Short answer: Licences have to be renewed through the DHA, and renewal is linked to continuing professional development. The number of required hours and the renewal cycle depend on your profession and current DHA policy, and published figures differ, so read the current DHA policy and keep certificates from the start.
Why renewal is worth planning for
A licence is not a one-time document. It carries an expiry date, and practising on an expired licence is a serious matter. Renewal runs through the DHA systems, and it generally expects you to have kept up with professional development. Failing to collect evidence of that development is a common cause of last-minute stress.
Requirements, fees, document rules and timelines are set by the Dubai Health Authority and its partners and can change, so treat this guide as an outline and confirm every step on the official pages.
What CME and CPD mean
Continuing medical education (CME) and continuing professional development (CPD) are structured learning activities that health professionals complete while they practise: courses, conferences, accredited online modules and similar. The authority sets how many hours or credits you need in a cycle and which activities count, often only those that an accredited provider has approved.
Why you will see different numbers
If you search, you will find news reports and consultancy pages quoting hours for each profession, and they do not agree with each other. Requirements may have changed, they may differ by title, and some sources are out of date. We do not repeat a figure here. Read the current policy on the DHA site or inside your portal, and use that. If the policy states a limit on online activities or a list of accepted providers, note those as well.
A simple tracking system
You do not need an app. A folder and a spreadsheet are enough.
- One folder per licence year, with every certificate saved as a PDF on the day you earn it.
- A spreadsheet with the date, activity, provider, whether it is accredited, hours or credits and the file name.
- A running total against the target from the current policy.
- A calendar reminder three months before expiry to check your total and your renewal requirements.
Choosing activities
Pick activities for two reasons: they are useful to you, and they are accepted. Confirm acceptance before you pay or spend time on a course. Ask the provider whether their accreditation is recognised for your licence. Do not assume a certificate from an online platform counts.
When it is time to renew
Log in to the portal well before the expiry date, check what the system asks for, upload evidence, and pay what the portal shows. Renewal is not guaranteed on the day, because the authority reviews it, so leave a margin. If something is missing, you will want enough time to fix it.
A worked example of a tracking year
Imagine a nurse whose licence expires next October. In November she creates the folder and the spreadsheet. In December she completes a two-hour accredited infection-control module and saves the certificate. In February she attends a conference session on patient safety, collects a certificate of attendance and records the hours. In May she notices her total is a little behind where she wants to be and books two online modules. In July she checks the current DHA policy again and confirms her total against it. In August she begins the renewal in the portal, uploads the evidence, pays the fee shown and leaves a month for any questions. In September the renewal is approved, long before the expiry date.
The point is the rhythm: a small amount of activity throughout the year, with a check at fixed times, beats a frantic month before the deadline.
Make the learning count
CPD is easy to treat as a box to tick. You will get more from it if you pick topics linked to what you do or to gaps you have found. The habits you built for the exam help here too. After each activity, write three lines on what you learned and one thing you will do differently. That small note turns attendance into learning, and in some systems reflection records are also part of the evidence.
If something goes wrong
If you realise close to expiry that you are short of hours, check immediately what the policy allows, including whether there is a grace period or a process for exceptions. Do not backdate or alter any certificate. If you have been ill, on leave or abroad, ask the authority how it treats such periods. Honest early contact is nearly always better than a late scramble, and a missing certificate can usually be replaced by asking the provider for a copy.
If you change employer or move
A change of employer may change what has to be done with your licence, because licences are generally tied to a facility. Ask the new employer and the authority what steps are needed and when, and avoid leaving a gap in which you might practise without the correct linkage. Keep your CPD folder when you move. It is yours, not your employer’s, and it will be needed at the next renewal. If you leave the country for a period, check what the rules say about licences and whether you need to renew while away.
Keeping records you can trust
Back up your folder to a second place, such as a cloud drive and a USB stick. Name files consistently, with the date, provider and title, for example “2027-03 Infection control module, provider name”. Keep the emails that came with certificates. If the authority audits your records, you want to find the proof within minutes. Records are also useful when you apply for a new job or for further training.
Budgeting for renewal and CPD
Renewal has fees, and CPD activities may have costs. Ask your employer whether it supports either, because many do, and get any promise in writing. Look for free accredited activities, such as sessions run by your hospital, webinars from professional bodies and journal-based modules. Set aside a small amount each month so that the renewal fee never comes as a surprise. If your employer pays, still check the receipt and the dates, since mistakes are easier to fix early.
Reminders that work
Create three reminders in your calendar: one at six months before expiry to check your CPD total against the current requirement, one at three months to start collecting any missing items, and one at six weeks to begin the renewal. Repeat the cycle every year. Share one reminder with a colleague or partner if you tend to ignore your own. A renewal that begins six weeks before expiry rarely becomes an emergency.
Common questions about CPD
Can one activity count towards two requirements? Policies differ, so check. Do I need certificates for everything? Keep them for everything you plan to claim. What if my employer provides internal training? It may count if it is accredited, so ask for the accreditation details. Can I carry extra hours forward? Check the policy. When in doubt, ask the authority and keep the reply. If you are still preparing for the exam, start with the DHA exam guide, and use the eligibility checker for the steps ahead.
Make your exam knowledge work for you
Habits you build while preparing for the exam, such as regular review and error logs, carry into CPD. The spaced repetition guide and the notes on reviewing explanations work just as well for professional learning. If you have not yet passed, return to the DHA exam guide.
Related guide
To check that a certificate counts, see how to read a certificate and check it counts.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general educational guidance, not official advice. Exam rules, fees and timelines are set by the Dubai Health Authority and the test provider and can change, so always confirm the latest details on their official channels.
Last updated .