Medical Licensing Pathways for International Medical Graduates in Muscat, Oman
Regulatory bodies
Licensing of physicians in Oman is regulated jointly by the Ministry of Health (MOH) – through its Directorate General of Private Health Establishments – and the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB). Doctors working in Muscat must be registered through the MOH’s e‑health portal and, for most specialties, must pass a licensing examination administered by OMSB (via Prometric/Pearson VUE).
Eligibility (who can apply)
Medical qualification and training
Applicants must hold a recognized primary medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery or equivalent) from a university listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. The degree must have been studied in English or Arabic or accompanied by a certified translationmoh.gov.om.
Completion of a one‑year internship/house‑job is mandatory. The Ministry’s procedure for licensing private‑sector doctors specifies that general practitioners should submit their internship certificate along with their degree and CVmoh.gov.om.
Clinical experience after internship – The MOH’s standard‑operating procedure for licensing general practitioners in private health establishments requires four years of post‑internship experience in a general‑practice, internal‑medicine, family‑medicine or emergency/ICU setting, along with a letter from a sponsor and DataFlow verificationmoh.gov.om. Some guidance from business‑setup consultants notes that general practitioners typically need at least two years of clinical experience, while specialists require three‑to‑five years of postgraduate experience; however, the official SOP emphasises a four‑year requirement for GP registrationmoh.gov.om.
For specialist registration, candidates must hold an appropriate postgraduate degree and relevant residency training. Experience requirements are usually higher (three–five years post‑qualification) and depend on the specialty.
Professional standing and conduct
Applicants must be licensed in their home country and provide a certificate of good standing from their medical council or licensing authority. Good standing certificates are valid for six months and must show no disciplinary actions.
Applicants should have a clean professional record (no malpractice convictions) and should not have been out of clinical practice for more than two yearsmoh.gov.om.
A sponsor letter from an Omani employer (private or government facility) is generally required by the MOH for issuing a visit visa and for finalising the licencemoh.gov.om.
Required documents
The MOH e‑service portal and the private‑sector licensing SOP outline the documents needed for registration:
Curriculum vitae and job offer/sponsor lettermoh.gov.om.
Medical degree and transcripts, including attested copies of postgraduate qualifications (if applicable)moh.gov.om.
Internship certificate and evidence of clinical experience – for GPs, four years’ experience in general practice or related specialties is requiredmoh.gov.om.
Professional licence from the applicant’s home country and a certificate of good standing (valid for six months).
Experience certificates from previous employers verifying duration and scope of practice.
Passport copy and passport‑sized photographsmoh.gov.om.
DataFlow primary‑source verification report – all degrees, licences and experience certificates must undergo primary‑source verification by the DataFlow Group before the application is consideredmedexamcenter.com.
Translation: documents not in Arabic or English must be translated by an accredited translatormoh.gov.om.
Incomplete applications are returned; the MOH allows up to three resubmissions before rejecting the applicationmoh.gov.om.
Step‑by‑step licensing process
Create an account on the MOH e‑Health portal and select the registration service. Applicants must log in (using ID card or mobile PKI) and submit a request through the Health Practitioners Registration e‑Servicemoh.gov.om. They enter personal and professional details and upload the required documents.
Complete DataFlow primary‑source verification. Before OMSB will assess an applicant’s credentials, all qualifications, licences and experience certificates must be verified by the DataFlow Group. A positive DataFlow report is essential and should be uploaded with the applicationmedexamcenter.com. DataFlow verification can take several weeks; existing DataFlow reports from other GCC authorities may be transferablemedexamcenter.com.
Register for and pass the OMSB licensing examination. Most doctors must pass the OMSB computer‑based test (CBT), administered by Prometric/Pearson VUE. Registration is done through the Prometric website; candidates schedule their test without needing an eligibility IDprometric.com. The exam consists of 70 multiple‑choice questions over two hoursprometric.com (some specialties have 100 questions over 2.5 hours), and costs US$195 for physiciansprometric.com. Candidates may take the exam up to three times per calendar yearprometric.com. Upon passing, candidates receive an exam result letter.
Attend viva/oral assessment (if required). The MOH’s SOP for licensing private‑sector doctors describes a viva exam administered by the Ministry after the CBT; candidates must fill a viva form, pay fees and present all documentsmoh.gov.om. Successful candidates proceed to the next step; those who fail may retake the exam (usually up to two or three attempts)moh.gov.om.
Submit the licence application and pay fees. After passing the exam and receiving a positive DataFlow report, candidates complete the online licence application via the e‑Health portal, upload all documents (including the exam result), and pay the licensing fee. For private‑sector doctors, the sponsor’s letter and visa are submitted to the MOH; the Directorate issues an appointment letter to the Ministry of Manpowermoh.gov.om.
Final approval and licence issuance. The MOH reviews the application and, if all requirements are met, issues a registration number and a medical licence, authorising the doctor to practise in Omanmoh.gov.om. The licence may specify the practice location and is generally valid for a set period (often two years); renewal requires continuing professional development and valid malpractice insurance.
Additional considerations
Processing time: The MOH states that completed applications are processed within five business daysmoh.gov.om. However, the entire licensing process (including DataFlow and exam) typically takes several months.
Visa and residency: Foreign doctors must secure a work visa and residency permit sponsored by their employer before practising in Oman. The sponsor assists with the visa process after the licensing exam.
Language proficiency: English is widely used in Oman’s healthcare system, but basic Arabic proficiency improves patient communication.
Work settings: Different licence categories exist, such as general practitioner, specialist, consultant and temporary licences. Temporary licences are issued for short‑term assignments (e.g., visiting consultants)setupdubai.business.
Re‑examination and retakes: Candidates who fail the OMSB exam or viva may retake it, usually up to two or three times per yearprometric.commoh.gov.om.
Summary
International doctors wishing to practise in Muscat must hold a recognised medical degree, complete internship and gain several years of clinical experience (the MOH’s private‑sector SOP requires four years’ experience for general practitioners)moh.gov.om. They must create an account on the MOH’s e‑health portal, gather and submit documents, and undergo primary‑source verification through DataFlowmedexamcenter.com. Applicants then register for the OMSB exam– a two‑hour multiple‑choice test administered by Prometric/Pearson VUE – and may also sit a viva examprometric.commoh.gov.om. After passing the exam(s) and receiving a positive DataFlow report, they complete the licence application, pay fees, and obtain final approval from the MOH. The entire process, from verification to licence issuance, typically takes several months but enables qualified physicians to practise medicine legally in Muscat.