Which UAE Authorities Use Category 1/2?
This is the most commonly misunderstood aspect of UAE CPD. Category 1 and Category 2 are not universal across all UAE licensing bodies — they are specific to two authorities.
Only DOH and MOHAP use Category 1/2 — DHA, SHA, DHCC do NOT
| Authority | Uses Category 1/2? | What they use instead |
|---|---|---|
| DOH (Abu Dhabi) | Yes | 50% Cat 1 min, 50% Cat 2 max. Source: DOH CPD Standard V1/2024. |
| MOHAP (Northern Emirates) | Yes | 50% Cat 1 min, 50% Cat 2 max. Source: MOHAP Circular (270) of 2014. |
| DHA (Dubai) | No | Uses a 70/30 specialty-to-general ratio instead. No formal/non-formal split. |
| SHA (Sharjah) | No | Follows PQR baseline — total hours only, no Category 1/2 distinction. |
| DHCC (Dubai Healthcare City) | No | Uses a specialty majority (>50%) rule on a biennial cycle. No Category 1/2. |
Category 1 — Formal CPD Activities
DOH officially calls this “Formal CPD Activity”. To qualify as Category 1, an activity must be accredited by DOH or an approved accreditation body, have defined learning objectives and outcomes, use structured training approaches, include assessment, and result in certification. You need a minimum of 50% of your annual hours from Category 1.
| Activity | Proof Required |
|---|---|
| DOH/MOHAP-accredited conferences and workshops | Certificate of attendance with accreditation number |
| Accredited online courses (synchronous or asynchronous) | Completion certificate with accreditation body name |
| Teaching / lecturing in formal CPD programmes | Letter from programme director (earns 2× credits per contact hour) |
| Academic coursework and formal study programmes | Transcript or institutional letter |
| Residency / fellowship enrolment | Programme director letter (40 credits per year enrolled) |
| DOH-approved observerships | Institution letter (max 20 credits per cycle) |
| Credit-bearing micro-credentials (CBMC) | Micro-credential certificate |
Category 2 — Non-Formal CPD Activities
DOH officially calls this “Non-Formal CPD Activity”. Category 2 encompasses self-directed learning that adds value to knowledge, skills, or competence but does not require formal DOH accreditation. Category 2 is capped at a maximum of 50% of your annual total — even if you have more qualifying activities.
| Activity | Cap | Proof Required |
|---|---|---|
| Self-directed reading of CPD journal articles | Self-assessed | Journal copy or certificate |
| Peer review of academic manuscripts | 10 credits per cycle | Letter from journal editor (2 credits per article) |
| Peer-reviewed journal publication (authorship) | 20 credits per cycle | Journal DOI / publication copy (10 credits each) |
| Book chapter or case study authorship | 20 credits per cycle | Publication copy with your name as author |
| Healthcare outreach and volunteering | Uncapped (1 credit/hour) | Letter from organisation |
| Participation in DOH/MOHAP taskforces | Uncapped (1 credit/hour) | Official letter from authority |
| Reviewing DOH standards/documents | Uncapped (1 credit/hour) | Confirmation from DOH |
| Specialty board certification | 10 credits (once) | Board certificate |
| Non-credit micro-credentials or unaccredited workshops | Self-assessed | Attendance certificate |
The 50/50 Split Rule — By Profession
The 50% minimum Category 1 rule applies uniformly across all professions — the proportion is fixed regardless of your total required hours:
What Doesn’t Qualify for Either Category
DOH uses a positive filtering system — activities must affirmatively meet the criteria for Category 1 or Category 2 to count. The following are explicitly excluded or do not meet the criteria:
- BLS, ILS, ACLS, PALS, ATLS — mandatory licensing prerequisites, not CPD (DOH FAQ explicit)
- Routine clinical duties — ward rounds, case reviews, patient handovers
- Internal departmental meetings and committee work
- Commercial product training from pharmaceutical or device vendors
- Induction and orientation programmes
- Software and IT skills training
- Community and patient awareness activities (these are classified as professional activities, not formal CPD)
Proof and Documentation Requirements
All CPD activities must be evidenced. DOH requires a CPD portfolio available for audit at any time (CPD Standard §4.4.5). Acceptable proof varies by activity type:
- ✓Certificate of attendance with course name, date, duration, credit hours, and accreditation body
- ✓Letter from programme director (for teaching roles or observerships)
- ✓Journal DOI or publication copy (for authorship Category 2 claims)
- ✓Letter from journal editor (for peer review Category 2 claims)
- ✓Board certificate (for specialty certification Category 2 claims)
Keep original certificates — digital copies in your Provsure portfolio count but originals may be requested in audit. Do not rely on the course provider to retain records on your behalf.
Tracking DOH / MOHAP compliance automatically
Provsure automatically tracks your Category 1/2 split for DOH and MOHAP licenses — upload certificates and we categorise, gap-analyse, and alert you before your renewal deadline.
See how it works →Authority-Specific Guides
For full CPD requirements including hours, specialty rules, submission portals, and authority-specific rules: