This article is part of our guide: Work as a nurse in the Gulf.
Part of our Nursing Councils of the World series. Last checked: October 2026.
In Oman, nurses are licensed through the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) runs the qualifying exam and the professional evaluation. Oman recruits large numbers of nurses from India, the Philippines, Africa and elsewhere for MOH hospitals, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital and private groups in Muscat. Salaries are tax-free.
Who is eligible
- Qualification: a BSc Nursing is preferred. Diploma nurses with solid experience are often accepted, sometimes under a lower job title.
- Experience: usually two years after registration, with exact start and end dates on every experience letter.
- A current licence from your home council and a Good Standing Certificate issued within the last six months.
- A BLS certificate. Many employers also ask for IELTS 6.0 or OET grade B.
- Demand is strongest in ICU, emergency, theatre, dialysis and medical-surgical nursing.
The job offer comes first
Oman differs from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in one important way. The sponsoring employer usually opens your evaluation file with the OMSB or MOH and often pays the evaluation fee. Independent applications are mostly for nurses already living in Oman. In practice, you get the offer first and then start licensing.
Step by step
- Job offer and evaluation file opened by the employer (1–2 weeks).
- DataFlow primary source verification of your certificates, licence and experience (5–9 weeks). A completed DataFlow report from another Gulf authority can often be transferred.
- Exam eligibility after file review (1–3 weeks).
- Prometric exam, which you can take at a Prometric centre in many countries.
- Registration and practice permit, then the employment visa (1–3 weeks).
Total: about 10–18 weeks from file opening to practice permit.
The OMSB Prometric exam
- Format: 100–150 multiple-choice questions in 2–3 hours.
- Pass mark: 60%.
- Content: the standard GCC nursing blueprint, covering fundamentals, medical-surgical, maternal and child, paediatric, mental health and community nursing, plus patient safety, ethics and priority setting.
- NCLEX-style practice questions are good preparation, but expect more straightforward recall questions than on the NCLEX.
Fees (indicative 2026)
| Item | USD | OMR | Usually paid by |
|---|---|---|---|
| OMSB / MOH evaluation | 80–160 | 31–62 | Employer |
| DataFlow verification | 220–320 | 85–123 | Candidate |
| Prometric exam | 200–280 | 77–108 | Candidate |
| Registration and practice permit | 130–260 | 50–100 | Often employer |
| Typical out-of-pocket total | 420–600 | 162–231 | DataFlow + exam |
Salary in Oman (monthly, tax-free)
| Role (3–5 years’ experience) | OMR | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 400–800 | 1,040–2,080 |
| Midwife | 350–650 | 910–1,690 |
| Nurse Technician / Assistant Nurse | 280–500 | 730–1,300 |
Renewal, CPD and discipline
- Your practice permit is tied to your employer and must be renewed through them. You need continuing education tracked in the OMSB system and an up-to-date BLS certificate. Hour requirements vary by category, so ask your employer’s nursing education department at the start.
- Complaints and medical errors are investigated by the Ministry of Health. Outcomes can include warnings, suspension, withdrawal of the permit and, for serious harm, legal action. Malpractice cover is normally arranged by the employer.
- Changing employer means a new permit, and usually a new visa.
Tips
- Have your DataFlow done once and reuse it. If you already hold a Saudi, Qatar or UAE report, ask for a transfer.
- Keep original certificates with you. Employers and the ministry may ask to see them on arrival.
- Avoid agents selling “guaranteed” Prometric passes. Exam fraud leads to bans across the GCC.
Comparing the Gulf? Read our guides to Saudi Arabia (SCFHS), the UAE (DHA, DOH, MOHAP) and Qatar (DHP).
Sources: PrometricMedical, How to get a nursing job in Oman in 2026 (9 October 2026); OMSB, Omani Examination for Nurses booklet; Neelim, CME/CPD requirements for GCC licence renewal (April 2026). Confirm details with the OMSB and the Ministry of Health.
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