“Do I need to write another nursing exam to work in the UAE?”
This is a common question from nurses who have passed NCLEX or already hold registration in countries such as the UK, Australia or Canada.
The answer depends on your professional registration, examination history, qualifications and clinical practice. Under the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), eligible applicants can receive an exemption from the UAE licensing examination.
However, exam exemption does not mean automatic licence approval. You must still complete the remaining licensing requirements.
An Important Update About the PQR
Older PQR extracts show seven recognised countries and a two-year practice-gap limit. The April 2025 PQR, available on DHA’s official website, contains an expanded nursing exemption table in Section 21.12, a separate NCLEX route and a three-year general exemption gap threshold. This blog follows that edition.
Always check the edition before relying on an old screenshot or document.
Does the PQR Apply to All Four Authorities?
The Unified PQR is shared by:
| Authority | Name |
|---|---|
| DHA | Dubai Health Authority |
| MOHAP, commonly called MOH | Ministry of Health and Prevention |
| DOH, formerly HAAD | Department of Health – Abu Dhabi |
| SHA | Sharjah Health Authority |
Each authority operates its own licensing process and reviews applications within its jurisdiction. A shared qualification framework does not create one licence covering every UAE healthcare facility.
Route 1: A Recognised Overseas Nursing Licence
The nursing and midwifery exemption table lists these 20 countries:
| Country | Country |
|---|---|
| Australia | Austria |
| Belgium | Canada |
| Denmark | Finland |
| France | Germany |
| Iceland | Ireland |
| Luxembourg | Netherlands |
| New Zealand | Norway |
| Singapore | South Africa |
| Sweden | Switzerland |
| United Kingdom | United States of America |
This route requires a valid licence and Good Standing Certificate, together with the table’s condition concerning a qualification obtained within the recent three years or continuity of practice.
Does nationality matter?
Nationality alone does not establish eligibility under this route.
For example, an Indian-trained nurse who subsequently obtains qualifying overseas registration can request a review based on that registration. Holding citizenship, a residence visa or a job offer from a listed country is different from holding professional registration there.
Route 2: Passing NCLEX
The PQR separately recognises successful completion of NCLEX, listed under USA/Canada/Australia, as examination-equivalency evidence.
For a Registered Nurse application, prepare official NCLEX-RN pass evidence and request review under the relevant exemption route.
Keep these two questions separate:
- Does my examination record support exam exemption?
- Do my qualifications meet the requirements for the UAE nursing title I am requesting?
A positive answer to the first does not automatically answer the second.
Can a GNM or diploma nurse use an NCLEX pass?
Submit the examination evidence for review, but have the academic qualification assessed separately. Do not assume that passing NCLEX converts a diploma into a bachelor’s qualification or guarantees UAE Registered Nurse classification.
Does IELTS or OET Give Nursing Exam Exemption?
An English-language result alone does not replace the nursing competency examination.
The overseas-licence table includes an English-evidence condition for applicants whose studies were not in English or whose licence comes from a listed non-English-speaking country. The stated alternatives include:
| Test | Minimum stated in the PQR table |
|---|---|
| TOEFL | 500 or equivalent |
| IELTS | 5.0 |
| OET | C |
| Cambridge Assessment English | 169 |
Confirm the accepted test format, validity and any component-score requirements with the receiving authority. These figures should not be presented as universal English requirements for every UAE nursing application.
How Does a Practice Gap Affect Exemption?
The April 2025 PQR excludes examination exemption where the clinical practice gap exceeds three years, with its stated exception for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women after fulfilling discontinuity requirements.
A current overseas registration and recent clinical practice are different matters. Renewing your registration does not, by itself, prove that you have continued working clinically.
If you have stopped practising, prepare a clear employment timeline before applying.
DHA Nursing Exam Exemption
For Dubai, apply through Sheryan.
DHA’s professional registration guide provides an exemption selection and requires supporting evidence to be verified and linked to the application.
A practical approach is to:
- Check eligibility for the intended nursing title.
- Identify the exemption route.
- Obtain the official supporting evidence.
- Complete the required verification.
- Submit the professional registration application.
- Follow DHA’s examination decision.
If your situation is unclear, use the eligibility-review process before booking an examination.
MOHAP Nursing Exam Exemption
MOHAP’s professional evaluation service accepts exemption documents alongside qualification, professional history and previous verification records.
Its evaluation process determines whether the applicant proceeds to examination or receives exemption.
Prepare a complete application rather than submitting only an overseas licence or NCLEX result. Make sure your exemption evidence is included in the appropriate section.
An approved evaluation is also separate from the final licence required to practise.
DOH Abu Dhabi Nursing Exam Exemption
DOH applies the PQR examination-equivalency criteria and publishes additional recognition scenarios.
Its licensing guidance includes same-title DHA/MOHAP licences, previous DOH licences and earlier DOH assessment passes, subject to the relevant status, timing and good-standing conditions.
Submit your evidence through the DOH licensing application in TAMM and await credentialing review.
Do not apply a DOH-specific recognition condition automatically to DHA, MOHAP or SHA.
SHA Nursing Exam Exemption
SHA’s Healthcare Professional Assessment service allows applicants to upload exemption evidence and available PSV reports.
The authority reviews the application before issuing its assessment outcome. SHA also states that an assessment certificate alone does not authorise practice; the professional licensing stage must be completed.
For nurses considering an SHA-regulated workplace, confirm that the intended employer falls under SHA before selecting the application route.
Documents to Prepare
The exact requirements depend on your authority and exemption route. A useful preparation checklist includes:
- Valid passport and identity documents.
- Nursing qualification certificate.
- Academic transcript.
- Current professional registration or licence.
- Good Standing Certificate.
- Official NCLEX-RN pass evidence, where relevant.
- Recent experience certificates showing employment dates.
- Previous UAE licence or examination result, where applicable.
- Existing PSV/DataFlow reports.
- English-language evidence, where required.
- BLS and other documents required for the intended title.
- Name-change evidence if your records differ.
This is a preparation checklist, not a statement that every applicant needs every document. MOHAP and SHA both publish application-specific document requirements.
What Does Exam Exemption Not Remove?
Exemption is limited to the examination. It does not waive qualification review, experience requirements, credentialing or primary source verification.
Applicants should therefore continue responding to document requests even when they believe they qualify for exemption.
Are There Fees for an Exempt Applicant?
Avoiding an examination does not make the whole application free.
Depending on the route, applicants may still pay for assessment, document verification, registration and licensing. For example, SHA lists assessment fees separately from any verification and examination charges.
There is no single all-inclusive “UAE nursing exam exemption fee” covering all four authorities.
Common Questions
Is an Indian nursing registration alone enough?
India is not included in the overseas-licence exemption table above. An applicant may nevertheless have another relevant basis, such as qualifying NCLEX evidence or UAE licence recognition.
Do I need both NCLEX and an overseas licence?
The PQR presents the recognised examination route separately from the overseas-licence route. The authority will still assess your professional registration and other general licensing requirements.
Does an exemption approval transfer automatically?
Ask the receiving authority to review your evidence through its own application. Keep the original approval, licence and verification records available.
Can an overseas licence guarantee RN eligibility?
No. Request a separate review of your qualifications for the intended UAE title.
Can I start working once exemption is approved?
Complete the remaining licensing requirements first. An examination decision is only one part of the process.
Nursing Manthra Documentation Support
Nursing Manthra can assist with organising documents, preparing exemption evidence and coordinating licensing applications for DHA, MOHAP, DOH and SHA.
Our services cover documentation and licensing support. Recruitment and job placement are not included. Final examination-exemption and licensing decisions belong to the relevant authority.
Website: www.nursingmanthra.com
WhatsApp: +971 50 251 5717
Reviewed on 29 October 2026. Confirm the current PQR and receiving authority’s instructions before payment or submission.
Nursing Manthra documentation support
Nursing Manthra can assist with document preparation, application coordination and responding to licensing queries. We provide documentation and licensing support; we do not provide recruitment or job placement.
Before enrolling in training, have your current licence and qualification pathway reviewed. It is easier to resolve an eligibility question before paying course fees.
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.
