SHA Exam for Nurses
Everything nurses need to pass the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) licensing exam in United Arab Emirates — format, fees, passing score, syllabus focus and the fastest way to prepare.
The SHA pathway for nurses
Nursing is the single largest healthcare workforce in the GCC, and every Gulf regulator runs a dedicated nursing exam on the Prometric platform. Whether you trained in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Nigeria or anywhere else, the sequence is the same: verify your documents through Dataflow, get your eligibility approved, then pass the authority's nursing MCQ exam.
The nursing exams test general adult medical-surgical nursing, fundamentals, pharmacology and drug calculation, pediatrics, obstetrics, community health and professional ethics. Most authorities use a 2–3 hour computer-based MCQ format with a pass mark around 60%.
The newest UAE regulator — separate from MOHAP for Sharjah-based private and government facilities. Read the full SHA licensing guide for the complete document checklist and fee breakdown.
What the SHA exam tests for nurses
Eligibility for nurses (SHA)
- BSc Nursing, GNM diploma or equivalent recognised nursing qualification
- Current registration with your home-country nursing council
- Typically 2 years of post-registration clinical experience (varies by authority and title)
- Good Standing Certificate from your nursing council, no older than 6 months
Requirements vary by title tier — run the free eligibility check to see exactly where you stand before spending on Dataflow.
SHA licensing process, step by step
- 1
SHA account & file
Register through the SHA portal or a sponsoring Sharjah facility.
- 2
Dataflow verification
Standard PSV report submitted to SHA.
- 3
Prometric MCQ
Sit the SHA-blueprinted Prometric assessment for your cadre.
- 4
Licence issuance
Practice permit issued after exam pass and facility linking.
SHA Exam FAQs for Nurses
What is the passing score for the SHA exam for nurses?›
The SHA (Sharjah Health Authority) exam pass mark is 60%. The result appears on-screen immediately after you finish the computer-based exam.
How much does the SHA nurse exam cost?›
The SHA exam fee is $180 – $260. Budget separately for Dataflow verification and licence issuance — the full SHA licensing journey typically runs higher once every step is included.
What is the format of the SHA exam for nurses?›
100 – 150 MCQs, completed in 2 – 3 hours. The paper for nurses focuses on medical-surgical nursing (largest section on every gcc nursing exam) and related clinical areas.
Can I take the SHA nurse exam in my home country?›
Yes. Once SHA issues your eligibility, you can book any authorised Prometric centre worldwide — most candidates sit the exam in their home country before travelling.
How long does SHA licensing take for nurses?›
On average 10-16 weeks end-to-end, including Dataflow verification (the longest single step), eligibility review, the exam itself and licence issuance.
What should nurses study for the SHA exam?›
High-yield areas include: medical-surgical nursing (largest section on every gcc nursing exam); fundamentals of nursing & patient safety; pharmacology and drug-dose calculations; pediatric and obstetric nursing. Chapter-wise MCQ practice with explanations is the fastest way to find and close your weak areas.
Ready to pass the SHA exam?
Practice with chapter-wise SHA-style MCQs for nurses — detailed explanations after every question, unlimited retries, and progress tracking until you're consistently above the pass mark.