Overview

The Professional Accreditation Platform is the verification arm of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, managed by Takamol Holding. It serves only new expatriate workers and requires every worker receiving a Saudi work visa in a mandatory profession to submit an accreditation certificate as part of the embassy's visa requirements. The platform covers 160+ countries and 1,000+ professions through a network of 150+ testing centers inside and outside the Kingdom. Professional Verification is completed within a maximum of 21 days.

Key services

screening to determine

Pre-screening to determine whether the worker's profession is on the mandatory list before recruitment procedures begin.

Registration on pacc

Registration on pacc.sa on the employer's behalf and full management of the workforce accreditation file.

Correct profession

Correct profession selection per the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations (SSCO) to avoid uncorrectable errors.

Professional Verification

Follow-up on Professional Verification within 21 days and handling any document update requests.

accreditation certificate

Linking the accreditation certificate to the visa application at the Saudi Embassy to avoid visa issuance delays.

test retake

Handling cases of test retake, appeals, or data modifications when needed.

How it works

  1. Register on pacc

    Register on pacc.sa and select the appropriate program (Professional Examination or Verification).

  2. Select the profession

    Select the profession from the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations (SSCO) — profession cannot be modified after selection.

  3. Pay the fees

    Pay the fees: USD 50 from outside the Kingdom or SAR 540.5 from inside (Visa/Mastercard).

  4. Professional Examination

    For Professional Examination: book an exam appointment at one of 150+ certified centers inside or outside the Kingdom.

  5. Professional Verification

    For Professional Verification: upload academic and experience certificates on the platform.

  6. the Test

    Take the test (maximum 120 minutes) or wait for verification (average 21 days).

  7. Receive the result

    Receive the result: instant for the exam (max 5 days) or per Professional Verification timeline.

  8. Certificate is sent automatically

    Certificate is sent automatically to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to link with the visa application and stamp it.

When you need this platform

Mandatory requirement

Mandatory requirement for Saudi Embassy work visa issuance in listed professions.

Verifies actual

Verifies actual worker skills before arrival in the Kingdom, reducing failed-recruitment costs.

Results

Results are sent automatically to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to link accreditation with the visa

Wide coverage

160+ countries, 1,000+ professions, 150+ testing centers inside and outside the Kingdom.

9 testing languages

9 testing languages available to accommodate all nationalities of expatriate workers.

RPL

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) available for workers with existing certificates, removing the need for a new test.

Requirements

  • Fees from outside Saudi Arabia: USD 50 for examination, USD 50 for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
  • Fees from inside Saudi Arabia: SAR 540.5 for examination.
  • Certificate validity: 2 years for computer-based test only, 5 years for computer + practical, 2 years for RPL.
  • Maximum attempts: 3, each with separate fees. No-show forfeits the fees.
  • Cancellation and rescheduling: 72 hours before the appointment, one time only.
  • Available languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu, Filipino (Tagalog), Sinhalese, Tamil, Bengali, Nepali.
  • Test duration: varies by profession, maximum 120 minutes.
  • Documents for Professional Examination: original ID, Iqama, or passport + exam ticket. Attend 30 minutes before the appointment.
  • Documents for Professional Verification: academic certificate + passport + work experience certificates + professional certificates.
  • Examination must be done outside the Kingdom before the worker arrives — cannot be completed after entry.

Resources

Frequently asked questions

What is the Professional Accreditation Program?

It is an extension of the Kingdom's efforts to create a resilient labor market responsive to external changes, as part of the labor program package aimed at verifying the qualifications and skills of foreign workers across all categories, and regulating their entry into the Kingdom. Supervising authority: Ministry of Human Resources via Takamol Holding.

Who is required to obtain Professional Accreditation?

Only new expatriate workers. Any individual receiving a Saudi work visa whose profession is on the mandatory list must submit the Professional Accreditation certificate as part of the Saudi Embassy's visa approval requirements.

What is the difference between Professional Examination and Professional Verification?

Professional Examination: for skilled and semi-skilled workers, through theoretical and practical tests. Professional Verification: for high-skilled workers (Groups 1-3 of the Saudi SSCO classification), through verification of academic qualifications and experience rather than testing.

How much does Professional Accreditation cost?

For applicants from outside the Kingdom: USD 50 for the examination, USD 50 for Recognition of Prior Learning. For applicants inside the Kingdom: SAR 540.5 for the examination. Fees are non-refundable.

What is the validity period of the Professional Accreditation certificate?

2 years if the test was computer-based only, and 5 years if it combined computer-based and practical tests. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certificates are valid for 2 years.

What happens if the worker fails the exam?

Up to 3 retake attempts are allowed, each with separate fees. If the practical test is passed but the computer-based test is not (or vice versa), the entire exam must be retaken because both parts are complementary.

When and where must the exam be taken?

The worker must take the exam outside the Kingdom before arrival. It cannot be taken after entering Saudi Arabia. Testing centers are available in 5 major labor-sending countries: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Egypt, in addition to 150+ centers in total.

How long does Professional Verification take?

Average 21 days, varying by verification type and required documents. Applicants are notified if any additional information is needed, and the result is sent automatically to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How does Motaded Limited help with Professional Accreditation?

We handle registration on pacc.sa on the employer's behalf, correct profession selection per SSCO, follow-up on verification requests, appeals handling, and linking the accreditation with the visa application at the Saudi Embassy. We also provide pre-screening to determine if the worker's profession is mandatory before procedures begin.