Prometric Exam for Pediatricians: Specialist & Consultant Paediatrics Licence for DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SCFHS & QCHP — the 12-Area Blueprint, 70% Pass Mark, DCH vs MD Recognition and Salaries (2026)

The Gulf has a young population, high birth rates and parents who expect to see a paediatrician rather than a GP. Paediatrics is recruited year-round, in hospitals and in stand-alone clinics. The papers are harder than candidates expect: the pass mark is 70% at both grades.

Two papers

Exam (code)	Questions	Time	Pass mark	Correct answers needed
Specialist Pediatrics (PED5391)	150	3 h	70%	105
Consultant Pediatrics (PED5712)	100	3 h	70%	70

References: Nelson, Rudolph and Oski, the WHO child-health programmes, and the ethics and patient-safety handbooks. WHO material on the list means IMCI, growth charts and immunisation are examined directly.

DCH, MD or FCPS: which title?

• MD or DNB paediatrics, FCPS, MRCPCH with completed training, Arab Board, American boards → Specialist Pediatrics, or Consultant with the higher tier and experience.
• DCH (a one- or two-year diploma) → generally not a specialist qualification. Most holders are licensed as General Practitioners and may work in paediatric departments under that title.
• Neonatology, paediatric cardiology and other subspecialties → need their own fellowship or DM; otherwise the licence is general paediatrics and NICU work is privileged by the hospital.

See the recognition guide and run the eligibility check. Paediatric surgeons sit a different paper (paediatric surgery guide).

The twelve blueprint areas

1. Growth, development, adolescent and behaviour — milestones by age, growth chart interpretation, failure to thrive, autism and ADHD screening, puberty staging
2. Gastroenterology — dehydration assessment and rehydration, coeliac disease, reflux, pyloric stenosis, neonatal jaundice and biliary atresia
3. Acute care (ER, PICU, NICU) — neonatal resuscitation, respiratory distress of the newborn, sepsis, shock, status epilepticus, poisoning, paediatric life support algorithms
4. Metabolic and endocrine — type 1 diabetes and DKA fluids, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, inborn errors of metabolism, rickets
5. Allergy, immunology and infectious diseases — the vaccination schedule and its contraindications, exanthems, meningitis, primary immunodeficiency patterns, anaphylaxis
6. Respiratory — bronchiolitis, croup vs epiglottitis, asthma by age, cystic fibrosis, foreign body
7. Cardiovascular — cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart disease, innocent murmurs, Kawasaki disease, rheumatic fever
8. Haematology and oncology — iron deficiency, sickle cell disease, thalassaemia, G6PD deficiency, ITP, leukaemia presentation
9. Neurology — febrile seizures, epilepsy syndromes, cerebral palsy, neural tube defects, the floppy infant
10. Renal and musculoskeletal — nephrotic and nephritic syndromes, UTI and reflux, developmental dysplasia of the hip, septic arthritis, juvenile arthritis
11. Professionalism and ethics — consent and assent, child protection duties
12. Patient safety — weight-based dosing errors, fluid prescribing

What repeats

• Milestones. "A child who can do X but not Y — how old?" appears in every sitting.
• Vaccination. Which vaccine at which age, live vaccines in immunodeficiency, catch-up rules.
• Neonatal jaundice — physiological vs pathological, phototherapy and exchange thresholds.
• Congenital heart disease by presentation — cyanosis on day one vs heart failure at six weeks.
• Fluid calculations — maintenance, deficit, DKA.
• Genetic syndromes by description — Down, Turner, the common metabolic disorders; consanguinity makes autosomal recessive disease a regional theme.
• Haemoglobinopathies and G6PD deficiency.
• Child abuse recognition and what the doctor must do next.

Process

1. Portal registration and title selection.
2. DataFlow verification of the primary degree, the paediatric qualification, registration and experience (guide, fees).
3. Eligibility, booking (lead times), exam — Prometric for most authorities, Pearson VUE for DOH.
4. Offer and activation. PALS and NRP certificates are expected by most employers.

Salaries

Specialist paediatricians in the UAE typically earn AED 30,000–50,000 a month and Consultants AED 50,000–85,000; neonatologists with NICU cover sit at the upper end. Saudi packages run SAR 28,000–48,000 for Specialists with housing; Qatar is comparable. Compare in the salary calculator and register in the talent pool.

Eight-week plan

1. Week 1: growth, development, nutrition and vaccination.
2. Week 2: neonatology and acute care.
3. Week 3: respiratory and cardiovascular.
4. Week 4: infectious disease, allergy and immunology.
5. Week 5: gastroenterology, endocrine and metabolic.
6. Week 6: haematology, oncology and neurology.
7. Week 7: renal, musculoskeletal, genetics, ethics and safety.
8. Week 8: two timed mocks from the Specialist or Consultant question bank.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass mark for the Prometric pediatrics exam?

70% for both grades. The Specialist paper has 150 questions in three hours, so 105 correct answers are needed; the Consultant paper has 100 questions and needs 70.

Is DCH accepted for a paediatrician licence in the Gulf?

Generally not as a specialist qualification. Most DCH holders are licensed as General Practitioners and can work in paediatric departments under that title.

Can a general paediatrician work in the NICU?

Yes, where the hospital grants the privilege on evidence of neonatal experience and a current NRP certificate. The Neonatology title itself needs a dedicated fellowship or equivalent.

Which topics are asked most often?

Developmental milestones, the vaccination schedule, neonatal jaundice, congenital heart disease, fluid calculations and the haemoglobinopathies.