Nursing and Midwifery Licensure Requirements

Health Regulation Department

Dubai Health Authority

August, 2011

Nursing and Midwifery Licensing Requirements

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HRD/HRS//PRU/017

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the governing body established by law to protect the public by regulating the practice of health care professionals. The Health Regulation Department (HRD) is solely responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the health professionals as deemed in Licensure of Health Professionals Policy ref. no. HRD/RAS/PRU/001. It shall be determined if an applicant is eligible for a license to practice professional nursing in the Emirate of Dubai after the applicant has submitted satisfactory evidence to the Health Regulation Department. The licensing requirements are applicable to both nursing graduates from UAE and international universities. 1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1.1 Registered Nurse (R.N.) 1.1.1 Successful completion of a nursing program which has official approval in home country, state, province or territory: Bachelor degree of Science in Nursing. Associate degree of Nursing 1. Diploma of Nursing. Diploma of Nursing and Midwifery 2.

1.1.1.1 1.1.1.2 1.1.1.3 1.1.1.4 1.1.2 1.1.3 1.1.4 1.2

For further information see appendix 1. Successful completion of General Certificate of Secondary Education. Valid license to practice in home country as R.N. and/or country of last employment. No interruption in nursing practice for more than two years.

Registered Midwife (R.M.) 1.2.1 Successful completion of a nursing program which has official approval in home country, state, province or territory: A university level midwifery program, bachelor degree or diploma. Education program is addressed as 'Direct entry'.

1.2.1.1

Holders of Associate degree in Nursing (two years) from certain countries may be not eligible to obtain RN licensing title, this decision will be subject to Health Regulation Department review and will based on the degree curriculum, licensure title at home country, etc. 2 Holders of Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery 3 years duration or Diploma in General Nursing (2 ) years duration from India may be eligible to obtain RN licensure title, this decision will be subject to Health Regulation Department panel review and will based on the applicant practical experience, licensure title in home country, last employment licensure title, etc. Nursing and Midwifery Licensing Requirements Page 2 of 7 HRD/HRS//PRU/017


1.2.1.2 1.2.1.3 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.2.4 1.3

A Bachelor of Science of Nursing or Diploma of Nursing and a post graduate certification in midwifery. Diploma of Nursing and Midwifery.

Successful completion of General Certificate of Secondary Education Holding a current license to practice in home country as R.M. and/or country of last employment. No interruption in nursing practice for more than two years.

Assistant Nurse 1.3.1 Successful Completion either or one of the following: Completed a course as Enrolled nurse. Approved Certificate or its equivalent in nursing of no less than 18 months duration. 1.3.1.1 1.3.1.2 1.3.2 1.3.3 1.3.4

Successful completion of grade 10 school or its equivalency Current license to practice in home country/ and or country of last employment. No interruption in nursing practice for more than two years.

Holders of Nursing and Midwifery degrees not mentioned shall be considered on a case per case basis. The decision for licensure title will be subject to Health Regulation Department review and shall be based on degree curriculum, licensure title at home country, licensure title at last country of employment, practical experience, etc. 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED 2.1 All applicants for licensure must provide the following: 2.1.1 Copy of school certificate. 2.1.2 Evidence of successful completion of an approved nursing and/or midwifery educational program. 2.1.3 Nursing transcript - a full transcript clearly stating the breakdown of theoretical and clinical hours per subject of the nursing program. Note: Mark sheets are not acceptable 2.1.4 Official certificate of experience signed by an authorized person from Human Resources, Nursing or from a Medical Director. 2.1.5 No experience required for new graduates. Employment is permitted only in hospitals, day surgical centre and polyclinics under the direct supervision of a licensed Registered Nurse/Registered Midwife. 2.1.6 Valid practice license in country of graduation and/or country of last employment.
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2.1.7

2.1.8 2.1.9

Valid Good Standing certificate from previous licensing authorities testifying to good conduct and not charged with a criminal act (if the licensing authority does not issue good standing certificates then a letter of good standing from previous employer.). Passport copy. One (1) colour passport size photo.

Please note that the above mention list is not conclusive and additional documents may be requested to justify the application for registration and licensure. Health Regulation Department in DHA will carry out Primary Source Verification (PSV) for each applicant. Qualifications attestation by the UAE embassy and/or Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not required. 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 the DHA licensure if already issued by the Health Regulation Department. After the process of primary source verification and successful assessment, professionals employing facility shall submit evidence of malpractice insurance in order for the issuance of the professional license. 3. NURSING ASSESSMENT 3.1 All applicants are required to attend and pass the DHA assessment in order to acquire the license to practice with the title of 'Registered Nurse-RN' or 'Registered Midwife-RM' or 'Assistant Nurse-AN' in the Emirate of Dubai. No other person shall assume such title or use such abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs or devices to indicate that the person using the above mentioned titles are RN, RM or AN.

3.2

4.

RENEWAL OF LICENSURE All healthcare professionals are required to renew their DHA license every year. All nurses and midwives planning to renew their license must demonstrate: 4.1 Fifteen (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. Courses must have been taken within the year prior to the renewal date on the license. Course content must be relevant to the practice of nursing and must be related to the scientific knowledge and/or technical skills required for the practice of nursing or related to direct and/or indirect patient/client care

4.2 4.3

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4.4 Documents required for renewal are: 4.4.1 4.4.2 4.4.3 Valid malpractice insurance Recent Practice (current employment certificate) Evidence of completing CPD points

For further information regarding the DHA CPD policy please click here Applicants who knowingly submit falsified CPD 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.

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Appendix 1: DHA licensing title based on Nursing and Midwifery qualifications Qualification Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree four (4) years Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery (3 ) years Associate of Science in Nursing degree (2 years) Diploma in Nursing three (3) years Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery (2 Nursing. + Midwifery) Diploma in General Nursing (2 ) years Bachelor/Diploma in Nursing + Certificate in Midwifery (12) months Bachelor degree in Midwifery four (4) years Diploma in Midwifery (3) years program. Associate degree in Nursing two (2) years program and a post graduate certification in Midwifery (12) months Diploma of Nursing one and half year (18 months) Nursing course as Enrolled nurse (12 24 months)

DHA Licensing Title Registered Nurse Assistant Nurse 4 Registered Midwife 5

3

3 4

Qualification obtained after High School Certificate (12 years) or its equivalency Qualification obtained after completion of grade 10 school or its equivalency. 5 Qualification obtained after High School Certificate (12 years) or its equivalency Nursing and Midwifery Licensing Requirements Page 6 of 7 HRD/HRS//PRU/017


REFERENCES:

Regulation and Registration issued by the Federal Department of Nursing - Ministry of Health, available: http://nas.moh.gov.ae/RR.aspx. accessed 07 September 2011 Health Authority Abu Dhabi Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) 2011, available on http://www.haad.ae/HAAD/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=T0ncoVDrFz8%3d&tabid=927 and accessed 07 September 2011 Indian Nursing Council Available:http://www.indiannursingcouncil.org/types-nursingprograms.asp Accessed 07 September 2011 Requirement for initial registration as a Midwife in Canadian Jurisdictions available on http://cmrcccosf.ca/files/pdf/01_CMRC_Require_for_Initial_Registration_as_a_Midwife_in_a_Canadia n_Jurisdiction_with_Nunavut_Aug9_11-en.pdf and accessed on 08 September 2011 Board of Registered Nursing - State Of California available on http://www.rn.ca.gov/ and accessed on 11 September 2011 Health Professionals Licensing Authority Nursing and Midwifery Board of the Northern Territory: Information for intending applicants with nursing qualifications gained outside Australia; Document Reviewed June 2008. Available: www.nurses2australia.net and accessed on 11 September 2011 Nursing Education, American Nursing Association. Available: http://nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/StudentNurses/Education.aspx Accessed 11 September 2011 The Midwifery Council of New Zealand: Midwives Qualifying Overseas. Available: www.midwiferycouncil.org.nz/main/Overseas. Accessed 11 September 2011 International Nurse Registration issued by the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Available: http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/index.cfm/1,29,html/International-Registration Accessed 12 September 2011 Nursing & Midwifery Council (UK). Information Document for EU Nurses and Midwives wishing to register in the United Kingdom. Available: http://www.nmcuk.org/Documents/Standards/nmcStandardsofProficiencyForPre_RegistrationNursingEducati on.pdf Accessed 12 September 2011 Registering as a nurse or midwife in the United Kingdom for applicants from countries outside the European Economic Area published by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (UK). Available: http://www.nmc-uk.org/Registration/Joining-the-register/Trained-outside-the-EU-EEA/ Accessed 12 September 2011.

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