed healthcare facilities.
Allied healthcare covers disciplines such as laboratory sciences, medical imaging, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, respiratory care, audiology, optometry and other recognised clinical or technical professions.
“Paramedical” is a broad description. Your application must use the professional title supported by your qualification and clinical background.
Confirm the facility’s regulator with the employer before paying fees. A Sharjah address alone should not determine which application you submit.
SHA Eligibility Requirements
SHA uses the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) to assess applicants.
Requirements differ between professions and between technician, technologist, therapist and assistant titles. The common UAE framework considers education, relevant experience and professional registration.
Recognised qualification
Your qualification must support the requested title. Programme recognition, study duration, academic content and clinical training can affect the assessment.
Relevant experience
Check the requirement for your exact professional category. Do not assume that every allied healthcare applicant needs the same number of years.
Professional registration
Prepare the applicable licence or registration from your home country and/or country of last employment.
Academic transcripts
The PQR requires transcripts for credential assessment. It also states that assistant allied healthcare professionals must work under a licensed professional rather than independently.
Can Fresh Graduates Apply?
Some professional titles may have pathways without previous employment experience. Others require relevant experience or additional training.
Fresh graduates should check:
- Whether their qualification supports the requested title.
- Whether experience is required for that category.
- Whether clinical training is necessary.
- Whether their graduation date affects eligibility.
- Which professional registration documents apply.
A document marked “if available” on a service checklist does not automatically mean that every applicant qualifies without it.
Documents Required for SHA Assessment
Prepare the following according to your circumstances:
| Document | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Valid passport | Clear personal-details copy |
| Emirates ID | Valid copy, as requested |
| Academic qualification | Relevant degree or diploma |
| Transcript or mark sheets | Complete academic record |
| Professional licence | Current registration, if applicable |
| Experience certificates | Relevant employment records, if applicable |
| Good Standing Certificate | From the current licensing authority, if applicable |
| Previous PSV report | Existing verification report, if available |
| Examination exemption evidence | Supporting documents, if claiming an exemption |
SHA requires Arabic or English documents. Other languages need a certified legal translation accompanied by the original records.
Also keep a recent photograph, BLS/CPR certificate and any previous UAE eligibility or licensing records available. SHA’s general FAQ identifies these among supporting documents.
SHA Allied Health Licence Process: Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm Your Professional Title
Match your qualification and clinical work to the relevant PQR category.
For example, laboratory technician and laboratory technologist should not be selected interchangeably.
Step 2: Open SHA’s Professional Assessment Service
Visit SHA Services and select Request for Healthcare Professional Assessment.
Access the application through the official service link.
Step 3: Complete Your Application
Enter your education, registration and employment details accurately. Upload the required records, existing PSV reports and exemption evidence.
Step 4: Complete Verification and Any Required Assessment
Follow SHA’s instructions for additional verification, document clarification or examination.
If an examination is required, declare your previous attempts with other UAE health authorities.
Step 5: Receive Your Assessment Certificate
After approval, check the title and any conditions stated on the certificate. SHA publishes this assessment service as the stage used to establish the professional title.
Step 6: Your Hiring Facility Applies for the Licence
The facility’s authorised representative completes the licensing application, uploads the required documents and pays the applicable fee.
The facility must have an active licence, and you must hold a valid SHA assessment certificate.
Step 7: Receive the Professional Licence
Once approved, SHA issues the licence under the facility’s name. Confirm your approved role and licence status before beginning clinical practice.
DataFlow and Primary Source Verification
Credential verification checks documents with their original issuing organisations. SHA separately decides whether those credentials meet its licensing requirements.
If you already have a verification report:
- Keep the complete report and reference number.
- Upload it where requested.
- Check whether transfer or additional verification is necessary.
- Follow instructions for updated experience or registration records.
Do not assume that a positive report guarantees approval for every professional title.
Does SHA Require an Examination?
An examination may be required depending on your professional category and exemption eligibility.
SHA’s FAQ describes exemptions for certain applicants with existing UAE evaluation or licensing records. Submit the evidence and obtain SHA’s decision rather than assuming automatic exemption.
Confirm the assessment format, provider, booking instructions and charges issued for your application. Do not book a DHA or MOHAP examination assuming it is automatically the correct SHA route.
For exam study materials– Explore Nursing Manthra Study Materials
Documents for Final Licensing
The employer-led application includes:
- Offer letter.
- Medical malpractice insurance.
- Physical and mental health report for professionals over 60.
- NOC for part-time applications, where applicable.
- Facility undertaking for temporary or visiting applications, where applicable.
SHA states that full-time and part-time professional licences are valid for one year.
SHA Allied Healthcare Fees and Processing Time
| Stage | Published fee | Published review time |
|---|---|---|
| Allied healthcare professional assessment | AED 300 | 8 working days |
| Full-time allied healthcare professional licence | AED 1,000 | 8 working days |
Verification, examination and other applicable charges are additional. These review periods do not represent the complete timeline for verification and assessment. Confirm the final charges before payment.
What If You Have a Practice Gap?
Disclose your complete clinical work history.
SHA’s English and Arabic assessment pages currently show different practice-gap thresholds. Obtain an individual review if you have a significant gap, particularly one approaching or exceeding two years. Do not pay for training until SHA confirms the accepted pathway.
Common Application Mistakes
- Applying through the wrong regulator.
- Choosing a title unsupported by the qualification.
- Assuming all paramedical professions share one experience rule.
- Uploading incomplete transcripts.
- Leaving name or employment-date differences unexplained.
- Assuming another UAE approval automatically becomes an SHA licence.
- Starting clinical work with only an assessment certificate.
Nursing Manthra Support and Study Materials
Contact Nursing Manthra to enquire about SHA documentation guidance, verification support, application assistance and study-material availability.
WhatsApp: +971 50 251 5717
Study materials: Explore Nursing Manthra Study Materials
When messaging, include your qualification, graduation year, professional registration, experience and previous UAE examination or verification history.
Nursing Manthra provides documentation and licensing assistance. Recruitment and job placement are not included. SHA makes the final eligibility and licensing decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are SHA and MOHAP the same authority?
No. Confirm which authority regulates your intended facility before applying.
Can diploma holders apply?
Some titles accept specified diplomas. Eligibility depends on the qualification and professional category.
Is experience compulsory for everyone?
Requirements vary by title and applicant circumstances. Check the relevant PQR category.
Can I start working after assessment approval?
No. Complete the professional licensing stage first.
Can I change my professional title later?
SHA provides a service for adding or amending titles and privileges. Approval requires an assessment of the supporting qualifications and circumstances.
Requirements and fees may change. Check the current official SHA service instructions before submitting or paying.
Contact Nursing Manthra
For document preparation, verification support, licensing guidance and examination study materials:
UAE / WhatsApp: +971 502 515 717
India: +91 6828756689
WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971502515717
Study materials: https://nursingmanthra.com/study-materials/
About the Author:
Shincy George, RN, MSN (Cardiothoracic Nursing), SCFHS-RN, DHA RN, MOH UAE RN, NCLEX-RN (USA), is the Founder of Nursing Manthra Academy.
With extensive international clinical and academic experience, she is dedicated to guiding healthcare professionals through global licensing pathways. Through Nursing Manthra, she supports internationally educated healthcare professionals in achieving their career goals across Canada, USA, UAE, Middle East, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.
Her mission is to simplify complex licensing processes and empower healthcare professionals with the right knowledge, guidance, and support to succeed globally.
