SHA Is NOT Part of MOHAP — A Critical Clarification
One of the most widespread errors in UAE healthcare administration
Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) is a fully independent healthcare regulatory authority, established under Emiri Decree No. 12 of 2010 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah. SHA is not a branch, sub-office, or extension of MOHAP.
- ✕A MOHAP license does NOT authorise practice in Sharjah
- ✕A MOHAP CPD record does NOT satisfy SHA renewal requirements
- ✕MOHAP covers Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, and UAQ — NOT Sharjah
- ✓Sharjah professionals must be licensed directly by SHA at sha.shj.ae
SHA is a standalone authority — Sharjah is NOT under MOHAP
SHA has its own Prometric exam, CPD accreditation programme, services portal, and licensing standards. As a co-author of the Unified PQR April 2025 alongside MOHAP, DOH, and DHA, SHA holds equal standing as an independent UAE healthcare regulatory authority.
Annual CPD Hour Requirements
Minimum hours per year based on the Unified PQR baseline (SHA co-author). See the Transparency section below for what is and is not confirmed.
| Profession | Annual Hours | Specialty | Mandatory LSC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician | 40 hrs | 70% specialty (assumed) | BLS (excluded per policy) |
| Dentist | 40 hrs | 70% specialty (assumed) | BLS (excluded per policy) |
| Nurse / Midwife | 20 hrs | 70% specialty (assumed) | BLS (excluded per policy) |
| Pharmacist | 20 hrs | 70% specialty (assumed) | BLS (excluded per policy) |
| Allied Health | 10 hrs | 70% specialty (assumed) | BLS (excluded per policy) |
| TCIM | 10 hrs | 70% specialty (assumed) | BLS (excluded per policy) |
Source: Unified PQR baseline (SHA co-author, April 2025). 'Assumed' specialty rule — SHA has not published an explicit specialty ratio in available materials. BLS excluded from CPD totals per Provsure's conservative platform policy.
Physician
40
hrs/yr
70% specialty (assumed)
Specialty
BLS (excluded per policy)
Dentist
40
hrs/yr
70% specialty (assumed)
Specialty
BLS (excluded per policy)
Nurse / Midwife
20
hrs/yr
70% specialty (assumed)
Specialty
BLS (excluded per policy)
Pharmacist
20
hrs/yr
70% specialty (assumed)
Specialty
BLS (excluded per policy)
Allied Health
10
hrs/yr
70% specialty (assumed)
Specialty
BLS (excluded per policy)
TCIM
10
hrs/yr
70% specialty (assumed)
Specialty
BLS (excluded per policy)
Source: Unified PQR baseline (SHA co-author, April 2025). 'Assumed' specialty rule — SHA has not published an explicit specialty ratio in available materials. BLS excluded from CPD totals per Provsure's conservative platform policy.
SHA-Specific Rules
No Category 1/2 Split
SHA does not enforce a Category 1/2 split. SHA’s portals and accreditation guidelines focus on total accumulation of valid CPD hours from SHA-approved or internationally recognised bodies.
SHA does not use Category 1/Category 2 classification
CPD Is Required for License Renewal
SHA’s services portal confirms that license renewal “requires fulfilling continuous professional development requirements.” SHA has a dedicated service for professionals to “update CME points data required to renew their full-time work license.” CPD is enforced — not optional.
Online CPD Cap
No SHA-specific online cap has been identified. Unlike DHA (100% online allowed) or DHCC (50% online cap), SHA’s published materials do not specify an online vs in-person composition requirement.
Carry-Over Rules
No SHA-specific carry-over policy has been identified. Provsure does not assume carry-over is permitted. We recommend completing your required hours within each license cycle.
License-Based CPD Cycles
Following the PQR baseline principle, CPD cycles are based on your individual SHA license renewal date, not the calendar year. Each professional’s compliance is tracked relative to their specific renewal deadline.
BLS and Life Support
No SHA-specific guidance on whether BLS/ACLS hours count toward CPD has been found. Provsure applies its conservative platform-wide policy: life support hours are excluded from CPD totals and tracked separately as licensing credentials with expiry dates. This is consistent with DOH and DHCC, which explicitly exclude BLS.
Tracking SHA Sharjah compliance automatically
SHA CPD rules are less documented than DOH or DHA, which means more uncertainty for professionals. Provsure monitors SHA requirements using the best available source (the PQR baseline) and will update your compliance profile when SHA publishes authoritative guidance.
See how it works →SHA CPD Accreditation Programme
SHA runs its own CPD accreditation programme, separate from DOH/DHA
SHA operates its own Medical Education and Professional Development Program Accreditation service through its Health Regulation Department. This means:
- SHA independently accredits CPD activities and providers — you do not need DOH, DHA, or MOHAP accreditation for CPD to be valid for SHA renewal.
- Activities accredited by SHA are recognised for SHA-licensed professionals. This is the primary accreditation standard for professionals working in Sharjah.
- Whether cross-authority acceptance works in reverse (e.g., DHA-accredited activities automatically valid for SHA) has not been verified from primary sources.
- International accreditation from bodies such as ACCME, RCP, and ESMO is generally recognised by UAE authorities for internationally-delivered CPD.
Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC)
Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC) is a free zone established in March 2012, regulated by SHA’s Health Regulation Department. Key facts:
- SHCC is a division of SHA — not a separate regulatory authority.
- SHCC professionals hold SHA licenses and follow SHA CPD requirements.
- There is no separate 'SHCC' licensing portal. All SHCC licensing goes through SHA.
- Unlike DHCC (Dubai Healthcare City), which has its own distinct CPD guidelines, SHCC follows the parent authority's (SHA's) requirements.
- On Provsure, SHCC-licensed professionals select 'SHA Sharjah' as their authority.
How to Submit CPD Hours to SHA
- 1Log in to the SHA services portal at sha.shj.ae with your SHA professional account.
- 2Navigate to the CPD / CME points update service.
- 3Enter each CPD activity with: activity name, provider, date of completion, and number of hours.
- 4Upload supporting evidence (certificate of attendance, completion certificate, or letter from the organiser).
- 5Submit your CPD record before your license renewal date. Keep original certificates for audit purposes.
Common Misconceptions
- Assuming Sharjah is covered by MOHAP — it is not. SHA is an independent authority. A MOHAP license does not allow practice in Sharjah.
- Applying DOH’s Category 1/2 rules to an SHA license — SHA does not use Category 1/2. There is no formal/non-formal split requirement.
- Assuming DHA and SHA have the same rules — DHA has a published CPD manual with explicit rules; SHA’s rules are less documented. Do not assume parity.
- Thinking SHCC requires a separate license or has its own CPD rules — SHCC is part of SHA. SHCC professionals use SHA licensing and SHA CPD requirements.
- Assuming international CME credits automatically count for SHA without verification — confirm that your CPD provider’s accreditation is recognised by SHA or is internationally accepted.
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What We Don't Know Yet
We believe transparency builds trust. SHA is a fully operational authority — but no SHA-specific CPD circular or comprehensive CPD guideline document has been publicly identified. This guide reflects what is confirmed from the Unified PQR April 2025 (which SHA co-authored) and SHA’s services portal. The following specific SHA CPD rules remain unconfirmed:
- Online CPD cap:Not specified — no cap identified in available materials
- Carry-over rules:Not specified — Provsure assumes no carry-over as conservative default
- Credit multipliers (teaching, publications):Not specified — do not assume DOH's multipliers apply
- Excluded activities list:Not published — SHA may follow a similar list to DHA §18.12 but this is unverified
- Explicit specialty ratio:Assumed 70/30 based on PQR baseline; no SHA source confirms this
- BLS position:Not addressed — Provsure excludes BLS from CPD per conservative policy
We will update this guide as SHA publishes authoritative CPD guidance. If you have access to official SHA CPD documentation, we welcome contact through the Provsure platform. All regulatory updates are tracked in our version history and verified against primary sources before publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore SHA CPD requirements by profession