Annual CPD Hour Requirements
Minimum hours per DHA Manual v1.3 §18. No Category 1/2 split — only the 70/30 specialty ratio applies.
| Profession | Annual Hours | Specialty | Mandatory LSC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician | 40 hrs | 70% specialty, 30% general | BLS, ACLS (see note) |
| Dentist | 40 hrs | 70% specialty, 30% general | BLS (see note) |
| Nurse / Midwife | 20 hrs | 70% specialty, 30% general | BLS, ACLS (see note) |
| Pharmacist | 20 hrs | 70% specialty, 30% general | BLS (see note) |
| Allied Health | 10 hrs | 70% specialty, 30% general | BLS (see note) |
| TCAM | 10 hrs | 70% specialty, 30% general | BLS (see note) |
Source: DHA Manual v1.3 §18. No Category 1/2 split — only the 70/30 specialty ratio applies. BLS/ACLS are mandatory credentialing prerequisites; DHA is silent on whether they count toward CPD (Provsure recommends not relying on them).
Physician
40
hrs/yr
70% specialty
Specialty
BLS, ACLS (see note)
Dentist
40
hrs/yr
70% specialty
Specialty
BLS (see note)
Nurse / Midwife
20
hrs/yr
70% specialty
Specialty
BLS, ACLS (see note)
Pharmacist
20
hrs/yr
70% specialty
Specialty
BLS (see note)
Allied Health
10
hrs/yr
70% specialty
Specialty
BLS (see note)
TCAM
10
hrs/yr
70% specialty
Specialty
BLS (see note)
Source: DHA Manual v1.3 §18. No Category 1/2 split — only the 70/30 specialty ratio applies. BLS/ACLS are mandatory credentialing prerequisites; DHA is silent on whether they count toward CPD (Provsure recommends not relying on them).
DHA explicitly prohibits carrying over excess CPD hours (§18.8)
DHA Does NOT Use Category 1 or Category 2
DHA uses a single pool of CPD hours: 70% specialty, 30% general. All activity types count equally, subject to the excluded activities list (§18.12).
DHA does NOT use Category 1/Category 2 — only the 70/30 specialty ratio applies
What DHA counts
- ✓Accredited conferences and workshops
- ✓Online CPD programmes (100% allowed since July 2025)
- ✓Teaching and lecturing at CPD events
- ✓Peer-reviewed journal publications
- ✓DHA assessment panel participation (§18.11)
- ✓Academic study and research
- ✓International CME (specialty-related)
What DHA does NOT count (§18.12)
- ✕Morning meetings, ward rounds, case revisions
- ✕Internal departmental meetings
- ✕Community or patient awareness sessions
- ✕Public-directed activities
- ✕Software skills training
- ✕Induction and orientation programmes
- ✕Basic product training
DHA-Specific Rules
100% Online CPD Allowed
DHA Manual v1.3 §18.5 states verbatim: “100% of the total targeted CPD points can be gained through online programs.” The old 30% online cap from the 2014 CPD Guideline was repealed by Administrative Resolution No. (25) of 2025, Article 4, which states any provision conflicting with the Manual is repealed. This resolution was signed on 12 March 2025 and took effect alongside DHA Manual v1.3 (18 July 2025).
DHA allows 100% online CPD — the old 30% cap was repealed in 2025
Online CPD Must Be Specialty-Related
Per §18.7, online CPD points are accepted “as long as they are related to the specialty field.” General professional development content delivered online counts toward the 30% general component, not the 70% specialty component.
Carry-Over Prohibited
§18.8 verbatim: “If the HP overachieves their target CPD points, they are not eligible to carry forward up or transferred from previous year.” Excess CPD hours expire at the end of your license validity period. Similarly, shortfalls block renewal per §18.3.
Multi-Year Licenses
If your DHA license has 2-year validity, your CPD target is doubled (e.g., 80 points for physicians). For 3-year licenses, the target is tripled (120 points). Per §18.10, CPD must be “secured and uploaded in Sheryan upon renewal.” The annual pacing rule applies — you cannot accumulate all hours at the end of the cycle.
Multiple DHA Licenses
Per §18.2, if you hold multiple DHA licenses across different professional categories, your CPD target is “calculated according to professional’s category with the highest required number, whether this category is activated as full time or part time.” Example: a nurse who also holds a pharmacist license defaults to 20 hours (both require 20), not 40.
DHA Assessment Panel Participation
Per §18.11: “Participation in DHA assessment panel for licensing HP process will be considered a part of CPD requirement for the calendar year.” If you serve on DHA licensing panels, log this as a valid CPD activity.
License-Based CPD Cycle
Per §18.6, CPD points are calculated based on your individual license validity dates, not the calendar year. Each professional’s cycle is anchored to their specific license renewal date. A physician with a March renewal tracks CPD from March to March, not January to December.
BLS and Life Support (DHA Position)
DHA requires BLS/CPR/ACLS certification for credentialing (Manual §5.29). However, Chapter 18 is silent on whether life support hours count toward CPD — BLS does not appear in the §18.12 excluded list, but it is also not explicitly included. Provsure recommends not relying on BLS for CPD hours, as this is unverified and could cause an audit shortfall if DHA later clarifies its position.
Fraud Warning
Per §18.13: “Claiming fraudulent CPD will result in disciplinary actions decided by the MPC.” Only log activities you have actually completed and for which you hold evidence (certificates, attendance records, or letters).
Tracking DHA Dubai compliance automatically
Tracking CPD hours, specialty ratios, and avoiding excluded activities is time-consuming. Provsure automates your DHA compliance tracking so you can focus on your patients.
See how it works →Activities That Do NOT Count for DHA CPD
DHA Manual v1.3 §18.12 explicitly lists 7 categories of activities that are not considered for the CPD target. Logging any of these risks creating an audit shortfall if DHA audits your CPD portfolio.
7 activity categories are excluded from DHA CPD (§18.12)
- 1
Morning meetings, endorsements, ward rounds and case revisions
Routine clinical handover activities — regardless of how educational they feel — are not CPD under DHA.
- 2
Departmental or medical society internal meetings
Internal meetings within your department or medical society do not qualify, even if clinical topics are discussed.
- 3
Community and patient awareness sessions
Activities directed at educating patients or the community about health topics do not count toward your individual CPD.
- 4
Public directed activities
Broader public health campaigns or awareness events are excluded from CPD credit.
- 5
Software skills training
Training on hospital information systems, EHR software, or other technology tools does not count as CPD.
- 6
Induction and orientation programs
New employee orientation and hospital induction programmes are excluded, regardless of clinical content.
- 7
Basic product training and product-specific knowledge
Training on specific medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or equipment provided by vendors or manufacturers does not count.
Free CPD Resources for DHA Licensees
DHA Rashid Medical Library provides free access to several major CPD resources for all DHA-licensed professionals:
- ✓BMJ Learning — online CPD modules accredited by major bodies
- ✓UpToDate iPOC (Point of Care) — clinical decision support with CME credits
- ✓ClinicalKey — medical and nursing learning platform
Access via DHA Rashid Medical Library portal. Verify current availability with the library directly.
How to Submit CPD Hours via Sheryan
- 1Log in to the Sheryan portal (sheryan.ae) with your DHA professional account.
- 2Navigate to the CPD section under your license profile.
- 3Upload each certificate with: activity name, date, credit hours, and accreditation body.
- 4Ensure all CPD hours are logged before your license renewal deadline.
- 5Keep original certificates — DHA may audit your CPD record at any time.
Common Mistakes
- Logging excluded activities (ward rounds, departmental meetings, product training) as CPD — these can trigger an audit shortfall.
- Not meeting the 70/30 specialty ratio — all online CPD must be specialty-related per §18.7.
- Assuming Category 1/2 rules apply to DHA — DHA does not use the Category 1/2 system.
- Trying to carry over surplus hours — DHA explicitly prohibits carry-forward (§18.8).
- Relying on BLS hours for CPD — DHA is silent on BLS and this is unverified.
- Assuming DHA and DHCC have the same rules — DHCC has a biennial cycle with different targets.
- Waiting until license expiry to submit CPD to Sheryan — shortfalls block renewal with no specified grace period.
Calculate Your CPD Gap
Enter your hours to see exactly what you still need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore DHA CPD requirements by profession