Countries > Bahrain for Nurses > NHRA Nursing
Bahrain for Nurses
The Bahrain Nursing Licensure Examination (commonly referred to as the BNLE) is the national licensing exam for registered nurses who want to practise in Bahrain. It is set by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) and delivered through Prometric test centres worldwide. Passing the exam, combined with Primary Source Verification of your credentials, is the key requirement to obtain your NHRA licence and work as a Registered Nurse in Bahrain.
Pathway Snapshot
Create your Mehan portal account, complete Primary Source Verification through DataFlow or QuadraBay, receive your eligibility ID, book and pass the Prometric exam, and obtain your NHRA licence. Bahrain offers one of the most cost-effective licensing pathways in the Gulf, with low government fees and a choice of verification providers.
Complete Journey: Nursing Degree → PSV (DataFlow or QuadraBay) → Mehan Portal & Eligibility → NHRA Nursing Prometric Exam → NHRA Licence Issuance → Nursing Practice in Bahrain.
You must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an equivalent nursing degree from a recognised institution. Diploma-holders may also be eligible but are typically classified at a lower professional tier. Bahrain is widely reported to have more flexible experience requirements than some other Gulf countries. While one to two years of post-qualification clinical experience is standard, some BSN holders in good standing have successfully applied with less experience, depending on the specific employer and current NHRA Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) tier updates.
No universal English language test score is mandated by the NHRA for examination eligibility. The exam is administered in English, and nurses who trained in English-medium programmes are generally exempt from formal language testing. However, individual employers may set their own English proficiency requirements, and specialist-track nurses may be required to demonstrate OET Grade B or equivalent. Confirm directly with your prospective employer and the NHRA.
Primary Source Verification (PSV) is mandatory. Bahrain accepts both DataFlow and QuadraBay for PSV (Qatar also accepts both). You may choose whichever service is more accessible or cost-effective in your home country.
You will submit your nursing degree, academic transcripts, home-country nursing licence, experience letters, and a Certificate of Good Standing. The verification provider contacts your issuing institutions directly. Processing times vary; start this step as early as possible. Confirm the current fee directly with your chosen provider before paying.
Mehan is the NHRA online portal for all licensing services. Create an account, submit your documents, and apply for professional evaluation. Once your PSV is complete and the NHRA reviews your file, you receive an Eligibility ID. This authorises you to book the Prometric exam. Your eligibility is typically valid for four months — schedule your exam promptly after receiving your ID.
The BNLE tests clinical knowledge, critical thinking, and patient safety using internationally recognised nursing standards. The NHRA publishes an official reference textbook list and detailed regulatory documents to guide preparation.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Questions |
150 multiple-choice questions (single best answer of four options) is commonly reported. However, some sources indicate 100 questions for the nursing track. The NHRA does not publish the exact question count in its public guidance; confirm with NHRA or during Prometric booking. |
Format |
Computer-based test (CBT), Prometric |
Duration |
3 hours (180 minutes) total testing time, confirmed in official NHRA/Prometric guidance. |
Passing Standard |
The NHRA's official document states 50% for Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health professions. However, Prometric's official NHRA page cites a 60% pass grade for all Bahrain licensure examinations. The NHRA document is more recent and profession-specific; we recommend confirming the current pass mark directly with NHRA before sitting the exam. |
Attempts |
4 consecutive attempts within 3 years from the date of the first attempt (official NHRA policy). For Bahraini applicants only, after four failed attempts, six months of retraining in an NHRA-approved facility may permit two additional attempts within a 2-year window. |
Testing Centres |
Prometric centres worldwide |
Validity |
Some sources suggest NHRA exam results are valid for 5 years; however, the NHRA does not publish an official expiry period. Confirm the current validity policy with NHRA during your application. |
Not officially published by NHRA with exact weightings — based on the official NHRA reference textbook list and candidate-reported estimates:
| Domain | Approximate Emphasis |
|---|---|
Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing | Highest emphasis |
Nursing Fundamentals & Patient Safety | High emphasis |
Maternal-Child Nursing (Maternity, Paediatrics) | Moderate emphasis |
Pharmacology | Moderate emphasis |
Professional Ethics, Law & Infection Control (including NHRA policies and Bahrain Medical Liability Law) | Moderate emphasis |
Community Health | Moderate emphasis |
Mental Health Nursing | Moderate emphasis |
The NHRA publishes an official reference textbook list that includes Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Fundamentals of Nursing, Maternal-Newborn Nursing, Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice, and NCLEX-based resources. The exam is built on the nursing process framework and tests clinical judgement, prioritisation, and safe practice.
Specialist nursing classification (ICU, Emergency, etc.) is credential-based — there are no separate specialist written exams. All professional nurses take the same BNLE. Bahrain also offers separate licensure pathways for Practical Nurses and Midwives through the NHRA PQR framework.
What we offer
A comprehensive Bahrain nursing question bank, built on a shared Gulf clinical core with dedicated Bahrain-specific regulatory questions sourced from official NHRA documents including the Nursing PQR, Licensure Examination policy, and nursing reference list. Includes detailed rationales, clinical-scenario practice, and local ethics and policy content.
Notify me when Bahrain Nursing Prep is available →Candidates are permitted up to 4 consecutive attempts within 3 years from the date of the first attempt. After four failed attempts, candidates must complete a minimum of 6 months of retraining in an NHRA-accredited facility. For Bahraini applicants, proof of this retraining permits two additional attempts within a 2-year window. For non-Bahraini applicants, confirm the post-exhaustion policy directly with the NHRA.
Passing the exam allows the NHRA to issue your professional licence, permitting you to work as a Registered Nurse in Bahrain. Your employer will then complete the final steps for your residency visa and work permit. Specialist titles (ICU, Emergency, etc.) are obtained through separate credential evaluation based on postgraduate qualifications and experience — there is no additional written exam. The NHRA publishes detailed Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) documents that define the scope of practice, delegation rules, and professional standards for all nursing categories in Bahrain.
Bahrain is known for having some of the lowest government licensing fees in the Gulf. All fees are approximate and based on 2026 data. Always confirm exact amounts on the official portals before payment.
| Item | Approx. Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
DataFlow PSV (Regular) |
~120 BHD (~$318 USD) | Official NHRA fee schedule; confirm on dataflowgroup.com |
QuadraBay PSV (Regular) |
~110 BHD (~$291 USD) | Official NHRA fee schedule; confirm on quadrabay.com |
NHRA Application Fee |
20 BHD (~$53 USD) | Official NHRA fee schedule |
Prometric Exam Fee |
~$184.50 USD (~69.5 BHD) | Confirm on Prometric website when booking |
NHRA Licence Issuance |
Varies by professional category; confirm current fee on NHRA portal | Paid after passing; amounts reported vary widely; check the official schedule. |
Note on Fees: All fees are set by the NHRA, Prometric, DataFlow, and QuadraBay and are subject to change. The official pass mark for the nursing exam is published as 50% in the current NHRA Licensure Examination document, though Prometric's website still cites a 60% overall pass grade — confirm the current standard directly with NHRA. Figures shown are approximate and based on 2026 data. Always confirm exact fees, eligibility criteria, and the current retake policy on the official NHRA and Prometric websites before payment or booking.