If you’re a nurse, psychologist, or psychiatrist trained in Canada or the US and considering work in the UAE, the first real step isn’t applying for a job — it’s understanding whether you’re eligible for a healthcare license in the emirate where you’d be working.
Who Decides Eligibility
Healthcare licensing in the UAE is regulated by government health authorities — for Abu Dhabi, that’s the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH). Eligibility and licensing decisions are made by the relevant regulatory authority, not by HealthOPM or any recruitment agency. We can guide you through the process and help you understand what’s typically required, but we don’t issue licenses and can’t guarantee eligibility or approval for any individual candidate.
What’s Generally Assessed
Across UAE health authorities, eligibility is generally assessed against a set of national Professional Qualification Requirements, which typically look at:
- Your educational qualifications and where you trained
- Your professional experience and clinical hours
- Your current licensure or registration status in your home country
- Credential verification through an independent verification service
A Note Specific to Canadian and US Candidates
Some countries issue a “certificate of good standing” for licensed professionals, which UAE health authorities can use directly as part of eligibility review. Canada and the US generally don’t have a single body that issues this type of certificate the same way — in practice, this usually means your professional licensure status gets reviewed independently by the health authority rather than through a standard certificate, which can affect timelines. Worth knowing upfront rather than discovering partway through the process.
Typical Steps, in General Terms
While exact steps vary by profession and by the specific health authority, the process generally includes credential and license verification, an eligibility review against the Professional Qualification Requirements, and in many cases a licensing exam. Timelines vary by case and are not something HealthOPM can predict for any individual candidate.
What HealthOPM Actually Does
We guide candidates through understanding this process and support you as you work through it — we do not make eligibility or licensing decisions, and we do not guarantee outcomes. If you’re shortlisted for one of our current openings, this is something we’ll walk through with you directly, based on your specific credentials.
Next Step
Explore whether relocating fits your circumstances in our relocation guide, or review the specific role you’re interested in.