Saudi Commission for Health Specialties admits 7,925 to 2026 board programs

The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties has announced the results of the first round of admissions for the 2026 Saudi board programs in main specialties and diplomas, with a total of 7,925 candidates accepted. The Commission confirmed that the selection process is ongoing and that subsequent admission rounds will be announced in due course.

The Commission explained that results are being released in stages to allow for coordination with training centers and sponsoring entities, ensuring all organizational arrangements for each training seat are met. Applicants not included in the first round remain under consideration for future rounds and do not need to take any further action.

Admission in upcoming rounds will be based on the ranking in the selection process and the availability of seats that meet the requirements. The Commission urged those accepted in the first round to complete the necessary procedures according to the specified timeline.

This year’s admissions coincide with the implementation of a new procedure adopted by the Commission, which requires verification of sponsorship arrangements for each trainee before acceptance is announced. This is coordinated with training centers and sponsoring entities, in line with the Cabinet decision regulating the training program for healthcare practitioners.

The new measure aims to finalize arrangements that ease the burden on accepted candidates and facilitate their enrollment in training programs, supporting practitioner stability from the first day of the program.

Sponsorship arrangements stipulate that if the trainee is employed, their employer will provide sponsorship; if not, the training center will assume this role. The Ministry of Health oversees private sector training centers to ensure sponsorship for non-employed healthcare trainees and monitors the completion of these procedures.

The Commission reported that a total of 19,608 candidates applied for the Saudi board and diploma programs, with 13,868 shortlisted for the selection process—representing 70.7% of all applicants.

For 2026, the number of approved training seats reached 9,245, an 11.4% increase over last year’s 8,298 accepted trainees, reflecting continued expansion in training capacity and opportunities for healthcare practitioners.

In medicine and surgery specifically, there were about 4,700 new graduates from universities, compared to around 6,400 approved training seats in this year’s selection, expanding opportunities for both new and previous graduates.

The Commission noted that the planning and approval of training seats followed a comprehensive governance process, taking into account population growth, health and regional needs, the operational capacity of training centers, sustainability of seats, training quality, and enhanced partnerships with training and supporting entities.

Medicine and surgery led all health fields in number of applicants for 2026, followed by dentistry and then pharmacy. Nursing and midwifery saw the highest growth in applicants at 55.2%.

Several specialties saw increases in first-choice applicants compared to 2025: family medicine rose from 1,448 to 1,548; internal medicine from 1,039 to 1,331; pediatrics from 631 to 875; and emergency medicine from 762 to 845.

General surgery first-choice applicants increased from 423 to 573, orthopedic surgery from 411 to 522, and diagnostic radiology from 306 to 445.

By total applicants per specialty, family medicine led with 4,126, followed by internal medicine with 3,578, and emergency medicine with 3,426.

The Commission called on first-round accepted candidates to review the timeline and complete required procedures, setting September 15, 2026 as the final date to fulfill registration requirements. Training programs will begin on October 1, 2026.

Accepted candidates in subsequent rounds will have separate deadlines, to be announced alongside each round’s results.

The Commission affirmed ongoing cooperation with government sponsors and training centers to implement the regulatory framework for healthcare practitioner training, expand training capacity, and complete admissions procedures to support practitioner stability and meet the needs of the Kingdom’s health sector.

The Commission congratulated those accepted in the first round, wishing them success in their training journey and emphasizing the importance of these results for applicants’ professional aspirations. Completing all seat-related procedures is intended to support trainees throughout their careers.