Prometric Exam for Prosthetists and Orthotists: P&O Technician and Technologist Licence for DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SCFHS & QCHP — the 11-Area Blueprint, 55% and 60% Pass Marks, Diploma vs BPO Degree and Salaries (2026)
Diabetic amputations and road trauma give the Gulf steady demand for prosthetists and orthotists, and few locally trained. This guide covers the Prosthetics & Orthotics Technician paper (55% to pass) and the Technologist paper (60%), the eleven official blueprint areas, the gait-deviation and socket-design questions that repeat, how a diploma and a BPO degree are classified, and salaries.
High diabetes prevalence means a steady number of lower-limb amputations, road traffic injuries add younger patients, and paediatric orthotics for cerebral palsy and scoliosis is a growing service. Very few P&O professionals train locally, so rehabilitation hospitals and private workshops recruit from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Jordan and Europe.
Two papers
| Exam (code) | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Correct answers needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prosthetics & Orthotics Technician (PRO5951) | 150 | 3 h | 55% | 83 |
| Prosthetics & Orthotics Technologist (PRO5952) | 150 | 3 h | 60% | 90 |
References: Lusardi and Nielsen's Orthotics and Prosthetics in Rehabilitation, Engstrom and Van de Ven's Therapy for Amputees, Hollinshead's Functional Anatomy of the Limbs and Back, Lippert's Clinical Kinesiology, O'Sullivan's Physical Rehabilitation, and the DeLisa and Braddom rehabilitation textbooks.
Technician or technologist?
- Bachelor's degree in prosthetics and orthotics (BPO, four years or more) → Technologist: assesses patients, prescribes with the rehabilitation team, casts, fits and aligns.
- Diploma in prosthetics and orthotics (two to three years) → Technician: fabrication, assembly and adjustment under supervision.
The authority decides from the length and level of the programme, not from your job title at home. Most authorities also ask for around two years of recent experience; fresh graduates should read the fresh graduate routes. Run the eligibility check to see which title you will be given.
The eleven blueprint areas
- Assessment and examination — muscle testing, range of motion, residual limb assessment, measurement and casting
- Functional anatomy — bones, joints, muscle actions and nerve supply of the limbs and spine
- Kinesiology and biomechanics — the gait cycle, ground reaction force, three-point pressure systems, levers and moments
- Lower limb amputations and prosthetics — amputation levels, socket designs (patellar-tendon-bearing, total surface bearing, quadrilateral, ischial containment), suspension, knee units, feet, alignment
- Footwear adaptation — diabetic footwear, offloading, insoles, shoe modifications
- Lower limb orthotics — ankle-foot orthosis types and indications, knee-ankle-foot orthoses, hip orthoses, paediatric devices
- Spinal orthotics — cervical, thoracolumbar and scoliosis braces
- Upper limb amputations and prosthetics — body-powered and myoelectric systems, terminal devices, harnessing
- Upper limb orthotics — static and dynamic splints, nerve palsy splinting
- Materials technology — thermoplastics, laminating resins, carbon fibre, metals, silicone liners
- General workplace practice and safety — machinery, dust and fume control, infection control
What repeats
- Gait deviations and their prosthetic causes — lateral trunk bending, circumduction, vaulting, foot slap, knee instability: is it the socket, the alignment or the patient?
- Pressure-tolerant and pressure-sensitive areas of the trans-tibial residual limb.
- Which orthosis for which deficit — foot drop, quadriceps weakness, genu recurvatum.
- Scoliosis brace selection by curve level and magnitude.
- Splint for each peripheral nerve palsy.
- Material properties — which plastic for which device, forming temperatures.
- Muscle actions and innervation.
Where the jobs are
Government rehabilitation hospitals and military medical services are the largest employers, followed by private rehabilitation centres and independent P&O workshops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah and Doha. Experience with CAD-CAM scanning, 3D printing and microprocessor knees is increasingly asked for. You will work alongside physiatrists (PM&R guide), physiotherapists (physiotherapy guide) and occupational therapists (OT guide).
Process
- Portal registration and title selection.
- DataFlow verification of the qualification, registration or licence where your country issues one, and experience (guide, experience certificate format, fees).
- Eligibility, booking (lead times), exam — Prometric for most authorities, Pearson VUE for DOH.
- Offer and activation.
Salaries
P&O Technicians in the UAE typically earn AED 6,000–10,000 a month and Technologists AED 10,000–18,000, more in senior clinical roles. Saudi packages run SAR 6,000–10,000 and SAR 9,000–16,000 respectively, usually with housing. Compare in the salary calculator and register in the talent pool.
Six-week plan
- Week 1: functional anatomy and assessment.
- Week 2: kinesiology, biomechanics and normal gait.
- Week 3: lower limb prosthetics and gait deviations.
- Week 4: lower limb orthotics and footwear.
- Week 5: spinal and upper limb devices, materials, workshop safety.
- Week 6: two timed mocks from the Technician or Technologist question bank.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the prosthetics and orthotics Prometric exam?
55% for the Technician paper and 60% for the Technologist paper. Both have 150 questions in three hours.
Will a diploma in prosthetics and orthotics get the Technologist title?
Generally not. Diplomas are classified as Technician; the Technologist title needs a bachelor's degree in prosthetics and orthotics.
Is experience required?
Most authorities ask for around two years of recent experience after qualification. Requirements differ, so check eligibility for the authority you are applying to.
Are the two papers different in content?
They share the same eleven-area blueprint and reference list. The Technologist paper has the higher pass mark and asks more assessment and prescription questions.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.