All You Need To Know About The Bahrain Licensure Exam for Pharmacists

Overview of the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA)

The role of the NHRA is to regulate the provision of healthcare in Bahrain. NHRA is responsible for implementation and development of health regulations in both governmental and private sectors in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This involves regulatory procedures related to licensing health care facilities including hospitals, medical centers, private clinics, centers for allied health professionals, and pharmaceutical centers, as well as licensing health care professionals within these facilities. The mission of the authority is to ensure safe, trusted, high-quality and effective healthcare for all.

Introduction to the Bahrain Pharmacy Licensure Exam (BPLE)

The rapid progression of Bahrain’s healthcare system has steeped the demand for healthcare professionals, especially pharmacists. Bahrain is an attractive destination offering a vibrant lifestyle and lucrative career with tax-free salaries for professionals and has become a top country for pharmacists to migrate to. To practice in this environment, foreign pharmacists need to pass the Bahrain Pharmacists Licensure Exam, also known as the NHRA Pharmacy Exam, to obtain a license. The BPLE evaluates the pharmacist’s knowledge and ability to ensure if they meet the standards of Bahrain's healthcare.

Eligibility and Qualification Requirements

To be eligible for the Bahrain pharmacists licensure exam, you must fulfil the following criteria:

• One must hold a B.Pharm, M.Pharm, or Pharm.D from a recognised institution.
• Registration: One must be a registered pharmacist in their home country.

Required Work Experience by Position

Depending on your specific role and degree, the following experience is required:

• Clinical Pharmacist: Pharm.D / M.Pharm + 2 years of experience.
• Industrial Pharmacist: Pharm.D + 5 years of experience.
• Pharmacist Technician: D.Pharm + 3 years of experience.
• Pharm.D Holder: 2 years experience in Retail/Industrial Pharmacy.
• B.Pharm Holder: 5 years experience in Retail/Industrial Pharmacy.

The Registration Process

1. Online application with MEHAN: The process of registration starts with submitting an application via the MEHAN portal. After submitting the application, the next step is to pay the required fee and upload all the required documents.
2. Document verification/PSV: Once the fee is paid and approved, the documents move to the Primary Source Verification (PSV). This process ensures that your credentials and qualifications are legitimate. Documents include Educational Qualification, Experience certificate, Professional license, and a Certificate of Good Standing (CGS).
3. Schedule and prepare for your exam: Once your documents are verified, you can schedule your exam online in any nearby city in your own country. For preparation, refer to previous papers and attempt mock tests, which will familiarise you with the question pattern.
4. Apply for Registration: After passing the exam, proceed to apply for your professional registration with the NHRA to practice as a pharmacist in Bahrain.

Exam Format and Content

The BPLE tests your knowledge of pharmacy practice, pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, and patient safety. The exam covers several major pharmacy areas:

• Social/Behavioural/Administrative Sciences
• Pharmaceutical Calculation and Compounding
• Clinical Sciences
• Pharmaceutical Care and Disease Management
• Basic Biomedical Sciences

The BPLE is a multiple choice based exam (MCQ), conducted in a single session lasting approximately 2.5 hours. To succeed, you need to score at least 60% to pass the exam in a maximum of 4 attempts.