NHRA exam for nurses: Bahrain eligibility and requirements
The NHRA exam for nurses is the Bahrain Nursing Licensure Examination (BNLE), delivered by Prometric. A non-Bahraini general nurse needs a nursing qualification and 1 year of experience, must be 65 or younger, and must have worked 6 continuous months within the last 3 years. The pass mark is 50 percent in NHRA's booklet, but Prometric says 60 percent.
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Original questions across the NHRA Bahrain exam for nurses topic areas, with an explanation after every answer and your estimated readiness at the end.
Start the free checkWho can sit the Bahrain nursing exam
NHRA is the National Health Regulatory Authority of Bahrain. Its nursing requirements document is dated October 2022. You apply online to NHRA, receive an eligibility code, and use the code to register with Prometric.
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| Role | Qualification | Experience (non-Bahrainis) |
|---|---|---|
| General Nurse | 4-year bachelor's, or 3-year diploma or associate degree, or a 3.5-year nursing and midwifery diploma for overseas programmes | 1 year after qualification |
| Practical Nurse | Programme of at least 18 months | 1 year |
| Midwife | 4-year midwifery bachelor's, or a nursing or midwifery bachelor's with at least 9 months of midwifery, or a postgraduate diploma | 3 years in labour, antenatal, intra-natal and postnatal care |
Age and recent work
Non-Bahraini nurses must be 65 or younger. They must also have worked for 6 continuous months within the last 3 years.
Both rules come from the October 2022 nursing document. Check the current wording with NHRA before you apply.
Exemptions: which results NHRA accepts
- Bahraini or GCC nationals with a valid GCC licence.
- UAE results from DHA and HAAD for the Registered Nurse.
- Qatar and Oman Prometric Registered Nurse results.
- Saudi results for the Nurse Specialist.
- Saudi Nurse Technician Prometric results are not accepted.
The document is from 2022, and Oman now uses Pearson VUE, so ask NHRA whether a current Oman result is accepted. Exams taken without NHRA approval, or before the 2022 instructions, are not accepted.
Our Gulf nursing exam guide compares the regulators.
Attempts, pass mark and validity
- Attempts: Decision 29 of 2020 allows four consecutive attempts within a maximum of 3 years from the first attempt. An older nursing version cited six attempts.
- Bahrainis only: after a fourth failure, at least 6 months of retraining and then two more attempts within 2 years.
- Pass mark: NHRA's booklet says 50 percent for nursing, midwifery and allied professions, and 60 percent for others. A Prometric excerpt says 60 percent for all Bahrain exams. The sources conflict, so we do not give one number.
- Exam time: seating time is 3 hours and exam time is 2.5 hours. The number of questions is not confirmed.
- Validity: the nursing document says the licence examination is valid for 5 years.
- The eligibility code is valid for a maximum of 4 months.
The fee is not confirmed, and NHRA publishes no blueprint. Its page links study references from the SCFHS website, which it says is not an endorsement. Practise with the free 20-question check and see the NHRA exam hub.
Common questions
What is the NHRA exam for nurses?
The Bahrain Nursing Licensure Examination (BNLE), delivered by Prometric after NHRA gives you an eligibility code.
What is the NHRA exam eligibility for a general nurse?
A recognised nursing qualification and, for non-Bahrainis, 1 year of experience. The age limit is 65 and you must have worked 6 continuous months in the last 3 years.
What are the Bahrain nursing license requirements?
The eligibility rules are above. NHRA also decides which other Gulf results it accepts.
How many times can I take the Bahrain Prometric exam?
Four consecutive attempts within 3 years from the first, under Decision 29 of 2020.
How long is the Bahrain nursing exam valid?
5 years for nurses, according to NHRA's nursing document.
What is the NHRA pass mark for nurses?
NHRA's booklet says 50 percent, but a Prometric excerpt says 60 percent. The conflict is not settled.
Related guides
Sources
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