Continuing professional development is not only for physicians. The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) registers technicians and allied health practitioners too, and their registration renewal depends on CPD hours in the same way a doctor's does. The difference is the number of hours, and that number follows your professional classification rather than your job title.
This guide covers how many hours technicians need, what decides your target, which activities count, what you need for re-registration, and how to earn and track the hours without falling behind.
Who this guide is for
Allied health covers a wide group: laboratory and radiology technicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, dental and surgical technicians, and others. What they have in common is an SCFHS classification, a professional registration, and a CPD record kept in Mumaris Plus, the Commission's unified system for practitioner services.
The word "allied health" does not appear as a single category in the CPD rules. SCFHS sets the requirement by classification, so two people in the same department can have different targets.
How many CPD hours technicians need
SCFHS lists the CPD hours required for professional re-registration by classification:
- Technicians: 20 hours
- Specialists: 40 hours
- Pharmacists: 40 hours
- Doctors: 60 hours
Consultants are referred to the regulations page for their requirement. Professional registration is valid for two years, so these figures apply to each registration period.
Check which classification you hold before you plan your hours. SCFHS classifies practitioners based on their health qualifications, which means an allied health worker can be classified as a technician or as a specialist depending on the qualification on file. If you hold a specialist classification, your target is 40 hours, not 20. Your classification and your current hours are both shown in Mumaris Plus.
If your qualification has changed since you were first classified (a higher degree, for example), SCFHS offers a re-classification service to update your record. If your classification changes, your CPD target may change with it, so check Mumaris Plus after any update. For more on the difference between first registration and renewal, see SCFHS registration vs re-registration.
Only hours relevant to your field count
The SCFHS Mumaris FAQ states that only activities related to the practitioner's field are counted, citing Executive Rule 14. The same FAQ says academic degrees and diplomas are not counted as CPD.
In practice, a radiology technician should choose activities connected to imaging, patient care in that setting, or the skills the job uses. A general course with no link to your work may not be accepted toward your total, even if it is accredited. When you pick a course, read its description and ask whether it fits the work you are registered to do.
What you need for re-registration
SCFHS lists these requirements for professional re-registration:
- The required CPD hours for your classification
- An employment letter issued within the last three months
- Your national ID or Iqama
- A medical report if you are over 65
- Verification results for any new foreign documents
SCFHS asks practitioners to apply for re-registration three months before the registration ends. The FAQ says a fine is issued 31 days after the end of the registration period. It does not state the amount, so check Mumaris Plus for current fees.
If you reach the end of your period without enough hours, SCFHS allows a one-year renewal, and this option is available only once. If your registration ended more than a year ago, you apply for a new professional registration rather than re-registration. Practitioners coming back after time away should read returning to practice after a break.
The full renewal process is covered in our SCFHS license renewal guide.
How your hours reach Mumaris Plus
For accredited activities inside the Kingdom, you do not upload certificates yourself. According to the SCFHS FAQ, the provider's coordinator records your attendance on Mustamir, the SCFHS CPD platform, and Mumaris Plus pulls the hours from Mustamir once the provider confirms attendance.
If hours from a Saudi activity are missing, SCFHS advises contacting the provider first. If that does not fix it, raise a ticket through Tawasul with the provider's name, the activity approval number and the activity date. Keep your certificates so you have those details ready.
Courses taken outside the Kingdom, or self-learning, go through a separate recognition request in Mumaris Plus. Our guide on claiming hours from external courses explains that route.
How to earn and track your hours
- Open Mumaris Plus and confirm your classification and your CPD target for the current period.
- Note your registration end date and work back three months. That is when you should be ready to apply.
- Choose accredited activities that relate to your field. You can browse accredited courses by topic, or take a CME bundle if you want a block of hours in one purchase.
- Keep the certificate for each activity, with the provider name, approval number and date.
- Check your hours in Mumaris Plus after each activity instead of waiting until the end of the period. Our guide on checking your CPD hours in Mumaris Plus shows where to look.
Spreading the hours across the two years is easier than collecting them in the last few months. A technician who needs 20 hours could complete one or two activities every few months and finish well ahead of the application window.
Earning hours with Mulhim
Mulhim is an SCFHS-accredited CPD provider (provider number AC10000415). Each course is worth 5 CME hours and comes with its own certificate, and the hours are sent to Mumaris Plus. Courses are online and self-paced, which suits technicians and allied health staff who work rotating shifts and cannot commit to fixed classroom dates.
For a technician with a 20-hour target, four courses cover the period. Bundles come in 20, 30 and 40 hours, so a technician can take the 20-hour bundle and a practitioner with a specialist classification can take the 40-hour bundle. Mulhim has more than 100 courses and has served over 150,000 learners. About once a month one accredited course is offered free; the rest are paid.
Whichever courses you choose, pick topics that fit your field so the hours count under the relevance rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CPD hours does a technician need for SCFHS re-registration?
SCFHS lists 20 CPD hours for technicians. Specialists and pharmacists need 40, and doctors need 60. Your exact target depends on your classification, which you can see in Mumaris Plus.
I work in allied health. Am I a technician or a specialist?
It depends on how SCFHS classified you, which is based on your qualifications. Two people in the same role can hold different classifications. Check your classification in Mumaris Plus before you plan your hours.
Does any accredited course count toward my hours?
No. The SCFHS FAQ says only activities related to your field are counted (Executive Rule 14). Choose courses that match the work you are registered for.
What happens if I do not complete my hours in time?
SCFHS allows a one-year renewal if the hours are not completed, and you can use this option only once. Plan to finish your hours before you apply, three months before your registration ends.
Do I need to upload my certificates to Mumaris Plus?
Not for accredited activities inside the Kingdom. The provider records your attendance on Mustamir and the hours appear in Mumaris Plus once confirmed. Keep your certificates in case you need to follow up on missing hours.
How many Mulhim courses do I need as a technician?
Each Mulhim course is worth 5 CME hours, so four courses cover a 20-hour requirement. You can also take the 20-hour bundle.
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