Obtaining Your Nhra License: A Guide For Bahrain

The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) is an independent regulatory body established by Bahrain's Law No. 38 of 2009. Its mission is to regulate the provision of healthcare in Bahrain and ensure high efficiency, safety, and effectiveness in delivering health services in both the governmental and private sectors. NHRA's vision is to ensure safe and high-quality healthcare delivery, which it aims to achieve through three strategic goals: regulated and accountable healthcare facilities, safe and trusted health services, and preserved patients' health rights. To obtain an NHRA license in Bahrain, applicants must submit their application online, provide required documents, take the Bahrain Licensure Examination (if necessary), upload the examination report, and make the necessary payments.

Submit your application online

To apply for an NHRA license in Bahrain, you must first submit your application online. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Sign up on the NHRA website

Go to the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) – Bahrain’s website and sign up to create an account. You can refer to the NHRA Healthcare Professionals Licensing Online Application Guide for further details on the registration process.

Step 2: Log in and start your application

Once you have successfully registered and logged in, you can begin your application process. Make sure to prepare the application submission fee of 20 Bahraini Dinar (approximately US$53).

Step 3: Gather the required documents

The required documents are standard for applying for a job abroad. The list of documents is as follows:

• Job offer or offer letter from your prospective employer
• Passport-size photo with a white background (1 piece)
• Photocopy of your passport page (with your personal information)
• College/University Diploma certificate – attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bahraini Embassy
• College/University Transcript of Records/mark list of whole years of study – attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bahraini Embassy
• Your Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license (if licensed in other countries, include a copy of the license)
• Good Standing Certificate issued by the licensing authority of the country where you last practiced (should not be older than 6 months)
• Copy of your Resumé/C.V.
• Work experience certificates

Step 4: Prepare for the Bahrain Licensure Examination (if required)

After submitting your application, it will go through a verification and evaluation process. You will then be notified by email whether you need to take the Bahrain Licensure Examination (BLE) or if you are exempt. If the examination is required, you will receive an eligibility code, which is valid for 3 months and single-use only. This code can be reactivated if you fail the exam and need to retake it.

Step 5: Take the BLE and upload the results

After taking the BLE, you must upload a copy of your examination report along with your online application. If you pass the exam, your license processing is complete. If you are exempt from the BLE, you will receive a letter addressed to the Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).

Step 6: Upload additional documents (if applicable)

If your application is approved after uploading your BLE results or exemption, you will need to upload the following additional documents:

• Copy of your CPR
• Health Fitness certificate from a licensed facility in Bahrain
• Ministry of Education Equalization certificate (if requested)

Step 7: Make the payment

Once all your documents have been processed, you will receive a notice to make the payment. After making the payment online, your license will be ready for collection, and you can start practising your profession in Bahrain.

Required documents

To apply for an NHRA license in Bahrain, you will need to submit the following documents:

• The job offer or an offer letter from your prospective employer
• A passport-size photo with a white background (1 piece)
• A photocopy of the page in your passport with your information
• Your College/University Diploma certificate – attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bahraini Embassy
• Your College/University Transcript of Records/mark list of whole years of study – attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bahraini Embassy
• Your Professional Registration/Regulation Commission (PRC) license (if you are licensed in any other countries, you will also need to include a copy of your license there)
• A Good Standing Certificate issued by the licensing authority of the country where you last practised your profession (should not be older than 6 months)
• A copy of your Resumé/C.V.
• Work experience certificate(s)
• Verification report through one of the following companies: Dataflow or Quadrabay (verification of ALL qualifications, full experience, good standing certificate and license)

Please note that each healthcare profession has a different set of exam requirements based on the candidate's Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR).

Bahrain Licensure Examination

The Bahrain Licensure Examination (BLE) is a mandatory test for certain applicants seeking to obtain a license to practice in the healthcare sector in Bahrain. The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) of Bahrain is responsible for administering the BLE and determining which professions must undergo the examination.

Once an applicant has submitted their application and the required documents, they will receive an email from the NHRA informing them of whether they need to take the BLE or if they are exempt. If the applicant is required to take the exam, the NHRA will provide an eligibility code, which is valid for three months and can be reused if the applicant fails the exam.

The BLE covers various healthcare professions, each with its own set of exam requirements. The pass mark for nurses is 50% or above, while for physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and optometrists, it is set at 60%. The examination time is 2.5 hours, and applicants are given a total of four consecutive attempts to pass. If an applicant fails the fourth attempt, they must undergo a re-training period of at least six months and provide proof of completion before being allowed to retake the exam.

To ensure the authenticity of applicants' credentials, the NHRA partners with DataFlow Group to conduct Primary Source Verification (PSV) of all applications. This comprehensive background screening process directly verifies applicants' personal and professional information from the original issuing sources.

Upload the BLE report

To apply for an NHRA license in Bahrain, you must submit your application online via the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) website. Once you have submitted your application, you will need to upload the BLE report. Here is a detailed guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Register on the NHRA Website

To begin the application process, you will need to sign up on the NHRA website. You can refer to the NHRA Healthcare Professionals Licensing Online Application Guide for detailed instructions on how to create an account and navigate the website.

Step 2: Submit the Required Documents

Along with your online application, you will need to provide various documents, including:

• A job offer letter from your prospective employer in Bahrain.
• A passport-size photo with a white background.
• A photocopy of the page in your passport that contains your personal information.
• Your college or university diploma, attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bahraini Embassy.
• Your college or university transcript of records.
• A copy of your Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license, if applicable.
• A Good Standing Certificate issued by the licensing authority of the country where you last practised your profession, not older than six months.
• A copy of your resume or CV.
• Work experience certificates.

Step 3: Take the Bahrain Licensure Examination (BLE)

After submitting your application and documents, the NHRA will review your application. If they determine that you need to take the BLE, they will notify you via email and provide you with an eligibility code. This code is valid for three months and can be reused if you need to retake the exam.

Step 4: Upload the BLE Report

Once you have taken the BLE, you will need to upload a copy of your examination report to the NHRA website. This is a crucial step in the licensing process, as it demonstrates your qualifications and proficiency in your field. If you achieve a passing score on the BLE, your license processing will be completed. However, if you are exempt from the BLE or achieve a passing score, you will receive a letter addressed to the Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).

Step 5: Obtain Work Permit and Upload Additional Documents

After receiving your letter from the LMRA, you will need to obtain a work permit. Once you have the work permit, you must upload additional documents to the NHRA website, including:

• A copy of your CPR.
• A Health Fitness certificate issued by a licensed facility in Bahrain.
• If requested, a Ministry of Education Equalization certificate.

Step 6: Make the Payment

After uploading all the required documents and receiving notification that your application has been approved, you will receive a notice to make the payment for your NHRA license. You can make this payment online.

Step 7: Collect Your License

Finally, once you have made the payment, you will receive a notification that your NHRA license is ready for collection. Congratulations! You can now practise your profession in Bahrain with your newly obtained license.

Pay online

Once all your documents have been processed, you will receive a notice to pay. After making the payment online, you will get a notice that your license is ready for collection. Once you have your license, you can practice your profession in Bahrain.

The payment is made online, and the license is issued in the applicant's account. The standard time frame for completing the candidate's PSV application for Bahrain is 30-60 working days. However, the processing time per application may differ depending on the location or the origin of the documents.

The DataFlow Group offers an Express Service to fast-track your application and receive your report within an average of 14 working days. The DataFlow Group's verification package includes all mandatory verifications based on NHRA's requirements.

Frequently asked questions