MALDIVES ALLIED HEALTH COUNCIL

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
MALÉ, REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES

Current list of allied health professional titles registered by Maldives Allied Health Council and their minimum
required educational qualifications.
The list of allied health professionals currently being registered by the Maldives Allied Health Council and their
Minimum Required Educational Qualifications is given below. The list is arranged according to categories
mentioned under clause 45(b) of the law 13/2015 (Healthcare Professionals Act). The list will be publicly
updated periodically to reflect changes in professional titles as well addition of new titles. The new list replaces
list published on June 8, 2022 (version 4)

Allied Health Minimum qualifications Field of Eligibility for

Professionals title qualifications Title

1) Professionals of Behavioural Please refer to Psychology Please refer to

Sciences and Counseling Psychology and
Professionals Registration Counseling Professionals
and Licensing Pathways for Registration and Licensing
registration criteria. Pathways for registration
Gazetted on 25 January criteria. Gazetted on 25
2022 ((IUL)23- January 2022 ((IUL)23-
MAHC/23/2022/47) MAHC/23/2022/47)
Licensed Psychological Maldivian
Associate applicants only
Licensed Provisional Maldivian
Psychologist applicants only
Licensed Psychologist
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Licensed Counseling
Psychologist
Licensed Child Psychologist
Licensed Counseling Associate Maldivian
applicants only
Licensed Assistant Counselor Maldivian
applicants only
Licensed Provisional Counselor Maldivian
applicants only
Licensed Counselor
Licensed Psychotherapeutic
Counselor
Licensed Mental Health
Counselor
Licensed Marriage and Family
Counselor
Licensed Addiction Counselor
Licensed Domestic Violence
Counselor
Licensed Psychotherapist
MAHC/Current List of Allied Health Professionals with Educational Qualifications/V5. April 28, 2024
Licensed Assistant Behavior Maldivian
Therapist applicants only
Licensed Behavior Therapist
Social Worker (Specialized Field) Master’s degree Specialized area of social
work
Social Worker Bachelor’s degree Social work
Assistant Social Worker Diploma (Please refer to Social work Maldivian
additional notes) applicants only
2) Clinical and Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapist Master’s degree Specialized area of
(Specialized Field) Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapist Bachelor’s degree Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy Diploma Occupational Therapy
Technician
Physiotherapist (Specialized Master’s degree Specialized area of
Field) Physiotherapy
Physiotherapist Bachelor’s degree Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy Technician Diploma Physiotherapy Maldivian
applicants only
Speech Language Pathologist Master’s degree Specialized area of
(Specialized Field) Speech Therapy
Speech Language Pathologist Bachelor’s degree Speech Therapy
Speech Language Pathology Diploma Speech Therapy Maldivian
Technician. applicants only
Prosthetist and Orthotist Bachelor’s degree Prosthetics and Orthotics
Prosthetic and Orthotic Diploma Prosthetics and Orthotics Maldivian
Technician applicants only
Respiratory Therapist Bachelor’s degree Respiratory Therapy
3) Community health professionals;

Community health (Specialized Master’s degree Specialized area of Maldivian

Field) Community health applicants only
Primary Health Care Worker Diploma Community health Maldivian
applicants only
Community Health Worker Certificate Community health Maldivian
(Renewal of registration of applicants only
existing registrants only)
Family Health Worker. (Renewal Certificate Community health Maldivian
of registration of existing applicants only
registrants only)
4) Clinical and Health Technology professionals
Biomedical Technologist Bachelor’s degree Biomedical degrees based Maldivian
on clinical health applicants only
technology subjects
Clinical Biotechnologist Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees which
are based on clinically
applied biotechnology
subjects. Excludes
bachelor’s degrees which
are based on non-clinical
subjects

MAHC/Current List of Allied Health Professionals with Educational Qualifications/V5. April 28, 2024
Clinical Scientist (Embryology) Training in embryology Embryology
completed as a three-year
full time, work-based
learning and training
programme which includes
academic study at Masters
level. Also, completion of
an undergraduate degree
in a related subject, for
example medical
laboratory science, biology,
microbiology genetics or
biochemistry
5) Medical Laboratory Professionals
Medical Laboratory Master’s degree Specialized area of
Technologist (Specialized Field) medical laboratory
Medical Laboratory Diploma Medical laboratory
Technologist
Microbiology Technologist Bachelor’s degree Microbiology degrees Maldivian
based on clinical health applicants only
technology subjects
Biochemistry Technologist Bachelor’s degree Biochemistry degrees Maldivian
that include clinical applicants only
health technology
subjects
6) Professionals of Traditional, alternative and complementary medicine

ް‫ ދިވެހި ބޭސްވެރިނ‬Dhivehibeys course or Dhivehi beys Maldivian

training, assessment applicants only
recognized by Maldives
Allied Health Council.

ް ު‫ ޚިތާނުކުރާ މީހ‬Restricted to current

‫ނ‬ Maldivian
(Renewal of registration of registrants only applicants only
existing registrants only)
Hijamist Completion of a course Hijama cupping practices
covering components of
Competency standard for
Hijama Practitioners
published on 27 3/1/2019
((IUL)23-
MAHC/23/2019/80). Online
courses are not accepted
Traditional Chinese Medicine Bachelor’s degree Chinese Traditional
Practitioner Medicine
Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner Bachelor’s degree Ayurvedic Medicine
Unani Medicine Practitioner Bachelor’s degree Unani medicine
Homeopathic Medicine Bachelor’s degree Homeopathic Medicine
Practitioner
Homeopathic Therapist Diploma Homeopathic Medicine Maldivian
applicants only
Acupuncturist Bachelor’s degree Acupuncture

MAHC/Current List of Allied Health Professionals with Educational Qualifications/V5. April 28, 2024
Acupuncture Technician Diploma Acupuncture Maldivian
applicants only
Remedial Massage Therapist Diploma Remedial massage Maldivian
applicants only

6) Pharmacy professionals

Pharmacist (Specialized Field) Master’s degree Specialized area of

pharmacy
Pharmacist Diploma Pharmacy
Pharmacy Assistant Advanced Certificate Pharmacy Maldivian
applicants only
Dispensers Advanced Certificate Pharmacy Maldivian
applicants only
7) Dieticians and nutritionists
Dietitian (Specialized Field) Master’s degree Specialized area of
Dietetics
Dietitian Bachelor’s degree Dietetics
Nutritionist (Specialized Field) Master’s degree Specialized area of
Nutrition
Nutritionist Bachelor’s degree Nutrition
8) Additional professionals recognized by the council.
Optometrist (Specialized Field) Master’s degree Specialized area of
Optometry
Optometrist Degree Optometry
Optometry Technician Diploma Optometry
Assistant Dental Hygienist Diploma Dental Hygiene
Assistant Dental Therapist Diploma Dental Therapy
Radiography Technician Diploma Radiography
Radiologic Technologist Bachelor’s degree Radiography
Paramedic Bachelor’s degree Emergency Medical
Technology
Assistant Emergency Medical Diploma Emergency Medical
Technician Technology
Emergency Care Assistant Certificate level 2 Emergency Medical Maldivian
Technology applicants only
Operation Theatre Technician Diploma Operation Theatre
Technology
Cardiovascular Technician Diploma Cardiovascular
Technology
Neurodiagnostic Technician Diploma Neurodiagnostic
technology
Phlebotomist Training Phlebotomist training Maldivian
program accredited by applicants only
Maldives Allied Health
Council.
Perfusionist Bachelor’s degree in Cardiovascular perfusion
Cardiovascular perfusion
OR Bachelor’s degree in
science together with
postgraduate diploma in
Cardiovascular perfusion

MAHC/Current List of Allied Health Professionals with Educational Qualifications/V5. April 28, 2024
 technology with related
registration in a
professional body

Chiropractor Bachelor’s degree Chiropractic Science

Sonographer Bachelor’s degree with Sonography Maldivian
Postgraduate Diploma in applicants only
sonography

Sports Therapist Bachelor’s degree Sports therapy or Maldivian

exercise science applicants only

MAHC/Current List of Allied Health Professionals with Educational Qualifications/V5. April 28, 2024
 Additional notes relevant to educational qualification and experience of allied health professionals

Recognition of Qualifications
1. The qualifications stated above are the Minimum Required Educational Qualifications for
registering under each professional title.
2. For the purposes of document advanced certificate, diploma, Bachelor’s degree, Masters degrees are
programs recognized by the Maldives Allied Heath Council. Please note that program recognition is also
required separately for programs recognized by Maldives Qualifications Authority as the council also
considers additional requirements for registration and licensing as an allied health professional. These
requirements may include the coverage of knowledge and competencies within the program including
clinical placements.
3. Although requirements may vary for different professionals it is expected that a minimum duration for
diploma is 2 academic years, Bachelor’s degree is 3 to 4 years and master’s degree 1.5-2 years for full
time programs.
4. Programs from local institutes must hold accreditation with the Maldives Allied Heath Council.
5. Programs studied abroad by Maldivian students must have received program approval from this council.
6. Programs studied abroad by Maldivian students without having received a program approval from this
council will require individual evaluation to determine programs eligibility for registration.
7. If a qualification was issued more than 10 years ago at the time of application, council may impose
additional educational requirements or assessments before considering the application.
8. Foreign applicants’ qualifications must be issued by educational institutes in their home country which
are authorized to issue allied health professional qualifications. Also, bachelors and postgraduate
qualifications should be from institutes registered in their home country to offer such qualifications.
E.g. University Grant Commission India. Application will be rejected If the qualification issuing body is
not accredited or recognized in the national system of a particular country in accordance with the
national policies, or generally accepted practice of that country.
9. In recognizing educational programs and training institutions weightage will be given to the level of
recognition given to the educational program and training institution by educational authorities and
relevant professional bodies governing registration and licensing in the country of award including
international recognition. Additionally, the duration, content of study, competencies gained and the
completion of clinical practice, practical training is considered.
10. Educational programs that train allied health professional are generally expected to be learnt via regular
face to face learning modality. Fully distance, correspondence or online learning programs are not
accepted for registration. However regular programs with some distance correspondence or online
learning may be accepted, provided the council has determined that the particular subject(s) can be
delivered in that manner.
11. Applicants having post graduate qualifications and applying for titles of that level should also have
undergraduate qualifications and must meet the minimum educational qualification and experience
requirements in the same professional field for the preceding professional title. Any exceptions will
occur if mentioned in a specific registration pathway published for those professionals.
12. Qualifications of honorary nature should not be submitted and will not be considered for registration.
13. During national emergencies declared by the government and for professionals visiting under a
bilateral understanding between Maldives and other governments or international organizations,
recognition of educational programs and training institutions of foreign applicants will be considered
on a case-by-case basis by the council on application.

Changes to names of titles including discontinued titles

14. The names of several titles have been revised. However, the former title names remain valid until
expiration of the registration period.
15. Applicants currently registered as Assistant Social Worker with an Advanced certificate (MNQF level4)
are eligible to keep their registration with the council until 31 December 2028. The purpose is to provide
registrants time to upgrade to diploma level qualifications in social work.
16. The following titles mentioned below have been removed from the previous list of titles Version 4. June
8, 2022.
a. Licensed Provisional Assistant Counselor
b. Histology Technologist
MAHC/Current List of Allied Health Professionals with Educational Qualifications/V5. April 28, 2024
 c. Blood Bank Technologist
d. Cytology Technologist
e. Reiki Practitioner
f. Ayurveda Therapist
Among these titles currently there are no registrants under Histology Technologist, Blood Bank
Technologist and Cytology Technologist titles. Registration of Licensed Provisional Assistant Counselor,
Ayurveda Therapist and Reiki Practitioner will not be renewed further.
17. Students who have been provided course approvals at overseas institutes by the council, indicating
future eligibility for registration as Biomedical Technologist, will be provided option to become Medical
Laboratory Technologists after an evaluation of the course components for suitability for the title
followed by successful completion of a competency-based assessment.

Foreign applicants
18. Foreign applicants in general are required to have minimum two years of recent certified professional
experience. However, for specialized fields the council may require applicants to have additional
professional experience. Only post qualification experience is counted.
19. Professional registration in home country is required if there is a statutory professional body or
authority for registration in the home country at national level or in its absence at subnational/state
level.
20. Foreign applicants for Licensed Counselor, Licensed psychologists must hold registration with
professional body of their home country if a statutory body for professional governance and
registration exists e.g. Rehabilitation Council of India. Only professional experience gained under the
registration of such a body will be considered.
21. Foreign applicants for Licensed Counselor, Licensed psychologists who have not completed a
structured clinical placement program as part of qualifying as a Licensed Counselor, Licensed
psychologist, must demonstrate adequate documented experience and be available for a competency
assessment before being considered for registration.
22. Foreign applicants are required to provide proof of English language competency in addition to their
professional qualifications. The council requires foreign applicants to have an English language
competency equivalent to the International English Language Testing System overall score of 5.5 with
a minimum of 5 in each IELTS band. English language competency requirement is exempted for foreign
applicants of countries where the first language is English. Also, applicants can submit results of
internationally recognized equivalent exams e.g. TOEFL, OET provided the council is able to verify the
results using candidate details. Test results must not be older than two years at the time of application
for registration and must have been obtained at one sitting. Applicants can email to inquire about
acceptance of a particular exam. Please also note that currently the council does not accept English
language proficiency certificate given by universities including medium of Instruction certificates.

The council also provides the option of participating in an interview to assess English Language
competency for the following categories. Pharmacist, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Optometrist,
Radiography Technician, Radiologic Technologist, Assistant Dental Hygienist, Assistant Dental
Therapist, Assistant Emergency Medical Technician, Neurodiagnostic Technician, Cardiovascular
Technician and Operation Theatre Technician

MAHC/Current List of Allied Health Professionals with Educational Qualifications/V5. April 28, 2024