The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) announced the first batch of admission results for the 2026 Saudi Board programs in major specialties and diplomas, with 7,925 applicants admitted. The Commission affirmed that the matching process remains ongoing and that subsequent batches will be announced successively.
The Commission explained that the results are being announced in batches as coordination with training centers and sponsoring entities is finalized, taking into account the regulatory arrangements associated with each training seat.
The Commission congratulated those admitted in the first batch and wished them success in their training journey. It acknowledged the importance of the results to applicants’ professional aspirations, noting that finalizing the arrangements associated with each training seat is intended to support trainees throughout their professional journey.
It clarified that applicants who were not included in the first batch of admission results will remain in the matching process for subsequent batches without the need to take any additional action. Admission will be based on candidates’ ranking in the matching process and the availability of training seats for which all requirements have been completed.
The Commission explained that this year it introduced a new procedure requiring verification that sponsorship arrangements for each trainee have been completed before admission is announced. This procedure is implemented in coordination with training centers and sponsoring entities and pursuant to the Council of Ministers Resolution regulating the Health Practitioners Training Program. It is intended to finalize the necessary arrangements, ease the burden on admitted applicants, and facilitate their enrollment in their respective training programs.
Under these arrangements, trainees who are employed will be sponsored by their employers, while those who are not employed will be sponsored by the training centers to which they have been admitted. The Ministry of Health oversees private-sector training centers’ provision of sponsorship for healthcare practitioners in training who are not employed and follows up to ensure its completion. This supports practitioners’ stability from the first day of their training programs.
The Commission stated that 19,608 applicants applied to the Saudi Board and diploma programs, of whom 13,868 were eligible to enter the matching process, representing 70.7% of all applicants. The number of approved training seats for this year reached 9,245.
It noted that the number of approved training seats this year is 11.4% higher than the 8,298 trainees admitted last year, reflecting the continued expansion of training capacity and the opportunities available to healthcare practitioners.
In Medicine and Surgery specifically, the number of new university graduates reached approximately 4,700, compared with approximately 6,400 approved training seats included in this year’s matching process. This expands the range of opportunities available to both new graduates and graduates from previous years.
The Commission indicated that the planning and approval of training seats were subject to a comprehensive governance framework that took into account population growth, healthcare needs across different regions, and the operational capacity of training centers. The framework also considered sponsorship arrangements related to the sustainability of training seats and the quality of training, as well as the need to strengthen partnerships with training centers and supporting entities, thereby contributing to the expansion of training opportunities available to healthcare practitioners.
Across healthcare fields, Medicine and Surgery recorded the highest number of applicants in 2026, followed by Dentistry and Pharmacy. Nursing and Midwifery recorded the highest growth in applicant numbers, at 55.2%.
Several specialties recorded increases in the number of applicants selecting them as their first preference compared with 2025. The number of applicants selecting Family Medicine as their first preference increased from 1,448 to 1,548; Internal Medicine from 1,039 to 1,331; Pediatrics from 631 to 875; Emergency Medicine from 762 to 845; General Surgery from 423 to 573; Orthopedic Surgery from 411 to 522; and Diagnostic Radiology from 306 to 445.
In terms of the total number of applicants for each specialty, Family Medicine ranked first with 4,126 applicants, followed by Internal Medicine with 3,578 and Emergency Medicine with 3,426.
The Commission called on applicants admitted in the first batch to review the timeline and complete the required procedures. It noted that the deadline for completing registration requirements is September 15, 2026, and that the training programs will begin on October 1, 2026. Applicants admitted in subsequent batches will be given batch-specific deadlines, which will be announced alongside their admission results.
The Commission affirmed that it will continue working with government entities providing sponsorship and training centers to implement the regulatory frameworks governing the Health Practitioners Training Program, expand training capacity, and complete admission procedures in a manner that supports practitioners’ stability and meets the needs of the healthcare sector in the Kingdom.