How to Get a Nursing Licence in Saudi Arabia | SCFHS, DataFlow & Prometric

How to Obtain a Nursing Licence in Saudi Arabia?

If you are a nurse planning to work in Saudi Arabia, you will need to meet the professional requirements of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) before you can practise professionally in the Kingdom. The process can involve Professional Classification, qualification and document verification, Mumaris+, professional assessment or examination where applicable, and Professional Registration. The exact requirements depend on your qualifications and individual circumstances. SCFHS describes Professional Classification as the first step for a practitioner and confirms that it can be applied for from outside Saudi Arabia. Professional Registration follows classification and is required before commencing professional practice in Saudi Arabia.

Profco (Professional Connections) supports eligible nurse candidates through the Saudi professional licensing process as part of their recruitment journey.

What Is the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS)?

The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) is the organisation responsible for professional classification and registration of healthcare practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Professional classification considers a healthcare practitioner's qualifications and professional experience in determining the appropriate professional category. For internationally qualified nurses, documentation can require verification as part of this process. Official SCFHS Professional Classification Requirements confirm verification requirements for qualifications issued outside Saudi Arabia, subject to the exemptions specified by SCFHS.

Step-by-Step SCFHS Nursing Licensing Process

The exact pathway can differ between candidates, but the process generally involves several important stages.

Step 1 - Register With Profco and Confirm Your Eligibility

Before beginning the licensing process, it is important to establish that you meet the requirements of the nursing position for which you are applying. Register on MyProfco, upload your current CV and message Profco (Professional Connections). Your recruiter can review your nursing qualifications, professional registration, speciality and experience against appropriate Saudi nursing opportunities.  

Step 2 - Prepare Your Nursing Documents

You will need appropriate documentation to support your professional classification and registration.

Depending on your circumstances, documents can include:

1. Nursing degree 
2. Academic transcript
3. Professional nursing registration/licence
4. Employment or experience certificates
5. Identification documents
6. Clinical training or internship documentation where applicable
7. Additional qualifications where applicable

SCFHS requires official qualifications to show information including the date of issuance, graduation date, certificate title and specialisation. It also has requirements concerning academic records, professional registration certificates and experience documentation. It is therefore important that your documentation is complete and that information such as your name, qualification, employment dates and professional registration is accurate.

Step 3 - Primary Source Verification / DataFlow

International qualifications and other professional credentials may need to undergo primary source verification. The current SCFHS Professional Classification Requirements state that verification results from an SCFHS-approved verification company are required for specified documents, including applicable qualifications issued outside Saudi Arabia.  Profco will guide eligible candidates on the verification requirements applicable to their recruitment and licensing process.

Step 4 - Check Whether Your Qualification Is Recognised

One area that can complicate an SCFHS application is whether the nursing qualification is already recognised within the system. If a qualification is not included in the recognised qualifications available through Mumaris+, SCFHS identifies a separate Qualification Study route. Official SCFHS guidance states that Qualification Study is used where the healthcare qualification is not among the approved qualifications and is not included in the qualification list within Mumaris+. If this applies to you, the qualification may need to be assessed before you proceed with Professional Classification.

Step 5 - Apply for SCFHS Professional Classification Through Mumaris+

For a first-time applicant, Professional Classification is a key stage of the process. According to SCFHS, Professional Classification determines the appropriate professional degree based on a process that includes assessment and authentication of qualifications and experience and professional evaluation.  Professional Classification can be applied for from outside Saudi Arabia. Applications are managed through the Mumaris+ platform. The exact documentation and assessment requirements depend on your qualifications, experience and professional circumstances.

Step 6 - Complete the Required Professional Assessment or Examination

Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to complete an examination or professional assessment as part of the process.

What Is the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination?

The Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination (SNLE) assesses a nurse's readiness to practise.

The official SCFHS applicant guide states that the examination contains 200 multiple-choice questions, divided into two blocks of 100 questions, with 120 minutes allocated to each block and a scheduled 30-minute break. Up to 10% of questions may be pilot questions.

Questions assess both nursing knowledge and the application of nursing knowledge through areas such as interpretation, analysis, decision-making, reasoning and problem-solving.

What Subjects Are Covered?

1. Nursing Fundamentals - 20%
2. Adult Nursing - 40%
3. Maternal-Child Nursing - 30%
4. Nursing Management and Leadership - 10%

SCFHS notes that blueprint distributions may vary by up to approximately +/-5% in each area

What Score Do I Need to Pass the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination?

The official SCFHS examination guide gives the passing score as 500 on a reporting scale of 200-800.

Is the Saudi Nursing Examination Difficult?

The examination is designed to determine whether candidates demonstrate the knowledge and competencies required for safe professional nursing practice. The examination includes both knowledge-based questions and clinical scenarios assessing interpretation, analysis, decision-making, reasoning and problem-solving. Profco candidates can receive guidance on the licensing process and information to help them understand what to expect from the examination. The most important approach is to prepare properly and use the official SCFHS examination blueprint to understand the areas that may be assessed.

Step 7 - Receive Your Professional Classification

Once the applicable requirements for Professional Classification have been successfully completed and SCFHS has assessed the application, your professional classification will establish the professional category under which you have been classified. This is not the same thing as Professional Registration.

Step 8 - Professional Registration

Professional Registration follows Professional Classification.

SCFHS describes Professional Registration as the stage through which the practitioner's detailed information is recorded with the Commission so that the practitioner can practise professionally in Saudi Arabia. SCFHS currently states that Professional Registration requires lawful residence in Saudi Arabia and that registration is valid for two years. The SCFHS Professional Registration service is provided through Mumaris+.

How Much Does SCFHS Nursing Licensing Cost?

SCFHS licensing, document verification and examination fees vary according to the services required for your individual application. 

How Long Does SCFHS Nursing Registration Take?

Your overall timeframe can also be affected by the completeness of the documents required for your individual application. Because of this, Profco recommends starting the professional licensing process early rather than waiting until you are ready to relocate.

Do I Need Help With SCFHS Licensing?

International nursing licensing can seem complicated, particularly when you are dealing with Mumaris+, professional classification, document verification, qualification assessment and examinations alongside your hospital application. This is where Profco's support becomes particularly valuable. Profco (Professional Connections) supports eligible nurses recruited through us for Saudi Arabia through the professional licensing process as part of their overall recruitment journey. Your recruiter can help you understand the stages applicable to your application, the documents you need to prepare and what you need to do next.

This support is provided to eligible candidates progressing nursing opportunities through Profco.

Start Your Saudi Nursing Application. 

1. Register or sign in to MyProfco
2. Upload your current CV
3. Message Profco (Professional Connections) through your MyProfco record