CPD Point Requirements
DHCC uses a 2-year (biennial) cycle. Annual pace and 2-year totals shown below. No Category 1/2 split — DHCC uses a specialty majority rule and 50% online cap instead.
| Profession | Annual Hours | Specialty | Mandatory LSC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical (all grades) | 40 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 80 pts/cycle | BLS + ACLS (specialty-specific) |
| Dental (all grades) | 25 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 50 pts/cycle | BLS (mandatory) |
| Nurse / Midwife (RN/RM) | 15 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 30 pts/cycle | BLS + ACLS (mandatory) |
| Nursing Asst / Practical Nurse | 10 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 20 pts/cycle | BLS (mandatory) |
| Pharmacist | 15 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 30 pts/cycle | BLS (mandatory) |
| Allied Professional | 15 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 30 pts/cycle | BLS (mandatory) |
| Allied Asst / Technician | 10 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 20 pts/cycle | BLS (mandatory) |
| CAM Doctor / Associate Doctor | 15 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 30 pts/cycle | BLS (mandatory) |
| CAM Therapist | 10 hrs | Majority (>50%) · 20 pts/cycle | BLS (mandatory) |
Source: DHCC GL/HCP/007/03 §5 Table 1 (Revision: 27/12/2023). Annual Hours = annual pace (half the 2-year cycle total shown in the Specialty column). BLS certification is mandatory but earns zero CPD points. The mini-calculator below uses the RN/RM grade for nursing.
Medical (all grades)
40
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 80 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS + ACLS (specialty-specific)
Dental (all grades)
25
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 50 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS (mandatory)
Nurse / Midwife (RN/RM)
15
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 30 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS + ACLS (mandatory)
Nursing Asst / Practical Nurse
10
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 20 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS (mandatory)
Pharmacist
15
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 30 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS (mandatory)
Allied Professional
15
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 30 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS (mandatory)
Allied Asst / Technician
10
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 20 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS (mandatory)
CAM Doctor / Associate Doctor
15
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 30 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS (mandatory)
CAM Therapist
10
hrs/yr
Majority (>50%) · 20 pts/cycle
Specialty
BLS (mandatory)
Source: DHCC GL/HCP/007/03 §5 Table 1 (Revision: 27/12/2023). Annual Hours = annual pace (half the 2-year cycle total shown in the Specialty column). BLS certification is mandatory but earns zero CPD points. The mini-calculator below uses the RN/RM grade for nursing.
BLS hours explicitly excluded from CPD points (§4.9.3)
The 2-Year DHCC Cycle
DHCC licenses run on a biennial (2-year) renewal cycle — not annual like DOH, DHA, MOHAP, and SHA.
DHCC operates on a 2-year cycle — don't confuse with annual authorities
Cycle Anchoring
Your cycle runs from the start of your license validity to its expiry date — not January 1st to December 31st. If your license expires on 15 May 2027, your current CPD cycle runs from 16 May 2025 to 15 May 2027.
Annual Pacing
While the cycle is biennial, DHCC expects professionals to maintain CPD activity throughout the period — not cram all points in the final months. Maintain portfolio evidence across both years.
How DHCC compares to annual authorities for the same profession:
| Profession | DOH/MOHAP (annual) | DHCC (per year) | DHCC (2-yr total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician | 40 hrs/yr | 40 pts/yr | 80 pts/2yr |
| Dentist | 40 hrs/yr | 25 pts/yr | 50 pts/2yr |
| Nurse (RN/RM) | 20 hrs/yr | 15 pts/yr | 30 pts/2yr |
| Allied Professional | 10 hrs/yr | 15 pts/yr | 30 pts/2yr |
| Allied Technician | 10 hrs/yr | 10 pts/yr | 20 pts/2yr |
Specialty Majority Rule
DHCC does not use Category 1/2. Per GL/HCP/007/03 §4.9.1:
“The majority of the CPD points acquired must relate to the licensee’s primary area of practice.”
DHCC: Majority Rule
- ◆More than 50% of points must be specialty-related
- ◆“Majority” = >50%, not an explicit 70%
- ◆No separate “general professional development” category
- ◆Applies to all grades: General, Specialist, Consultant
DOH/MOHAP: 70/30 Rule
- ◆70% must be in your specialty area
- ◆30% may be general professional development
- ◆Also requires Category 1/2 split (50/50)
- ◆Explicit percentage — does NOT apply to DHCC
Credit Multipliers and Caps
DHCC has specific credit rules including a hard cap on online learning and special credits for publications:
| Activity | Credits | Cap | Proof Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conference / workshop attendance | 1 per contact hour | — | Certificate of attendance |
| Online courses / reading journals | Stated credits | 50% of total requirement | Certificate / completion record |
| MEDLINE-indexed journal publication | 10 pts per publication | — | Journal DOI (published during license validity) |
| Medical textbook chapter authorship | 10 pts per chapter | 30 pts per textbook | Publisher letter or book copy |
| Board re-certification examination | 80 pts (full waiver) | Medical specialists/consultants only | Board certificate (exam within last 2 years of expiry) |
Credit rules per DHCC GL/HCP/007/03 §4.9 and §4.10 (Revision: 27/12/2023). The 50% online cap applies to online courses and journal reading combined. Board re-certification exemption applies only to medical specialists and consultants; verify your board is recognised by DHCR.
DHCC-Specific Rules
BLS Exclusion (§4.9.3)
DHCC GL/HCP/007/03 §4.9.3 states verbatim: “CPD points earned in BLS course will not be counted under CPD points required for license renewal.” BLS certification remains a mandatory licensing prerequisite, but earns zero CPD points. This rule applies regardless of the number of BLS hours completed.
50% Online Cap (§4.9.6)
Online courses and journal reading combined cannot exceed 50% of your total CPD requirement. Attendance-based activities (conferences, workshops, in-person events) can constitute 100% of your CPD with no cap. If you are a nurse needing 30 points over 2 years, no more than 15 points may come from online courses and journals.
Online courses/journals capped at 50% of total requirement (§4.9.6)
ACLS and PALS Requirements (§4.8)
ACLS certification is mandatory (in addition to BLS) for professionals in the following specialties:
- ✓Anaesthesiology
- ✓Cardiology
- ✓Critical Care Medicine
- ✓Emergency Medicine
- ✓General Surgery
- ✓Internal Medicine
- ✓Neonatology
- ✓Paediatrics
- ✓Pulmonology
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) is additionally required for Pediatricians, Pediatric sub-specialists, Pediatric Dentists, and Anesthesiologists/Emergency physicians working with pediatric patients. Like BLS, ACLS and PALS earn zero CPD points despite being mandatory.
Late Renewal Window (§4.2, §4.4)
Renewal applications must be submitted 30–60 days before license expiry. DHCC allows a maximum of 6 months for late renewal. After 6 months, the license is automatically cancelled and a new licensing application is required. Do not wait until expiry to submit your CPD portfolio and renewal application.
Tracking DHCC Dubai Healthcare City compliance automatically
DHCC’s biennial cycle, specialty majority rule, and 50% online cap make compliance harder to track than annual authorities. Provsure handles the calculation — upload certificates and we manage categorisation, gap analysis, and renewal alerts.
See how it works →Board Re-Certification Exemption
DHCC provides a significant CPD exemption for qualified medical specialists who have recently re-certified with their specialty board. Per GL/HCP/007/03 §4.10.2:
“Passing a re-certification examination in their licensed specialty in the last two years from license expiry shall constitute fulfillment of the eighty (80) CPD points required for license renewal.”
Exemption Requirements
- ✓Applies to medical specialists and consultants only — not dental, nursing, or allied health
- ✓Board examination must be passed within the last 2 years before license expiry
- ✓Grants a full 80-point waiver — no additional CPD required for that renewal cycle
- !The certifying board must be recognised by DHCR — verify before relying on this exemption
Even with the board re-certification exemption, you must still meet BLS/ACLS requirements and any other mandatory DHCC licensing prerequisites.
New Licenses Now Processed Through DHA
DHCC's health regulatory authority is transitioning to DHA — new licenses via Sheryan, renewals still via MASAAR
New DHCC License
Apply through DHA (dha.gov.ae) via the Sheryan system. DHA primary source verification (PSV) reports are accepted.
Existing DHCC Renewal
Renew through MASAAR (dhcr.gov.ae) following DHCC GL/HCP/007/03 rules. CPD requirements and cycle structure are unchanged.
GL/HCP/007/03 has not been revoked. Provsure continues to support DHCC as a distinct jurisdiction — collapsing DHCC into DHA would apply incorrect CPD targets (DHA uses annual cycles; DHCC is biennial, with lower targets for dentists, nurses, and allied health). Monitor dhcc.ae/regulations for any future changes to DHCC CPD rules.
How to Submit via MASAAR
Existing DHCC license renewals are processed through MASAAR at dhcr.gov.ae — not DHA Sheryan.
- 1Log in to the MASAAR portal (dhcr.gov.ae) with your DHCC professional account.
- 2Navigate to the CPD section under your license profile.
- 3Upload each certificate with: activity name, date, credit hours, and provider.
- 4Ensure all CPD points are logged before your 2-year license renewal deadline.
- 5Keep original certificates — DHCR may audit your CPD record.
Common Mistakes
- Applying annual authority rules to a DHCC biennial cycle — DHCC targets cover 2 years, not 1.
- Assuming Category 1/2 applies to DHCC — DHCC uses specialty majority, not formal/non-formal split.
- Exceeding the 50% online cap — online courses and journal reading are capped at half your requirement.
- Counting BLS hours toward CPD — DHCC explicitly excludes BLS from CPD points.
- Cramming all CPD at the end of the 2-year cycle — DHCC expects continuous engagement throughout.
- Using Sheryan instead of MASAAR for existing DHCC license renewals.
- Assuming the board re-cert exemption applies to dentists or nurses — it’s medical specialists/consultants only.
- Not tracking the 50% online/journal cap separately from total points.
Calculate Your CPD Gap
Enter your hours to see exactly what you still need.
The calculator above shows the annual pace (half the 2-year cycle total). For the full cycle requirement, double the gap shown. Nursing results use the RN/RM grade (15 pts/yr); Nursing Assistants require 10 pts/yr.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore DHCC CPD requirements by profession