MOH Exam for Nurses in the UAE 2026: MOHAP License Requirements, Fees, Pass Score and Timeline

"MOH exam for nurses" is one of the most searched phrases among Indian, Filipino and Pakistani nurses planning a UAE career, and it refers to the licence issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) for facilities in Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. It is the federal licence: Dubai has its own authority (DHA), Abu Dhabi has DOH, and Sharjah now also has SHA for some facilities. This guide covers the MOHAP nursing route as it stands in September 2026.

The MOHAP licence is a popular first step because the Northern Emirates hire steadily, living costs are lower than Dubai, and the licence can later be transferred to DHA or DOH using the same verified Dataflow. For the emirate comparison read DHA vs MOHAP vs DOH; for the general MOHAP overview see the MOHAP licence guide.

Eligibility for a MOHAP nursing licence

Title	Qualification	Experience
Registered Nurse	BSc Nursing (4 years) or a recognised 3-year diploma such as GNM	2 years post-registration clinical experience within the last 5 years
Assistant Nurse / Nursing Technician	2-year diploma in nursing or equivalent	2 years hospital experience
Specialised nurse (ICU, ER, OR, NICU, dialysis)	BSc plus post-basic training	2 years in the specialty

All applicants need current home-country council registration, a Good Standing Certificate issued within six months, BLS, and continuous recent experience (a gap over two years usually requires re-training evidence). MOHAP is generally regarded as more accommodating than DHA on diploma-route nurses, which is one reason GNM nurses often start here; see the GNM nurses guide. Confirm your title with the free eligibility check.

Step 1: MOHAP evaluation request

You (or a sponsoring facility) submit an evaluation request through the MOHAP licensing portal with your passport, photograph, qualification and transcripts, council registration, experience certificates with exact dates and HR contact details, Good Standing Certificate and BLS. The evaluation fee is USD 55 to 110. This creates your file and unique application number.

Step 2: Dataflow primary source verification

MOHAP requires Dataflow verification of your degree, registration and experience. The MOHAP package costs USD 220 to 320 in 2026 and takes 4 to 8 weeks. Experience letters that lack dates or HR contacts are the most common cause of an "insufficient" result; read the experience certificate format guide before you submit and the Dataflow status guide if a document is flagged.

Step 3: Exam eligibility

Once Dataflow clears and MOHAP confirms the file meets the title requirements, you receive eligibility to sit the MOHAP Prometric nursing exam. If MOHAP decides you fit a different title, you can accept or appeal with additional evidence.

Step 4: The MOHAP Prometric exam for nurses

• Format: 100 to 150 single-best-answer MCQs
• Duration: 2 to 3 hours
• Pass mark: 60%
• Fee: USD 180 to 240 (about AED 660 to 880)
• Where: any Prometric centre worldwide, including India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Nigeria

The blueprint is the standard GCC nursing syllabus: adult medical-surgical nursing, fundamentals and patient safety, pharmacology and drug calculation, paediatrics, obstetrics, community health, infection control and ethics. Candidates describe the MOHAP paper as slightly shorter and marginally more straightforward than DHA's 150-question version, but it is the same knowledge base. The MOHAP exam for nurses guide covers the syllabus, the nursing practice questions show the style, and timed mocks are on the practice exams page.

Results appear on screen immediately after the exam.

Step 5: Licence issuance and activation

After a pass, MOHAP issues the licence on payment of the issuance fee (USD 190 to 330). Activation requires a MOHAP-registered facility to link you as an employee. Nurses who already hold MOHAP eligibility are highly sought by Northern Emirates hospitals because they can start within weeks; being registered in the GCC medical talent pool is how many of those hospitals find them.

MOHAP nursing licence fees in 2026

Item	USD	Approx. AED
MOHAP evaluation request	55 to 110	200 to 405
Dataflow PSV report	220 to 320	810 to 1,175
MOHAP Prometric exam	180 to 240	660 to 880
Licence issuance	190 to 330	700 to 1,210
Total out of pocket	460 to 890	1,690 to 3,270

MOHAP is the cheapest of the three main UAE licences. The fee calculator gives a total in your own currency, including attestation.

Timeline

• Evaluation request and uploads: 1 to 3 days
• Dataflow: 4 to 8 weeks
• Exam eligibility: 1 to 2 weeks
• Book and sit the exam: 2 to 4 weeks
• Licence issuance: 1 to 2 weeks

8 to 16 weeks in total. Nurses who start Dataflow before they have a job offer and prepare for the exam while it runs finish nearest eight.

Transferring a MOHAP licence to DHA or DOH

A MOHAP licence does not allow practice in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, but your verified Dataflow data transfers to a DHA or DOH package at reduced cost, and some authorities waive the exam for nurses holding an active UAE licence with recent UAE experience. Many nurses work one contract in the Northern Emirates, then move. See licence transfer between UAE authorities.

Common reasons MOHAP nursing files stall

1. Experience certificates without dates, job title or HR contacts.
2. Good Standing Certificate expired before MOHAP reviews the completed file.
3. Applying under Registered Nurse with under two years of experience and being reclassified.
4. Booking the exam before eligibility is issued.
5. Filing with MOHAP when the Sharjah facility is actually SHA-registered; see the SHA guide.

Looking for a hospital job in the Gulf? Register once in the GCC medical talent pool and our placement team matches your profile against live vacancies at partner hospitals in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. Profiles are reviewed within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MOH exam the same as the MOHAP exam?

Yes. MOH is the old name still used by candidates; the authority is the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). The exam is delivered by Prometric.

Can I work in Dubai with a MOH licence?

No. Dubai requires DHA. The MOHAP licence covers Sharjah (MOHAP-registered facilities), Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. Verified data transfers to DHA to shorten a second application.

What is the pass mark for the MOH nursing exam?

60%, scaled across paper versions.

Can GNM nurses get a MOH licence?

Generally yes, with the required post-registration experience. MOHAP has historically been the most accessible UAE authority for diploma nurses. Details in the GNM guide.

Do I need IELTS for the MOH licence?

MOHAP does not require IELTS or OET for nurses educated in English, but many employers ask for IELTS 6.0 or OET B. See the English requirements guide.

What do MOH-licensed nurses earn?

In the Northern Emirates, a registered nurse with 3 to 5 years of experience typically earns AED 4,500 to 8,000 per month tax free, 10 to 25% below Dubai, with lower living costs. See the nurse salary guide.