All foreign nurses, including Filipino registered nurse were now asked to take examination before working in any medical institution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Arabian Council mandates all foreign nurses to take up Prometric examination before they work in the Arab country. The Prometric exam is the Philippine equivalent for the licensure exam issued by the Professional regulation Commission.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) posted the new mandatory rule by the Saudi Arabian council to aware the Filipino nurses who want to work in Saudi.

“The Saudi Council mandates all foreign nurses to pass the Prometric Exam before working in the Kingdom,” POEA chief Jennifer Manalili said.

The new scheme of Saudi Arabia aims to create a globally competitive medical institution and highly skilled medical practitioners.

Saudi Arabia is home for about 130,000 Filipino nurses and is considered as one of the most preferred career destination of nurses.

Manalili added that the examination is scheduled Tuesdays and Fridays at the only accredited testing center Thomson Prometric at the Ateneo Professional Schools in Makati city. Examinees will pay a fee of $90 or Php4,200 (or more, depends on the exchange of peso-dollar)

Saudi Arabia is known for one of the biggest destination of Filipino registered nurses and even those who unsuccessfully pass the board yet still given the chance to practice their skills in the Arab country.