SCFHS Classification for Doctors 2026: GP & Specialist via Mumaris+

To practise as a doctor in Saudi Arabia in 2026 you must complete five stages with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS): (1) create a Mumaris Plus account; (2) complete DataFlow Primary Source Verification of your degree, internship, experience and home-country licence; (3) apply for professional classification as General Practitioner, Specialist or Consultant; (4) pass the licensing exam (the SMLE for doctors — 200 multiple-choice questions); and (5) complete professional registration, valid for two years.

Classification determines your title, your salary band and which jobs you can take — an MD/MS with 2+ years of post-PG experience typically classifies as Specialist, while GP classification needs internship completion plus limited experience. Allow 4–8 months for the full pathway.

SCFHS evaluates your qualifications and experience to place you in one of three physician tiers:

- General Practitioner: MBBS (or equivalent) with completed internship and 0–2 years of experience. The entry tier for fresh graduates.

- Specialist: a recognised postgraduate qualification (MD/MS or equivalent) in the specialty, plus generally at least 2 years of post-PG experience — more in some specialties. This is the tier most Indian MD/MS doctors target.

- Consultant: an approved higher specialty qualification (fellowship-level) supported by substantial independent clinical experience — generally 3–5 years post-specialisation, with valid licensure in the country of practice and DataFlow verification.

If your qualification is not on SCFHS's standard recognition list, you may face peer review by the Scientific Committee, additional experience documentation, or an equivalency or bridging assessment — check the SCFHS Qualification Equivalency Reference inside Mumaris+ before applying. You must apply under one clear specialty category; applying under multiple roles can cause rejection or delays. Note that age preferences exist in hiring (many employers prefer under 50–55), though SCFHS publishes no strict upper age limit — confirm with your sponsoring employer.

Create your account on Mumaris Plus, the official SCFHS online licensing portal, with your personal information, academic qualifications, professional experience and contact details. Through Mumaris+ you apply for classification and licensing, book exams, check status updates and later renew your registration.

DataFlow verification is mandatory and confirms your credentials directly with the issuing authorities: medical degree, internship completion, professional experience and home-country medical licence. The process typically takes 30–45 working days. Critical: SCFHS requires a separate DataFlow verification under the Saudi category even if you already did one for the UAE or Qatar — it does not transfer.

Documents to prepare: valid passport, recent passport-size photo, professional qualification certificates and transcripts, internship or residency completion certificate, home-country professional licence, experience certificates, and a Good Standing Certificate from your previous licensing authority (valid within 6 months). A gap of more than two years in clinical practice counts as a discontinuity — you may need to retake the professional licence exam and complete a training period.

Once DataFlow is complete, apply for professional classification through Mumaris+ — this determines whether you are registered as GP, Specialist or Consultant, which directly affects your salary. After classification approval, apply for exam eligibility: the SCFHS exam eligibility service lists a processing time of about 5 business days and a service fee of SAR 120 before exam scheduling.

The Saudi Medical Licensing Examination (SMLE) for doctors contains 200 multiple-choice questions in 2 sections of 100 questions, with 120 minutes per section and a 30-minute scheduled break. It is offered in 11 testing windows a year, and you can sit it up to four times a year until you pass. Results appear on Mumaris Plus — typically within about 2 days.

The exam is mandatory for most doctors; rare exemptions exist (for example consultants with fellowship plus many years of experience). You can sit the Prometric exam in India — centres operate in Delhi, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Prepare against the official SCFHS exam blueprint for your specialty: clinical reasoning, patient safety, ethics and specialty-specific competencies.

After passing, complete professional registration. Your Classification and Registration certificate is viewable and printable from the My Certificates section of Mumaris+, and registration is valid for two years. You can apply to renew 3 months before the period ends; renewal requires an employment letter issued within the last three months, your national ID or Iqama, verification results for any documents not verified before, and CME hours.

CME requirements: physicians and dentists (GPs, residents, specialists and consultants) need 60 CME hours per two-year cycle. If you are short of hours at renewal, SCFHS can renew your registration for one year instead of two — only once — so plan early. A medical report is required if you are over 65. Track your classification and hours due directly in Mumaris+ so you never have to guess.

Plan 4–8 months from account creation to registration, with DataFlow (30–45 working days) the longest predictable stage. Fees accrue across DataFlow verification, the SAR 120 exam eligibility service, the Prometric exam fee and registration — SCFHS does not publish the exam fee, so confirm the current figure before booking.

Avoidable mistakes: (1) assuming a UAE/Qatar DataFlow report transfers — it doesn't, SCFHS needs its own; (2) applying under multiple specialties at once; (3) qualification not on the recognition list with no equivalency check done first; (4) unexplained gaps over six months in your experience record — document them officially; (5) letting good-standing certificates expire (6-month validity); (6) booking the exam before eligibility approval. Clearing the exam makes you eligible for licensing — job offers still depend on hospital requirements, so run licensing and job search in parallel.

SteadStaff lists verified doctor openings in Saudi Arabia — GP, Specialist and Consultant roles — from hospitals that sponsor SCFHS classification and guide you through DataFlow and the SMLE. Applying is always free for candidates: employers pay for recruitment, never you.

Browse doctor roles on /jobs and submit your application on /apply with your qualification, specialty and post-PG experience. Candidates with DataFlow underway and a clear single-specialty application get shortlisted fastest. Never pay anyone for classification or placement — report any request for money immediately.