How many CPD hours do physiotherapists need in the UAE?

Physiotherapists are classified as Allied Health professionals across all UAE authorities and need 10 CPD hours per year under DOH, DHA, SHA, and MOHAP. At DHCC, physiotherapists typically fall under the Allied Professional (senior) grade and need 30 CPD points per 2-year cycle, with at least 15 points Category 1.

What CPD activities are valid for physiotherapists?

Valid physiotherapy CPD activities include: accredited musculoskeletal rehabilitation courses, manual therapy workshops, sports medicine conferences, neurological physiotherapy seminars, pain management and modalities training, ergonomics and workplace health programmes, and paediatric physiotherapy courses. Under DOH and MOHAP, activities need a recognised accreditation number or provider stamp to count as Category 1.

Can pilates or yoga instructor training count as physiotherapy CPD?

Only if it carries accredited CPD hours from a recognised healthcare provider. A commercial yoga or pilates instructor certification does not count as CPD — these are fitness industry credentials, not professional healthcare development. If a yoga-for-rehabilitation workshop is run by an accredited physiotherapy provider with CPD hours attached, that is eligible.

Are manual therapy courses Category 1 for DOH?

If the manual therapy course carries DOH accreditation or a recognised CME provider stamp, it is Category 1 under DOH. If it is a self-directed learning programme without accreditation (e.g. online videos, textbooks), it counts as Category 2. Check whether your course provider appears on the DOH accredited provider list before submission.

What is my DHCC grade as a physiotherapist?

Qualified physiotherapists at DHCC are typically classified as 'Allied Professional' under DHCC GL/HCP/007/03 — the senior tier requiring 30 CPD points every 2 years (minimum 15 Category 1). Physiotherapy assistants are classified as 'Allied Health Assistant/Technician' and need 20 CPD points per 2-year cycle. Confirm your exact grade through the MASAAR portal.

Are BLS certifications mandatory for allied health professionals?

BLS (Basic Life Support) is a mandatory competency prerequisite for allied health licensure under DOH and MOHAP. BLS does NOT count toward your CPD hour total — it is a zero-credit mandatory prerequisite that must be maintained separately from your CPD portfolio.

Can online CPD courses count for allied health professionals?

Yes. Under DHA, 100% of allied health CPD hours can come from online programmes if they are relevant to your discipline. Under DOH and MOHAP, online courses can be Category 1 if they carry a DOH accreditation number or recognised provider stamp. DHCC caps online CPD at 50% of the 2-year cycle total.

Do CPD hours carry over to the next year?

No. Under all UAE authorities, CPD hours must be earned within the specific licensure cycle and cannot be carried forward. DHA explicitly prohibits carry-over in §18.8. DHCC's biennial cycle accumulation resets at the start of each 2-year period.

How do I submit CPD evidence as an allied health professional?

Submission portals differ by authority: DOH professionals submit through TAMM (tamm.abudhabi.ae → Healthcare Professional Services); DHA through Sheryan (sheryan.dha.gov.ae → CPD section); SHA through the SHA portal (sha.shj.ae); MOHAP through the MOHAP portal (mohap.gov.ae → License renewal section); DHCC allied health professionals submit through MASAAR (dhcc.ae) selecting the allied health category that matches your grade.

Do visiting or locum allied health professionals need CPD?

No. Visiting and temporary licenses (typically 3–6 months) have a CPD target of zero. This is common for allied health professionals on short-term contracts in the UAE. You must still maintain BLS and any other mandatory credentials, but you do not need to accumulate CPD hours during your visiting period. (Source: v4.11 §6.9 — License Type & Career Stage Handling.)

I'm in an allied health training programme — do I need to log CPD separately?

If you are enrolled in an active structured training programme recognised by your licensing authority, your programme enrolment may fulfil your CPD requirement for the duration of the programme. DOH awards CPD credits per year of enrolment in recognised programmes (CPD Standard Appendix 1) — keep your programme director's letter confirming active enrolment, programme name, and dates as your compliance evidence. Check with your specific authority whether your training programme qualifies, as not all allied health training programmes carry automatic CPD fulfilment.

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CPD Requirements for Physiotherapists in the UAE (2026)

Updated February 2026

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Physiotherapists — UAE CPD at a Glance

Physiotherapists are classified as Allied Health professionals across all UAE authorities. You need 10 CPD hours per year (DOH, DHA, SHA, MOHAP) or 30 CPD points per 2-year cycle at DHCC (Allied Professional grade), with at least 50% Category 1.

10 hrs / yr

DOH · DHA · SHA · MOHAP

30 pts / 2yr

DHCC (Allied Professional)

≥50% Cat 1

DOH · MOHAP · DHCC

CPD Requirements by Authority

Physiotherapists follow the Allied Health CPD requirements across all five UAE authorities. Requirements are identical to all other allied health professions.

Authority	Hours / Cycle	Cat 1 / Cat 2	DHCC Sub-tier	Cycle
DOH	10 hrs / yr	50% Cat 1 min	—	Annual
DHA	10 hrs / yr	No formal split	—	Annual
SHA	10 hrs / yr	No formal split	—	Annual
MOHAP	10 hrs / yr	50% Cat 1 min	—	Annual
DHCC	30 pts / 2yr (Allied Professional / senior)	50% Cat 1 min	20 pts / 2yr (assistant / technician)	Biennial (2yr)

CPD Activities Relevant to Physiotherapy

The following activities are commonly accepted as physiotherapy CPD. Under DOH and MOHAP, activities must be accredited (Category 1) or self-directed (Category 2).

✓
Musculoskeletal rehabilitation courses and workshops
✓
Manual therapy (joint mobilisation, manipulation) training programmes
✓
Sports medicine conferences and injury prevention seminars
✓
Neurological physiotherapy courses (stroke rehabilitation, MS, Parkinson's)
✓
Pain management and electrotherapy modalities training
✓
Ergonomics, workplace health, and occupational physiotherapy
✓
Dry needling and medical acupuncture certification (if accredited by CPD provider)
✓
Paediatric physiotherapy — developmental and neurodevelopmental approaches

Note: Pilates or yoga instructor certifications (fitness industry credentials) do not count unless the specific programme carries healthcare CPD accreditation.

DHCC Grade Classification for Physiotherapists

Typically: Allied Professional (Senior)

30 pts / 2yr

Qualified physiotherapists with a recognised degree and DHCC licence typically fall under the Allied Professional grade. Minimum 15 Category 1 points required.

Physiotherapy Assistant (Junior)

20 pts / 2yr

Physiotherapy assistants and support staff fall under the Assistant/Technician grade at DHCC. Minimum 10 Category 1 points required.

Confirm your exact DHCC grade through the MASAAR portal (dhcc.ae) under GL/HCP/007/03 before selecting your CPD target.

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Last verified against UAE Authority CPD Standards (2024–2025) on February 2026. Requirements may change — always confirm with your licensing authority via the official portal.

This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or regulatory advice. Provsure is an informational compliance tracking tool — not a regulatory authority. While we verify content against official sources, requirements may change without notice. Always confirm your current CPD obligations directly with your licensing authority before making compliance decisions. Provsure accepts no liability for actions taken based on this content. See our full disclaimer.