OMSB Oman Prometric Exam for Nurses 2026: Requirements, Fees, Pass Score, Timeline and Salaries

Oman is the quieter GCC destination for nurses: fewer applicants than the UAE or Saudi Arabia, a steady public and private hospital sector, and a licensing process that is straightforward once you understand who opens the file. Nurses are licensed through the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) and the Ministry of Health, with the exam delivered by Prometric. This guide covers the nursing route as of September 2026.

For the overview across professions, and for Bahrain alongside it, see NHRA Bahrain and OMSB Oman licence guide.

Eligibility for an Oman nursing licence

Title	Qualification	Experience
Registered Nurse	BSc Nursing (4 years) or a recognised 3-year diploma	2 years post-registration clinical experience
Specialised nurse (ICU, ER, OR, NICU, dialysis, midwifery)	BSc plus post-basic training or documented specialty experience	2 years in the specialty
Assistant Nurse	2-year diploma	2 years

Also required: current home-country registration, a Good Standing Certificate within six months, BLS, and for many employers IELTS 6.0 or OET B. Oman is relatively accessible to diploma-route nurses with solid experience. Check your title with the free eligibility check.

Who opens the file

As in Qatar, most overseas nursing applications in Oman are opened by the sponsoring employer, whether a Ministry of Health hospital, a university hospital or a private group. Independent applications are possible for nurses already resident in Oman. In practice this means the job offer usually comes first, and what you can do in advance is have Dataflow-ready documents and be visible to Omani employers. Registering in the GCC medical talent pool with Oman as a target country puts your profile in front of those searches; the Oman talent pool page shows current demand.

The process step by step

1. Employer offer and evaluation file. The facility opens the OMSB or MOH evaluation file under Nursing and the correct title, and pays the evaluation fee (USD 80 to 160). 1 to 2 weeks.
2. Dataflow verification. Requested through the file. The OMSB package costs USD 220 to 320 and takes 5 to 9 weeks. A completed Dataflow from another authority can usually be transferred. Read the Dataflow guide before submitting.
3. Exam eligibility. After Dataflow and file review, OMSB issues eligibility for the Prometric nursing exam. 1 to 3 weeks.
4. Prometric exam. Book at any Prometric centre worldwide. 2 to 4 weeks depending on availability.
5. Registration and practice permit. After a pass, the registration and practice permit are issued (USD 130 to 260) and the visa process proceeds. 1 to 3 weeks.

The Oman Prometric exam for nurses

• Format: 100 to 150 single-best-answer MCQs
• Duration: 2 to 3 hours
• Pass mark: 60%
• Fee: USD 200 to 280 (about OMR 77 to 108)
• Attempts: typically three per eligibility with a waiting period between them

The blueprint is the standard GCC nursing syllabus and preparation is interchangeable with DHA, MOHAP, SCFHS and QCHP: adult medical-surgical nursing, fundamentals and patient safety, pharmacology and drug calculation, paediatrics, obstetrics, community health, infection control and ethics. The OMSB exam for nurses guide covers the syllabus, the nursing practice questions show the style, and timed mocks are on the practice exams page. Results are shown on screen at the end of the exam.

Fees in 2026

Item	USD	Approx. OMR	Who usually pays
OMSB / MOH evaluation	80 to 160	31 to 62	Employer
Dataflow PSV report	220 to 320	85 to 123	Candidate or employer
Prometric nursing exam	200 to 280	77 to 108	Candidate
Registration and practice permit	130 to 260	50 to 100	Employer
Typical candidate out of pocket	420 to 860	160 to 330

The fee calculator converts to your currency.

Timeline

10 to 18 weeks from file opening to practice permit, dominated by Dataflow. A Dataflow transfer from another authority brings it toward ten.

Nurse salaries in Oman

In 2026 a registered nurse with 3 to 5 years of experience typically earns OMR 400 to 800 per month tax free (about USD 1,040 to 2,080), with Ministry of Health and university hospitals adding accommodation or a housing allowance, annual flights, medical cover and end-of-service benefits. Muscat private groups pay at the upper end; regional hospitals pay less but often include full accommodation. Oman's cost of living is lower than the UAE's, and many nurses report saving a similar proportion of income. The best GCC country for nurses comparison and the salary calculator put Oman alongside its neighbours.

Where the jobs are in Oman

The Ministry of Health runs the regional referral hospitals (Royal Hospital, Khoula, Al Nahdha and Sultan Qaboos in the capital area, plus Nizwa, Sohar, Sur, Salalah and Ibri regionally) and hires the largest number of expatriate nurses, particularly for ICU, ER, OR, dialysis and medical-surgical units. Sultan Qaboos University Hospital and the Oman Medical Specialty Board's training sites recruit specialised nurses with teaching experience. In the private sector, Muscat groups such as the larger multi-specialty hospitals and the growing clinic chains hire steadily, and the Duqm and Sohar industrial zones have created demand for occupational and emergency nurses. Regional posts pay slightly less than Muscat but almost always include full accommodation and transport, which makes the net position similar.

Employers in all three segments recruit through partners and candidate databases more than through career pages; the jobs board lists current Oman roles, and pool members are put forward before roles are advertised.

Transferring an Oman licence later

An OMSB registration does not permit practice elsewhere, but your Dataflow report transfers to a DHA, DOH, MOHAP, SCFHS or QCHP package at reduced cost, and GCC experience in an accredited Omani hospital is counted by every neighbouring authority. Many nurses use Oman as a two- or three-year first posting, then move to the UAE or Qatar with an established Gulf record. See licence transfer between GCC authorities.

Common reasons Oman nursing files stall

1. File opened under the wrong nursing title by HR; confirm in writing before submission.
2. Good Standing Certificate expired by the time the completed file is reviewed.
3. Experience letters that do not match the CV timeline.
4. Qualification from an institution not recognised, requiring an equivalency review.
5. Booking the exam before eligibility is issued.

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

Can I apply for an Oman nursing licence without a job offer?

Overseas nurses generally cannot, because the evaluation file is opened by the sponsoring facility. Prepare Dataflow-ready documents and become visible to Omani employers so the file moves fast once an offer arrives.

Is the Oman Prometric exam the same as the DHA exam?

Same platform, similar blueprint and pass mark, different authority and eligibility. Preparation transfers almost completely.

Does Oman accept GNM diploma nurses?

Generally yes, with the required experience, and more readily than DOH or Qatar. See the GNM guide.

Can I sit the Oman nursing exam in my home country?

Yes, at any Prometric centre once eligibility is issued. See the test centres guide.

Is Oman a good first GCC country for nurses?

For many nurses, yes: less competition, an accessible process, a calm working environment and a licence and Dataflow that transfer to the UAE or Saudi Arabia later. The trade-off is lower headline pay than Dubai or Qatar.