SHA License for Physiotherapist
Easy Steps to Qualify for a SHA Physiotherapist License from Your Home Country
If you are a Physiotherapist planning to work in Sharjah (UAE), you must obtain a license from the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) before you can legally practise. This guide explains the complete SHA licensing process for Physiotherapists — from eligibility and qualification requirements to DataFlow verification, exams, syllabus, costs, gap-of-practice rules, and licensing outcomes — so you can confidently start your career in the Sharjah.
Qualification and Experience Requirements
Physiotherapy
Educational Level
BSc in Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy
Or
Direct entry to a recognized program with the attainment of an MSc degree in Physiotherapy
Experience
Two (2) years of experience post qualification in related field
Additional Mandatory Requirements
- Valid Registration / License: Applicants must hold a valid professional license or registration from their home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable).
- Good Standing Certificate (GSC): A valid GSC is required from the same licensing authority that issued your license(must be issued within the last 6 months).
Not sure if your qualification or experience meets SHA requirements?
Our healthcare licensing consultants can review your profile.
SHA Licensing Steps (Overview)
1.Portal Registration & Profile Completion
Visit SHA portal create your account and fill your personal and professional profile.
2. Apply for Health Profession Evaluation
Upload document and pay the assessment fee.
3. DataFlow Verification
DataFlow verifies your educational certificates, licenses, and experience documents from original sources.
4. Examination Assignment
Pass the SHA Prometric Exam and Oral Assessment to prove your professional competency.
5. Download Assessment Letter
Download the Assessment Letter from SHA Website.
We can manage your SHA registration, DataFlow, and exam booking end-to-end.
SHA Licensing Process – Step by Step
1.Portal Registration & Profile Completion
Portal Registration
Visit the SHA portal and create your account using below information
- Valid Passport
- Active Email ID
- Phone Number
Profile Completion
After the registration fill your professional profile with all required personal and qualification details.
2. Apply for Health Profession Evaluation
Document Upload
Prepare clear scanned copies of the following documents (PDF/JPEG, legible and complete):
- Education (qualification certificate)
- Academic Transcript / Mark Sheets
- All Experience Letters
- Valid Registration or Licensing Certificate
- Good Standing Certificate (GSC)
- Passport
- Passport Size Photo
Fee Payment
- Pay the assessment fee through the portal, CBT/PSV fees are separate and must be paid individually to concerned entities
- Fees - AED 300 + Transaction Charges
Next steps after application submission
- If all the documents are correct as per SHA guidelines than application will take you next step for DataFlow of documents.
- Mismatch / additional info – You may be asked for resubmission with additional documents or further clarification.
3. DataFlow Verification
Primary Source Verification (PSV)
An assessment officer will review your application within the approved PQR – they will verify your documents and decide on the list of documents to be sent to DataFlow.
The system will send the payment link for you through email to make the payment to start your Primary Source Verification Process.
Processing Details
Fees
AED 935 + 5% VAT for below documents (1 Educational Certificates, 1 Health License Certificate, 1 Good Standing Certificate, 2 Experience Letters)
Processing Time
15 working days
- Additional document AED 300 + 5% VAT
Note: Some universities/authorities may charge extra for verification replies.
4. Examination Assignment
After getting the positive DataFlow report. The officer will determine whether you are required to take an exam or are exempt – you will be notified of the decision accordingly. If an exam is required, you will need to schedule it according to its type (written, oral, or prometric).
SHA Exam for Physiotherapy – Complete Details
Physiotherapy Specialist Exam
- Role: Physiotherapy Specialist
- Mode: Prometric & Oral
- Duration: 3 hours
- Total Questions: 150 MCQs
- Pass Score: 60%
- Fee: USD 130
Important Notes
- Rescheduling/Cancellation must be completed at least 72 hours before the exam date.
- Candidates who fail may retake the exam after 14 days, subject to remaining attempts.
- Maximum 3 attempts are allowed within the 1-year period.
- Exam results are available through SHA website.
Exam Day Requirements
- Original Passport
- SHA Eligibility Letter (printed)
- Prometric Confirmation Letter
Note: Exam exemption criteria and the syllabus are detailed below on this page.
5. Download Evaluation Letter
Once you pass the exam, the SHA will issue your digital Assessment Letter directly through their website.
SHA Exam Prometric Test Centers
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SHA Exam for Physiotherapist
Exam Exemption
Criteria 1: License & Good Standing Certificate
Applicants holding a valid professional license and a Good Standing Certificate (GSC) from the recognized countries listed below are exempted from the MOH licensure exam, provided that:
The qualification was obtained within the last three (3) years, OR
There is no gap in clinical practice since the last employment.
Country
- Austria
- Australia (Australian Physiotherapy Board)
- Belgium
- Canada (Any board member under the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators)
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland (Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists)
- Luxembourg
- Netherland
- New Zealand (Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand)
- Norway
- Singapore
- Sweden
- South Africa (HPCSA)
- Switzerland
- UK (HCPC)
- USA
Criteria 2: Applicants holding a valid pass record for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE – USA) are exempted from the DHA licensure exam.
The examination syllabus and recommended reference materials are identical for Physiotherapist exams.
Exam Coverage (Syllabus)
The examination tests knowledge across 10 core domains of physical therapy practice:
- Kinesiology, Biomechanics and Ergonomics - 8%
- Anatomy and Physiology - 12%
- Clinical Decision Making and Differential Diagnosis - 8%
- Physical agents (Electrotherapy and Hydrotherapy) - 10%
- Therapeutic Exercises and Techniques - 10%
- Physical Therapy in Special Population (OBGYN, Pediatrics, Geriatrics) - 12%
- Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy - 8%
- Sports Physical Therapy - 8%
- Neurorehabilitation - 10%
- Musculoskeletal rehabilitation - 10%
Recommended References
The following texts are suggested for preparation, with the latest editions recommended:
- Prevention Practice A Physical Therapist's Guide to Health Fitness and Wellness, Catherine Rush Thompson, Latest Edition.
- Therapeutic Exercise Foundations and Techniques by Carolyn Kisner, Latest Edition.
- Tidy's Physiotherapy, Latest Edition.
- Clayton's Electrotherapy and Actinotherapy, Latest Edition.
- Physiotherapy Secrets, PP Mohanty & Monalisa Pattnaik.
- Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation "Report of a working party convened by the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine" Chair: Dr Vera Neumann. Latest edition.
- Sports Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention Edited by Paul Comfort School of Health, Sport & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK Earle Abrahamson London Sport Institute at Middlesex University, UK Latest edition.
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Author- john A. Schuchmann (latest edition).
🌐 English Language Proficiency (if applicable)
If you did not study in English, you must pass one of:
- IELTS: Minimum 5.0
- TOEFL: Minimum 500
- OET: Minimum Grade C
- Cambridge English: Minimum 169
Start Your SHA Physiotherapist Licensing with Expert Support
We’ve helped hundreds of healthcare professionals get licensed in UAE smoothly and compliantly.
Our healthcare consultancy provides end-to-end SHA licensing support for Physiotherapists, including eligibility assessment, SHA registration, DataFlow verification, exam booking, and eligibility letter processing.
Professional Service Fee
Fixed service fee: AED 600 (paid in advance)
What Our Service Includes
- Eligibility assessment
- SHA registration
- DataFlow application support
- Exam booking assistance
- Assessment letter processing support
What It Does NOT Include
- SHA fees
- DataFlow fees
- Exam fees
- Study Material (MCQs)
- Oral assessment fees
- Government charges
FAQs
BSc in Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy Or Direct entry to a recognized program with the attainment of an MSc degree
Two (2) years of experience post qualification in related field
Holding a valid License/Registration to practice in their home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable).
The academic transcript must be submitted for credentialing purposes in which determination of disciplines shall be applied.
Valid Good Standing Certificate (GSC) that is not older than six (6) months at the time of applying for licensure covering the minimum required experiences for the applied title
Registration Fees AED 300
Exam Fees USD 130 (AED 478)
DataFlow Fees AED 935 + 5% VAT + AED 300 for addiotional documents and If universities/authorities are charging extra for verification replies.
- Must be graduates from National and/or International recognized colleges/universities
- For UAE graduates, the program and university must be accredited by the Ministry of Education (MOE/NQA)
- Required Master’s or postgraduate qualifications must be a minimum of two (2) years full-time course duration
- Assistant allied healthcare professionals cannot work independently and shall work under a licensed Allied Healthcare professional.
- Non-UAE national graduate allied healthcare professionals from UAE universities must successfully complete six (6) months clinical training post-graduation in an APS health facility.
- GCC nationals are required to complete six (6) months clinical training post-graduation in an APS health facility
- One (1) year duration program can be accepted if attained from one of the following countries Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherland, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
- Master/Ph.D. (In the area of specialty) will reduce one (1) year from the required experience for licensing provided that the Master’s/Ph.D. a degree is not mandatory to obtain the selected title
- Master/Ph.D. (In the area of specialty) will reduce one (1) year from the required experience for licensing provided that the Master’s/Ph.D. a degree is not mandatory to obtain the selected title.
Editorial & Verification Information
Written by Imran Ali, Managing Director at AL Resalah Medical Center
Reviewed and verified by the MyDoctorLicense Regulatory Team.
Source Verification
- SHA professional Assessment requirements verified from
Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) - DataFlow verification requirements verified from
DataFlow Group - SHA Prometric exam information verified from
Prometric
Content Disclaimer
Licensing requirements, fees, examination policies, and regulatory procedures may change periodically based on updates issued by the relevant authorities. Applicants should always verify the latest official requirements directly with SHA and associated regulatory platforms before submitting their application.
