Prometric Exam for Endocrinologists and Diabetologists: Specialist & Consultant Endocrinology Licence for DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SCFHS & QCHP — Blueprint, Pass Marks, Diabetes Diploma vs DM, and Salaries (2026)
One adult in five in several Gulf states has diabetes, which makes endocrinology one of the most recruited medical specialties in the region. This guide covers the Specialist Endocrinology paper (150 questions, 65% to pass) and the Consultant paper (100 questions, 70%), the eleven official blueprint areas, the diabetes, thyroid and pituitary questions that repeat, why a diabetes diploma does not make an endocrinologist for licensing, and current salaries.
The Gulf's diabetes prevalence is among the highest in the world, obesity is rising with it, and thyroid disease is common. Ministries have built dedicated diabetes centres, insurers cover structured care, and every hospital wants an endocrinologist. For holders of a DM, DNB or DrNB in endocrinology, FCPS endocrinology, Arab Board or equivalent, here is how the licence works — and why so many "diabetologists" are turned away at assessment.
Two papers
| Exam (code) | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Correct answers needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist Endocrinology (END5492) | 150 | 3 h | 65% | 98 |
| Consultant Endocrinology (CEN6052) | 100 | 3 h | 70% | 70 |
Both share one blueprint. References: the Oxford Textbook of Endocrinology, Williams Textbook of Endocrinology and Greenspan's Basic and Clinical Endocrinology, plus the ethics and patient-safety handbooks.
Diabetologist or endocrinologist?
This is the question that decides most applications. Regulators license endocrinology on a full subspecialty qualification built on internal medicine. A postgraduate diploma in diabetes or a diabetology fellowship on top of an MBBS or MD medicine is not that: it supports a General Practitioner or Specialist Internal Medicine licence (INT5921), with diabetes as your area of interest, and hospitals do employ such doctors in diabetes clinics under those titles. The Endocrinology title — and the salary band that goes with it — needs DM, DNB, FCPS, Arab Board or equivalent. Check the recognition guide and run the eligibility check before paying for verification.
The eleven blueprint areas
- Diabetes mellitus — classification including monogenic and secondary diabetes, glucose-lowering agents by mechanism, cardiovascular and renal outcome evidence, insulin regimens and titration, technology (pumps, continuous glucose monitoring), hypoglycaemia, DKA and hyperosmolar state, diabetes in pregnancy, inpatient glycaemic management, complications screening
- Obesity — assessment, pharmacotherapy including incretin-based agents, bariatric surgery indications and post-operative endocrine care
- Dyslipidaemia — risk stratification, statin intensity, non-statin agents, familial hypercholesterolaemia, severe hypertriglyceridaemia
- Thyroid disorders — hyperthyroidism causes and treatment options, thyroid storm, hypothyroidism and myxoedema coma, nodules and ultrasound risk stratification, thyroid cancer follow-up, thyroid disease in pregnancy, amiodarone and immunotherapy effects
- Hypothalamic and pituitary disorders — pituitary adenomas by hormone, acromegaly, Cushing's disease diagnostic pathway, prolactinoma, hypopituitarism and replacement order, diabetes insipidus, pituitary apoplexy
- Adrenal disorders — adrenal insufficiency and crisis, Cushing's syndrome localisation, primary aldosteronism work-up, phaeochromocytoma, incidentaloma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Parathyroid and metabolic bone disease — hypercalcaemia work-up, primary hyperparathyroidism surgical criteria, hypoparathyroidism, osteoporosis treatment sequencing, vitamin D deficiency (very common in the Gulf), Paget's disease
- Reproductive endocrinology — polycystic ovary syndrome, male hypogonadism and testosterone therapy, amenorrhoea work-up, transgender hormone principles
- Paediatric endocrinology — growth failure, puberty disorders, congenital hypothyroidism, type 1 diabetes in children
- Professionalism and ethics
- Patient safety — insulin as a high-alert medicine, sick-day rules, steroid emergency cards
What repeats
- Dynamic tests. Which test confirms and which test localises: dexamethasone suppression, ACTH stimulation, water deprivation, oral glucose tolerance for acromegaly, saline suppression for aldosteronism, insulin tolerance. Interpreting the numbers is asked directly.
- Diabetes drug selection by comorbidity — cardiovascular disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, obesity, hypoglycaemia risk.
- DKA management and the potassium rule.
- Thyroid function patterns including subclinical disease, sick euthyroid, TSH-secreting adenoma, and pregnancy reference ranges.
- Adrenal crisis — recognise, treat before confirming.
- Hypercalcaemia algorithm — PTH-dependent vs independent.
- Osteoporosis — who to treat, bisphosphonate holidays, anabolic-first sequencing.
- Pituitary hormone replacement order — glucocorticoid before thyroid.
- Pregnancy. Gestational diabetes targets, thyroid disease, prolactinoma, safe and unsafe drugs.
Practising in the Gulf
Ramadan fasting management is a routine clinical skill here: risk stratification, dose adjustment of insulin and sulfonylureas, and when to advise against fasting. It is examined in Saudi papers and is expected at interview everywhere. Newer diabetes and obesity agents are widely available and insurance rules for them vary by country. Diabetes educators, dietitians and podiatrists are licensed team members (dietitian guide); an endocrinologist who runs a structured multidisciplinary clinic is what employers are looking for.
Process
- Portal registration and title selection.
- DataFlow verification of the primary degree, medicine qualification, endocrinology qualification, registration and experience (guide, fees).
- Eligibility, booking (lead times), exam — Prometric for most authorities, Pearson VUE for DOH.
- Offer and activation. Tier 1 holders may be exempt from the paper (exemptions guide).
Salaries
Specialist endocrinologists in the UAE typically earn AED 38,000–58,000 a month and Consultants AED 58,000–100,000; private diabetes centres frequently add a share of consultation revenue. Saudi packages run SAR 32,000–55,000 for Specialists with housing; Qatar is comparable. Diabetologists licensed as GPs or internists earn on those scales instead. Compare in the salary calculator and register in the talent pool.
Eight-week plan
- Weeks 1–2: diabetes, obesity and lipids — the largest block.
- Week 3: thyroid.
- Week 4: pituitary and adrenal, with the dynamic tests.
- Week 5: calcium, bone and parathyroid.
- Week 6: reproductive and paediatric endocrinology.
- Week 7: pregnancy, ethics, patient safety.
- Week 8: two timed mocks from the Specialist or Consultant question bank.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the Prometric endocrinology exam?
65% for the Specialist paper, which has 150 questions in three hours, and 70% for the Consultant paper, which has 100 questions in three hours.
Can a doctor with a diploma in diabetes be licensed as an endocrinologist in the Gulf?
No. The Endocrinology title requires a full subspecialty qualification such as DM, DNB or FCPS endocrinology. A diabetes diploma supports a GP or internal medicine licence, under which you can still work in a diabetes clinic.
Is Ramadan diabetes management part of the exam?
It appears in Saudi papers and is expected knowledge at interview across the Gulf: risk stratification, drug and insulin adjustment, and when to advise against fasting.
Which endocrinology topics are tested most?
Diabetes drug selection and emergencies, thyroid function interpretation, the pituitary and adrenal dynamic tests, hypercalcaemia and osteoporosis management.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.