Prometric Exam for Dermatologists: Specialist & Consultant Dermatology Licence for DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SCFHS & QCHP — Blueprint, Pass Marks, Cosmetic Privileges, Eligibility and Salaries (2026)
Dermatology is the most commercially competitive specialty in the Gulf, and the licensing bar reflects it. This guide covers the Specialist paper (150 questions, 65% to pass) and the Consultant paper (100 questions, 70%), the fourteen official blueprint areas and what repeats in each, which qualifications are exempt, how cosmetic and laser privileges are added to a dermatology licence, and what dermatologists earn in Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
No specialty in the Gulf has a stronger private market than dermatology. Dubai alone has hundreds of licensed dermatology and aesthetic clinics, and Riyadh and Jeddah are catching up fast. That demand is exactly why regulators examine dermatologists closely: the licence is what separates a dermatologist from the many other practitioners offering cosmetic procedures. If you hold an MD, DNB, FCPS, DVD/DDVL, Arab Board or equivalent in dermatology, this is your route.
Two papers, two pass marks
| Exam (code) | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Correct answers needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist Dermatology (DER5421) | 150 | 3 h | 65% | 98 |
| Consultant Dermatology (DER5762) | 100 | 3 h | 70% | 70 |
The Consultant paper is shorter but harder: fewer questions, each worth a full percentage point, a higher bar, and a bias towards management of complex and refractory disease rather than recognition. Which title you are assessed for depends on your qualification tier and your years of post-qualification experience — see the specialist doctors overview and the recognition guide for FCPS, MD and Arab Board. Holders of Tier 1 qualifications (American Board of Dermatology, UK CCT and similar) are generally exempt from the written paper in the UAE.
One qualification deserves a specific warning: a two-year diploma (DVD, DDVL, DDV) is not treated as equivalent to a three-year MD or DNB. Depending on the authority it may support a lower title, require more experience, or not qualify for Specialist at all. Run the eligibility check before you pay for verification.
The official blueprint
- Basic science — skin structure and function, keratinisation, melanocyte biology, immunology of the skin, dermatopathology patterns
- Papulosquamous and eczematous dermatoses — psoriasis variants and treatment ladders, lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, atopic, contact and seborrhoeic dermatitis
- Urticaria, erythemas, purpura and connective tissue disease — chronic urticaria work-up, erythema multiforme vs SJS/TEN, vasculitis, lupus subtypes, dermatomyositis, scleroderma
- Vesiculobullous disorders — pemphigus vs pemphigoid (level of split, immunofluorescence pattern, target antigen), dermatitis herpetiformis, epidermolysis bullosa
- Adnexal, hair, nail and mucous membrane disease — acne and isotretinoin rules, rosacea, hidradenitis, scarring vs non-scarring alopecia, nail signs
- Metabolic and systemic disease, dermal connective tissue and fat — porphyrias, xanthomas, panniculitis, morphea
- Infections, infestations and bites — leprosy classification and reactions, cutaneous leishmaniasis (a Gulf favourite), deep fungal infection, scabies, STIs
- Cutaneous neoplasms — BCC, SCC, melanoma staging and margins, cutaneous lymphoma, premalignant lesions
- Paediatric dermatology — genodermatoses, vascular anomalies (haemangioma vs malformation, propranolol), neonatal rashes
- Procedural dermatology — lasers and wavelengths, peels, botulinum toxin and filler anatomy and complications, cryotherapy, excision principles
- Skin manifestations of other diseases — diabetes, thyroid, renal, hepatic, HIV, paraneoplastic signs
- Pigmentary disorders and photodermatoses — vitiligo, melasma, post-inflammatory change in skin of colour, polymorphic light eruption, phototherapy protocols
- Patient safety
- Professionalism and ethics
The listed references are Fitzpatrick, Bolognia and Wolverton's drug therapy text — plus the ethics and patient-safety handbooks, which are examinable and which most candidates never open.
What repeats
- Immunobullous comparison tables. Level of split, direct immunofluorescence pattern, antigen, Nikolsky sign, first-line treatment. Expect three to five questions every sitting.
- Drug safety. Isotretinoin (pregnancy prevention, lipids, liver function), methotrexate monitoring, ciclosporin and renal function, biologics screening (TB, hepatitis), dapsone and G6PD, hydroxychloroquine and the retina. Wolverton is on the reference list for a reason.
- Severe cutaneous adverse reactions. SJS/TEN body-surface thresholds, SCORTEN, DRESS criteria, culprit drugs, first management step.
- Melanoma. Breslow thickness, excision margins by depth, when sentinel node biopsy is offered.
- Dermoscopy and histology stems. Short descriptions rather than images: recognise the pattern from the words.
- Laser physics applied. Chromophore, wavelength, pulse duration, and which device for which lesion and skin type — with complications in darker skin emphasised.
- Infections seen in the region. Leishmaniasis, leprosy, tinea capitis in children, scabies outbreaks.
Cosmetic and laser privileges
A dermatology licence does not automatically list every aesthetic procedure. UAE regulators work on a privileging model: core specialty procedures come with the licence, and certain non-surgical cosmetic procedures are added on evidence of training and logged cases, under the authority's standards for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons are the two specialties with the widest cosmetic scope; GPs and other specialists face much tighter limits. Doctors who need to add laser hair reduction as a separate privilege sit a short dedicated paper (LHR6103). Keep certificates and case logs for every procedure you intend to perform — employers will ask for them at credentialing, and the scope you negotiate affects your income more than your base salary does. The clinic's own staff are licensed separately (beauty therapist and laser technician guide).
Process and documents
- Portal registration with the authority (Sheryan for DHA; Mumaris+ for SCFHS).
- DataFlow verification of the primary degree, the dermatology qualification, registration and experience (guide).
- Eligibility, then the exam — Prometric for DHA, MOHAP, SCFHS and QCHP; Pearson VUE for DOH (booking and lead times).
- Offer, credentialing and privileging at the facility, licence activation.
Allow three to six months. Costs are in the fee guide. A practice gap of more than two years triggers extra requirements (gap rules).
Salaries
Dermatology pay in the Gulf is unusual because so much of it is variable. Typical structures in the UAE are a base of AED 35,000–60,000 a month for a Specialist and AED 60,000–100,000 for a Consultant, or a lower base with a revenue share of roughly 25–40% of collected fees — which, for a dermatologist with an established cosmetic practice, can exceed the fixed figures considerably. Saudi and Qatari packages are comparable, with hospital posts paying less than private aesthetic groups but offering housing and stability. Model a package in the salary calculator and register in the talent pool.
Preparing in ten weeks
- Weeks 1–2: basic science and dermatopathology patterns; papulosquamous and eczema.
- Weeks 3–4: immunobullous, connective tissue disease, vasculitis, drug reactions.
- Weeks 5–6: infections, neoplasms, paediatrics and genodermatoses.
- Week 7: hair, nails, pigment, photodermatology.
- Week 8: procedural dermatology and drug therapy.
- Weeks 9–10: ethics and patient safety handbooks, then timed mocks — two for the Specialist paper at 72 seconds a question.
Practise with the Specialist Dermatology bank or the Consultant bank, both mapped to the fourteen areas.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the DHA dermatology exam?
65% for the Specialist Dermatology paper, which has 150 questions in three hours, and 70% for the Consultant Dermatology paper, which has 100 questions in three hours.
Can a dermatologist with a diploma (DVD or DDVL) get a specialist licence in Dubai?
A two-year diploma is not treated as equivalent to a three-year MD or DNB. Depending on the authority it may support a lower title or require additional experience, so check eligibility before paying for verification.
Can dermatologists perform Botox, fillers and laser in the UAE?
Yes, within the privileges granted. Core procedures come with the specialty licence and other non-surgical cosmetic procedures are added on evidence of training and logged cases. Dermatology and plastic surgery have the widest cosmetic scope.
Do dermatologists with American Board certification need the Prometric exam?
Generally not in the UAE. Tier 1 qualifications such as American Board certification or a UK CCT are usually exempt from the written paper, though documents are still verified through DataFlow.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.