Nurses in Saudi Arabia do not all share one number. A registered or specialist nurse is classified by SCFHS as a specialist and needs 40 CME hours every two-year registration period. A nursing technician is classified as a technician and needs 20 hours.
Why two nurses on the same ward need different hours
SCFHS sets continuing education hours by professional category, not by specialty or department. Nursing staff are registered under different categories, so a nursing technician and a registered nurse on the same shift can have different targets. Your category is part of your SCFHS registration, and it is the only thing that sets your number.
Registered and specialist nurses
Classified as specialists, alongside other non-physician specialists.
Nursing technicians
Classified as technicians, with the same target as lab, pharmacy and radiology technicians.
| Your registration | SCFHS category | Hours per period | Matching bundle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | Specialist | 40 | 40 CME hours |
| Specialist nurse | Specialist | 40 | 40 CME hours |
| Nursing technician | Technician | 20 | 20 CME hours |
How do nurses in Saudi Arabia fit CME hours around shifts?
Rotating shifts make classroom events hard to attend. Accredited online courses fit around a roster. You can do a module after a night shift and another on a day off. What counts is that the activity is accredited for its provider and that the hours reach your record.
A registered nurse with a full 40 hours to earn can complete eight 5-hour courses at one a week in about two months. A nursing technician needs four courses, which fits comfortably in a month. If you start early in your two-year period, you can spread the work even more thinly.
Three nurses, three different plans
Numbers make more sense with a face on them, so here are three common situations on a medical ward.
| Who | Target | Already posted | Still due | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse, early in her period | 40 | 0 | 40 | 8 courses, one every two weeks over 16 weeks |
| Specialist nurse with workshop hours | 40 | 20 | 20 | 4 courses, one a week |
| Nursing technician on night rotation | 20 | 0 | 20 | 4 courses over a month of days off |
The second case is the one people get wrong most often. She already has half her hours in Mumaris Plus, so the full 40-hour bundle would leave her paying for 20 hours she does not need. The 20-hour bundle closes her gap exactly.
Common mistakes on nursing units
- Taking the number a colleague quoted. Two people on the same unit can sit in different categories.
- A registered nurse buying the 20-hour bundle because it was enough for a technician friend. Her target is 40.
- Assuming every hospital session counts. It counts only if the activity was accredited and its hours were posted to your record.
- Keeping certificates in a drawer and never opening the CPD record. Renewal reads the record.
For a longer look at how SCFHS frames nursing requirements, see SCFHS CPD requirements for nurses.
How your hours reach Mumaris Plus
- Confirm your category and the hours still due in Mumaris Plus.
- Complete each accredited course and its assessment.
- Download your certificate from your dashboard.
- Mulhim posts the hours to your record within 24 to 48 business hours.
- Check your CPD record before you apply to renew.
Renewal opens three months before your period ends, and a late fine applies from 31 days after it ends. If the required hours are not complete, SCFHS can renew for one year instead of two, only once. The guide to SCFHS hours by category covers every category in more detail.
Choose the bundle for your classification
Every Mulhim course is SCFHS accredited and carries 5 CME hours. Mulhim is fully accredited. Each bundle gives 6 months of access, and you download every certificate from your dashboard.
Close to your renewal date and worried about your hours? Talk to us.
Talk to usFrequently asked questions
How many CME hours does a registered nurse need in Saudi Arabia?
A registered nurse is classified as a specialist and needs 40 hours in each two-year registration period.
How many hours does a nursing technician need?
A nursing technician is classified as a technician and needs 20 hours in each two-year period.
Does my nursing specialty change the hours?
No. The target follows your SCFHS category, not your unit or specialty. An ICU nurse and a clinic nurse in the same category have the same target.
Can nurses earn all their hours online?
Yes, as long as each activity is accredited and the hours are posted to your Mumaris Plus record.
Where do I find my certificates?
In your Mulhim dashboard, where you can download them at any time.
Source: SCFHS Mumaris Plus frequently asked questions. Always confirm your own target in your Mumaris Plus account. Medically reviewed by Dr. Abdullah Alsaiari, Medical Editorial Board Member.
