Licensure Requirements Nursing and Midwifery Health Regulation Department Dubai Health Authority
In determining the eligibility of an applicant for licensing with DHA, an applicant is eligible to be licensed if they comply with the following : 1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1.1 Registered Nurse 1.2.1 Approved Bachelor degree or its equivalent degree in nursing of not less than three (3) years duration 1.2.2 Current license to practice in home country/ and or country of last 1.2.3 Recent practice (no interruption in practice for more than two years), 1.3 Registered Midwife 1.3.1 Approved Bachelor degree or its equivalent in midwifery of not less than three (3) years duration OR Bachelor degree or its equivalent degree in nursing and a post graduate certification or equivalent in midwifery of not less than 12 months duration 1.3.2 Current license to practice in home country/ and or country of last 1.3.3 Recent practice (no interruption in practice for more than two years), 1.4 Assistant Nurse 1.4.1 Approved Certificate or its equivalent in nursing of no less than 18 months duration 1.4.2 Current license to practice in home country/ and or country of last 1.4.3 Recent practice (no interruption in practice for more than two years), 1.5 Nurse Practitioner (advanced practice in an extended role) 1.5.1 Approved Masters in nursing practice/ Nurse Practitioner Program or its equivalent including pharmacology for advanced practice and Postgraduate degree/ certificate in area of specialty
1.5.2 Current license to practice in home country/ and or country of last 1.5.3 Minimum 5 years of experience in specialty 1.5.5 Recent practice (no interruption in practice for more than two years), 1.6 Mental Health Nurse 1.6.1 Approved Bachelor degree or its equivalent and a post graduate certification in mental health/ psychiatric nursing of not less than 12 months duration OR Approved Bachelor degree or its equivalent in mental health nursing of no less than three (3) years duration (restricted license for mental health settings) 1.6.2 Current license to practice in home country/ and or country of last 1.6.3 Recent practice (no interruption in practice for more than two years), 1.7 Children s/ Paediatric Nurse 1.7.1 Approved Bachelor degree or its equivalent and a post graduate certification in paediatric nursing of not less than 12 months duration OR Approved Bachelor degree or its equivalent in children s nursing course of no less than three (3) years duration (restricted license for paediatric settings) 1.7.2. Current license to practice in home country/ and or country of last 1.7.3 Recent practice (no interruption in practice for more than two years), 1.8 Community Health Nurse 1.8.1 Nurses who meet the of registered nurse will be licensed as a registered nurse within a community health nurse role 1.8.2 Nurses who meet the of assistant nurse will be licensed as an assistant nurse within a community health assistant nurse role
1.9 Temporary License (licensure granted for term of sponsoring contract only) Nurses and Midwives who meet the above licensure categories but are temporary residents to the Emirate of Dubai for the purpose of the following: Post graduate students Escorts Visiting Faculty Locum (for a limited period) Nursing and Midwifery Scholars and students 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED All applicants for licensure must provide: 2.1 Evidence of successful completion of an approved nursing and/or midwifery education program 2.2 Nursing Transcript - The applicant must provide a full transcript clearly stating the breakdown of theoretical and clinical hours per subject of the nursing program. Mark sheets are not acceptable 2.3 Valid practice license in country of graduation and/ or country of last for prior 2 years (exemption new graduates) 2.4 Valid certificate of Good Standing from previous licensing authorities. If working in a country where there is no licensing authority then a letter of good standing will be accepted from previous employer 2.5 Evidence of experience. Only service certificates will be accepted signed by Human Resources (Personal Dept) or Nursing & Medical Directors 2.6 Passport copy 2.7 One (1) colour passport size photo 2.8 For Temporary license only a letter from sponsor of stating reason for licensure as per previous categories and length of period Evidence of malpractice insurance for approved candidates will be required to issue the professional license. Please note that additional documents may be asked to justify the application for licensure and registration. Health Regulation Department will carry out primary source verification Applicants who knowingly submit falsified documents will be liable for prosecution
as per UAE Federal Law. This would also include an automatic termination of the licensure process and/or of licensure if already issued by the DHA 3. COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT All applicants will be required to attend and pass an evaluation of their competency to practice except if the following criteria are met: 3.1 Nurses and Midwives who hold current registration in from the following countries: Australia Canada Hong Kong New Zealand Republic of Ireland Singapore United Kingdom United States of America 3.4 Nurse Practitioners will be assessed by an expert panel and will have to produce a professional portfolio containing evidence of their expertise, qualification, experience and continuing education. 4. RENEWAL OF LICENSURE All health care professionals are required to renew their Health Regulation Department licensure every year. All nurses and midwives wishing to renew their licensure must demonstrate: 15 credit points of accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every year. CPD points shall be accredited by one of the accrediting bodies recognized by DHA The reporting of the CPD requirement for the purpose of license renewal must be by submitting/uploading copy of the certificates. Applicants who knowingly submit falsified documents will be liable for prosecution as per UAE Federal Law. This would also include an automatic termination of the licensure process and/or of licensure if already issued by the DHA
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR RENEWAL (i) (ii) (iii) Valid malpractice insurance Recent Practice (current certificate) Evidence of completing CPD points For further information regarding the DHA CPD policy please click here
REFERENCES: Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council (ANMC) Recognition Nurse/ Midwives; Document April 2006 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) Standards and Criteria for Assessment of the qualifications of overseas-educated nurses and midwives; June 2003 CGFNS Certification program Applicant handbook, Available: http://www.cgfns.org/files/pdf/apps/cp%20handbook%20web.pdf Accessed 23 September 2007 Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (text with EEA relevance); Official Journal L255. 30/09/2005 P. 0022-0142 Eligibility Criteria for Private Licensing, Health Authority Abu Dhabi. Available: http://www.gahs.ae/privatesector/ Accessed 16 September 2007 Health Professionals Licensing Authority Nursing and Midwifery Board of the Northern Territory: Information for intending applicants with nursing qualifications gained outside Australia; Document November 2004 Nursing Board of Victoria (NBV). Available: http://www.nbv.org.au/registration/nursepractitioner.aspx Accessed 16 September 2007 Nursing Education, American Nursing Association. Available: http://nursingworld.org/especiallyforyou/studentnurses/education.aspx Accessed 16 September 2007 Nursing & Midwifery Council (UK). Information Document for EU Nurses and Midwives wishing to register in the United Kingdom; issue 1, 2004 Nursing & Midwifery Council (UK). Registering as a Nurse or Midwife in the United Kingdom: information Document for applicants from countries outside the European Economic Area; February 2007 Nursing Council of New Zealand, Guide to Registration as a Nurse in New Zealand; May 2006 The Midwifery Council of New Zealand: Midwives Qualifying Overseas. Available: www.midwiferycouncil.org.nz/main/overseas. Accessed 16 September 2007