Not “Unqualified”, rather Just Not the Right Fit (Yet)
If you’re a medical professional aiming to work in Saudi Arabia, you’ve likely noticed that job requirements aren’t one-size-fits-all. Each hospital sets its own standards, and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) adds another critical layer of regulation. At IHR, we like to say: It’s not that you’re unqualified—it’s that you may not meet the current criteria for that specific role.
So, let’s explore what that really means and why it’s more about systems than individuals.
The Essentials
To be considered for a consultant or specialist position in Saudi Arabia, you must meet several baseline requirements:
- A basic medical degree from a recognized Medical School
- A post-qualification certification (such as board certification or equivalent)
- That certification must come from an approved medical system
- Primary source verification of all qualifications and experience (typically via DataFlow)
- Proof of post-board certification experience
- Valid license/registration and a certificate of good standing from your licensing authority
- English proficiency (required for some candidates)
Examples of Approved Certifications
- USA: American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
- Canada: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
- UK and Ireland: Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or Certificate of Specialist Training (CCST) and on the UK Specialist Register
- Australia and New Zealand: Fellowship from the relevant Royal College (FRACP, FRACS, etc.)
- Western Europe: Equivalent postgraduate qualifications (e.g., DES, DIS, or Facharzt in Germany; national specialty boards)
These certifications are evaluated based on how closely the training, assessment, and clinical exposure align with SCFHS standards.
Why Are Experience Requirements Different?
This is where confusion often arises. You may hear that some candidates need 3 years of post-certification experience while others need 5 years, even though both hold respected qualifications.
This isn’t about ranking countries. It’s about aligning different medical training systems to ensure consistency and safety across Saudi Arabia’s healthcare workforce.
Group 1 Countries
- Countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom (CCT pathway), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France (DES pathway).
- Training Structure: Highly structured, supervised residency programs with centralized assessment and oversight.
- Experience Required: 3 years after board certification
Why? We believe, due to rigorous oversight and uniformity in training reduce variability, so Saudi authorities can be confident that 3 years of post-certification experience is sufficient for consultant roles.
Examples
- United States: ACGME-accredited residency, USMLE exams, supervised rotations, board certification.
- Canada: RCPSC-accredited residency, MCCQE exams, supervised practice, board certification.
- UK (CCT Pathway): GMC-approved training, workplace-based assessments, structured curricula.
- Australia: Medical Board of Australia oversight, supervised practice, standardized exams.
- France (DES Pathway): 10+ years of structured training, supervised rotations, clinical thesis.
Group 2 Countries
- Countries: Includes many European countries (e.g., Germany, Spain, Italy, France via DIS pathway), as well as others like Egypt, India, Pakistan, and South Africa.
- Training Structure: Often involves more independent practice, decentralized training, or country-specific assessments.
- Experience Required: 5 years after board certification
Why? We think, less centralized oversight and standardized assessment require additional post-certification experience to ensure consistent expertise.
Examples
- UK (CESR/Portfolio Pathway): Non-CCT candidates evaluated via portfolio, often with less structured training.
- European Models: Facharzt (Germany), DIS (France), and other country-specific certifications with variable supervision and assessment.
- Note: SCFHS may review UK CESR applicants on a case-by-case basis; some may be considered Group 1 if their training is deemed equivalent.
Hospital-Specific Criteria and Credentialing
It’s important to note that some hospitals may have their own additional criteria for the consultant role. For example, a physician from Group 2 may fully meet the SCFHS requirements to practice as a consultant in Saudi Arabia, but a particular hospital may only hire candidates from Group 1 countries. This is often related to the hospital’s internal credentialing policies and the need to maintain a certain number of physicians trained in highly standardized systems on staff.
These hospital-level preferences are not a reflection of your qualifications, but rather a matter of meeting specific institutional standards or accreditation needs.
It’s About Matching Systems, Not Questioning Skills
At IHR, we never say, “You’re not qualified.” What we say is:
“You don’t meet the criteria for this particular hospital or licensing level at this time.”
That’s a very different message and a much more productive one. In most cases, there is a path forward. Sometimes it’s about timing. Sometimes it’s about applying to a hospital with different criteria. And sometimes it’s about gaining a little more experience in your current system.
What You Can Do
- Track your post-certification experience carefully
- Understand how your training system is categorized under SCFHS (Group 1 or Group 2)
- Prepare all required documentation early, including primary source verification (e.g., DataFlow)
- Let us help you identify roles that match your qualifications
- Stay open, we’ll always give you the honest picture, with full respect for your background
In international healthcare, it’s not always a straight line, but the destination is still reachable. IHR is here to guide the way.