Prometric Exam for Pakistani Nurses & Doctors: GCC Licensing Guide for Candidates from Pakistan (2026)

Pakistani doctors and nurses form one of the largest expatriate healthcare workforces in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The qualifications are well recognised — FCPS in particular carries weight across the Gulf — but candidates from Pakistan face specific paperwork hurdles around PMDC registration, attestation and verification that this guide addresses directly.

Which Pakistani qualifications are accepted?

Doctors

• MBBS + house job + PMDC (now PM&DC) full registration — General Practitioner with 1–2 years' post-house-job experience.
• FCPS — recognised specialist qualification with every GCC authority; Specialist title with 2–3 years' post-FCPS experience. FCPS holders are frequently offered Senior Registrar / Specialist grades in Saudi Arabia directly.
• MCPS — generally not accepted as a Specialist qualification on its own; MCPS holders apply as GP or, with substantial experience, may be considered for a limited-scope title by some authorities.
• MD / MS (university), MRCP / MRCOG / MRCS obtained from Pakistan — accepted as specialist qualifications subject to experience.
• Diplomas (DCH, DA, DGO) do not qualify for Specialist.

Nurses

• BSN (4-year generic) / Post-RN BSN — Registered Nurse with every authority after 2 years' experience.
• Diploma in General Nursing (3 years) + 1-year specialisation (midwifery etc.) — accepted as Registered Nurse by DHA, MOHAP, DOH, QCHP, NHRA and OMSB with 2 years' experience; SCFHS classifies it as Nurse Technician.
• Registration with the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) is mandatory and PNC issues the Good Standing Certificate.

Allied health and pharmacy

• PharmD (5-year, Pharmacy Council registered) — Pharmacist with 2 years' experience (guide).
• DPT — Physiotherapist (guide); BS MLT — Lab Technologist; BS Radiology — Radiographer; 2-year anaesthesia/OT diplomas — Technician titles (guide).

See how each authority will classify you with the eligibility check.

The process from Pakistan

1. Documents: degree and transcripts, house-job certificate, PM&DC / PNC registration, experience letters (letterhead, dates, designation, bed count), passport, photos.
2. Attestation: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait require HEC attestation of degrees followed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassy attestation. Start this in parallel with DataFlow — it takes 3–6 weeks.
3. DataFlow PSV — 4–8 weeks from Pakistan; universities and PM&DC respond slowly, so follow up in person where possible (guide).
4. Authority application — Sheryan, Mumaris+, etc.
5. Prometric exam in Pakistan — centres in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. Slots fill quickly, especially in Karachi; book 6–8 weeks ahead (booking guide).
6. Job offer and licence activation — Saudi MOH and private groups recruit heavily from Pakistan; register in our talent pool.

Fees in Pakistani rupees (approximate)

• DataFlow: PKR 85,000–180,000
• Attestation (HEC + MOFA + embassy): PKR 15,000–50,000 per document set
• Authority application: PKR 8,000–35,000
• Prometric exam: PKR 65,000–140,000 per attempt
• Licence activation: PKR 75,000–300,000 (often employer-paid)
• Total self-funded: PKR 250,000–600,000 — itemised in the fee guide

Which authority should Pakistani candidates choose?

• FCPS specialists: SCFHS and DHA both recognise FCPS; Saudi has more specialist vacancies and employer-funded processes.
• GPs: MOHAP, NHRA or OMSB for a first licence; DHA once you have GCC experience.
• Diploma nurses: UAE and Qatar keep the RN title; Saudi is quickest to enter but grades diploma nurses lower.
• BSN nurses: all authorities; Saudi MOH bulk hiring and Qatar's Hamad Medical Corporation are the largest recruiters.

Salaries for Pakistani professionals (approximate, tax-free, monthly)

• Registered Nurse: AED 5,000–10,000 (PKR 3.8–7.6 lakh); SAR 4,500–8,000; QAR 6,000–10,000
• GP: AED 15,000–30,000 (PKR 11–23 lakh); SAR 12,000–25,000
• FCPS Specialist: AED 30,000–60,000; SAR 25,000–50,000 (PKR 19–38 lakh)

Details in the salary comparison.

Common problems for Pakistani applicants

• PM&DC registration lapsed or provisional — renew to full registration before DataFlow.
• Name and father's name formatting differs between degree, CNIC and passport — obtain a notarised affidavit.
• House-job counted as experience — it is not; only post-registration employment counts.
• Experience letters from small private clinics without bed count or registration number — often rejected; get letters from a registered hospital.
• Good Standing from PM&DC / PNC takes 2–5 weeks — apply first (guide).

Start practising with the General Practice or Registered Nurse bank, and read the nurses' Prometric guide or doctors' guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is FCPS accepted in Dubai and Saudi Arabia?

Yes. FCPS is recognised as a specialist qualification by DHA, DOH, MOHAP, SCFHS and QCHP. With 2–3 years' post-FCPS experience you qualify for the Specialist title.

Is MCPS accepted for a specialist licence in the GCC?

Generally no. MCPS alone does not meet the Specialist criteria; MCPS holders usually apply as General Practitioners.

Where can I take the Prometric exam in Pakistan?

Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar have Prometric centres. Book six to eight weeks in advance, as Karachi slots fill quickly.

Is the Pakistani General Nursing diploma accepted for a DHA licence?

Yes, the 3-year General Nursing diploma with one-year specialisation is accepted for Registered Nurse by DHA, MOHAP, DOH, QCHP, NHRA and OMSB with two years' experience.