How many CPD hours do optometrists need in the UAE?

Optometrists are classified as Allied Health professionals across all UAE authorities and require 10 CPD hours per year under DOH, DHA, SHA, and MOHAP. At DHCC, qualified optometrists typically fall under the Allied Professional (senior) grade requiring 30 CPD points per 2-year cycle, with at least 15 points Category 1.

What CPD activities are valid for optometrists?

Valid optometry CPD activities include: refraction techniques and visual acuity updates, contact lens fitting and management courses, ocular disease detection and referral training, paediatric vision screening programmes, low vision rehabilitation, glaucoma screening and monitoring courses, ocular pharmacology updates, and myopia management and control programmes. Activities must be clinically relevant to optometric practice.

Are optical dispensing or lens manufacturer courses CPD?

Only if they carry accredited CPD hours from a recognised healthcare provider. Commercial product training from contact lens or spectacle lens manufacturers — focused on selling or promoting a specific product — is excluded by DHA §18.12 as it is not professional clinical development. A manufacturer-sponsored clinical symposium with accredited CPD and learning objectives relating to patient care is potentially eligible.

I also do contact lens fitting — does that count as specialty CPD?

Yes. Contact lens management — including fitting, aftercare, and managing complications — is within the clinical scope of optometry and counts toward your CPD requirement. Under DOH and MOHAP, a relevant CPD course on contact lens clinical practice (accredited) counts as Category 1. Under DHA, it counts toward your 10-hour target without a formal split requirement.

What is my DHCC grade as an optometrist?

Qualified optometrists with a recognised degree at DHCC are typically classified as 'Allied Professional' — the senior tier requiring 30 CPD points every 2 years (minimum 15 Category 1). Optometric assistants fall under the 'Assistant/Technician' tier requiring 20 CPD points per 2-year cycle. Confirm your exact grade through the MASAAR portal under DHCC GL/HCP/007/03.

Are BLS certifications mandatory for allied health professionals?

BLS (Basic Life Support) is a mandatory competency prerequisite for allied health licensure under DOH and MOHAP. BLS does NOT count toward your CPD hour total — it is a zero-credit mandatory prerequisite that must be maintained separately from your CPD portfolio.

Can online CPD courses count for allied health professionals?

Yes. Under DHA, 100% of allied health CPD hours can come from online programmes if they are relevant to your discipline. Under DOH and MOHAP, online courses can be Category 1 if they carry a DOH accreditation number or recognised provider stamp. DHCC caps online CPD at 50% of the 2-year cycle total.

Do CPD hours carry over to the next year?

No. Under all UAE authorities, CPD hours must be earned within the specific licensure cycle and cannot be carried forward. DHA explicitly prohibits carry-over in §18.8. DHCC's biennial cycle accumulation resets at the start of each 2-year period.

How do I submit CPD evidence as an allied health professional?

Submission portals differ by authority: DOH professionals submit through TAMM (tamm.abudhabi.ae → Healthcare Professional Services); DHA through Sheryan (sheryan.dha.gov.ae → CPD section); SHA through the SHA portal (sha.shj.ae); MOHAP through the MOHAP portal (mohap.gov.ae → License renewal section); DHCC allied health professionals submit through MASAAR (dhcc.ae) selecting the allied health category that matches your grade.

Do visiting or locum allied health professionals need CPD?

No. Visiting and temporary licenses (typically 3–6 months) have a CPD target of zero. This is common for allied health professionals on short-term contracts in the UAE. You must still maintain BLS and any other mandatory credentials, but you do not need to accumulate CPD hours during your visiting period. (Source: v4.11 §6.9 — License Type & Career Stage Handling.)

I'm in an allied health training programme — do I need to log CPD separately?

If you are enrolled in an active structured training programme recognised by your licensing authority, your programme enrolment may fulfil your CPD requirement for the duration of the programme. DOH awards CPD credits per year of enrolment in recognised programmes (CPD Standard Appendix 1) — keep your programme director's letter confirming active enrolment, programme name, and dates as your compliance evidence. Check with your specific authority whether your training programme qualifies, as not all allied health training programmes carry automatic CPD fulfilment.

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CPD Requirements for Optometrists in the UAE (2026)

Updated February 2026

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Optometrists — UAE CPD at a Glance

Optometrists are classified as Allied Health professionals across all UAE authorities. You need 10 CPD hours per year (DOH, DHA, SHA, MOHAP) or 30 CPD points per 2-year cycle at DHCC (Allied Professional grade). Commercial lens manufacturer product training does not count as CPD unless it carries accredited healthcare CPD hours.

10 hrs / yr

DOH · DHA · SHA · MOHAP

30 pts / 2yr

DHCC (Allied Professional)

≥50% Cat 1

DOH · MOHAP · DHCC

CPD Requirements by Authority

Authority	Hours / Cycle	Cat 1 / Cat 2	DHCC Sub-tier	Cycle
DOH	10 hrs / yr	50% Cat 1 min	—	Annual
DHA	10 hrs / yr	No formal split	—	Annual
SHA	10 hrs / yr	No formal split	—	Annual
MOHAP	10 hrs / yr	50% Cat 1 min	—	Annual
DHCC	30 pts / 2yr (Allied Professional / senior)	50% Cat 1 min	20 pts / 2yr (assistant / technician)	Biennial (2yr)

CPD Activities Relevant to Optometry

✓
Refraction techniques and visual acuity assessment updates
✓
Contact lens fitting and management — fitting, aftercare, and complication management
✓
Ocular disease detection, monitoring, and referral pathways
✓
Paediatric vision screening and amblyopia management
✓
Low vision rehabilitation and assistive technology
✓
Glaucoma screening and intraocular pressure monitoring
✓
Ocular pharmacology updates — topical medications and interactions
✓
Myopia management and control — orthokeratology, pharmaceutical and optical approaches

Commercial product training from lens manufacturers is excluded by DHA §18.12 unless the programme carries accredited CPD hours with clinical learning objectives.

DHCC Grade Classification for Optometrists

Allied Professional (Senior)

30 pts / 2yr

Qualified optometrists with a recognised degree at DHCC. Min 15 Category 1 points.

Optometric Assistant (Junior)

20 pts / 2yr

Optometric assistants and support staff. Min 10 Category 1 points. Confirm grade through MASAAR.

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Last verified against UAE Authority CPD Standards (2024–2025) on February 2026. Requirements may change — always confirm with your licensing authority via the official portal.

This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or regulatory advice. Provsure is an informational compliance tracking tool — not a regulatory authority. While we verify content against official sources, requirements may change without notice. Always confirm your current CPD obligations directly with your licensing authority before making compliance decisions. Provsure accepts no liability for actions taken based on this content. See our full disclaimer.