🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · Doctors
Which specialty qualifications are Tier 1, 2 or 3 in the UAE?
The UAE's licensing rules (DHA, DOH, MOHAP and SHA) sort specialty certificates into three tiers: Tier 1 and 2 need no experience after the certificate for the Specialist title, Tier 3 needs 3 years, and a Tier 3 holder cannot attain the title of Consultant.
Checked 23 Oct 2026 · DHA ↗
Experience needed after the certificate
| Specialist | Consultant | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | None | 2 years |
| Tier 2 | None | 5 years |
| Tier 3 | 3 years | Cannot attain the title |
Qualifications by tier
Each qualification on its own. The PQR's wording, country by country, is in the table below.
Tier 1 · 9 qualifications
- Australasian fellowship
- FANZCA
- FRACGP (Australian general practice)
- FRACS
- FRANZCP
- FRANZCR
- FRCPC (Canada)
- UK CCT
- US board (ABMS)
Tier 2 · 3 qualifications
- Arab Board
- DM or MCh (India)
- UK CESR
Tier 3 · 11 qualifications
- DNB (India)
- FCPS (Pakistan, Bangladesh)
- FRCA
- FRCR
- MD or MS (India)
- MRCEM
- MRCOG
- MRCP(UK)
- MRCPCH
- MRCPI
- MRCPsych
The PQR's table, by country
| India | |
|---|---|
| Tier 2 | DM, DrNB, FNB, MCh |
| Tier 3 | DNB, MD, MS |
| Pakistan | |
| Tier 3 | MD in clinical medicine, FCPS, MS |
| Bangladesh | |
| Tier 3 | FCPS (by exam), MS, MD |
| Nigeria | |
| Tier 3 | Fellowships of the National Postgraduate Medical College |
| Egypt | |
| Tier 2 | MD |
| Tier 3 | Fellowship of the Egyptian Board, clinical master's degree |
| Philippines | |
| Tier 3 | Diplomate of the Philippine Board |
| Sri Lanka | |
| Tier 3 | MD of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine |
| Nepal | |
| Tier 3 | MD or MS with Nepal Medical Council specialty registration |
| United Kingdom | |
| Tier 1 | CCT issued by GMC or PMETB, CCST issued by STA |
| Tier 2 | GMC specialist registration with membership or fellowship of the Royal Colleges (except MRCS); membership or fellowship (except MRCS) with proof of an accredited residency programme; CESR with GMC specialist registration |
| United Kingdom and Ireland | |
| Tier 3 | Exam-based membership or fellowship of the Royal Colleges (except MRCS) on its own |
| Ireland | |
| Tier 1 | CCST issued by the Irish colleges |
| United States | |
| Tier 1 | American Board certificates (ABMS) |
| Canada | |
| Tier 1 | Specialization certificate of the RCPSC, CCFP |
| Australia and New Zealand | |
| Tier 1 | Fellowship of the Royal College or Colleges by exam, not by endorsement or election |
| Arab countries | |
| Tier 2 | Board certificate of the Arab Board for Medical Specialties |
| Saudi Arabia | |
| Tier 2 | Saudi specialty certificate |
| Oman | |
| Tier 2 | OMSB certificate |
| Jordan | |
| Tier 2 | Jordanian Board |
| Sudan | |
| Tier 2 | MD in clinical medicine, Sudan Medical Specialization Board |
What it means for you
- Do DOH and MOHAP use the same tiers as DHA?
- Yes. One qualification rulebook applied by DHA (Dubai), DOH (Abu Dhabi), MOHAP and SHA (Sharjah).
- Which specialists and consultants skip the licensing exam?
- Holders of a recognised Tier 1 specialty certificate from Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the Emirati Board, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, South Korea, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK or the USA; or a Tier 2 certificate with a sub-specialty certificate, more than ten years in the specialty including two in a senior post at a teaching hospital, academic training work, a valid licence in good standing and clinical publications or research.
- Does an older Tier 1 or 2 certificate need experience after it?
- Specialists with Tier 1 or 2 qualifications are not required to have post-qualification experience if the qualification was obtained within the recent three years.
- What counts as a specialty qualification?
- A recognised medical specialty qualification listed in the PQR's Recognized Specialty Certificates table (Tier 1, 2 or 3), obtained after a full-time programme of not less than three years (clinical residency, clinical master's or clinical PhD).
What to do next
Tell us your specialty qualification and your years of practice, and we show which UAE licence you can get and what is left, with each fee and how long it takes.
Sources
outcomeOS describes each regulator's published rules; it does not advise on your individual case. · Privacy · Terms
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