SDLE 2026: The Saudi Dental Licensure Exam Explained — Eligibility, Mumaris+ Classification, Exam Format, Fees, Pass Mark and How to Prepare
Everything dentists need to know about the SDLE, the Saudi Dental Licensure Exam run by SCFHS through Prometric: who must sit it, how Mumaris+ classification comes first, exam format and blueprint, fees in SAR, INR, PKR and EGP, retakes, and a six-week study plan.
If you are a dentist planning to work in Saudi Arabia, the exam you will hear about is the SDLE — the Saudi Dental Licensure Exam. It is the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) licensing exam for general dentists, delivered on computer at Prometric centres. This guide explains where the SDLE sits in the SCFHS process, what it tests, what it costs and how to prepare for it.
SDLE at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Run by | Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) |
| Delivered by | Prometric, computer-based, at centres in Saudi Arabia and abroad |
| Who sits it | Dentists seeking classification as General Dentist (Saudi and international graduates) |
| Format | Single-best-answer MCQs, some with clinical photographs and radiographs |
| Pass mark | Scaled; around 60% is the usual benchmark |
| Comes after | Mumaris+ application, classification and DataFlow verification |
SCFHS revises the blueprint and question count from time to time, so always check the current candidate handbook on the SCFHS website before you book.
Who needs the SDLE?
- International dentists applying for General Dentist classification in Saudi Arabia.
- Saudi dental graduates, who also sit the exam before practising.
- Specialist dentists (orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics and so on) are classified differently. Depending on their qualification they may be exempted from the general exam or sent to a specialty assessment — see the guide for specialist dentists and exam exemptions.
SCFHS generally expects a recognised BDS/DDS, a completed internship, home-council registration and recent clinical experience. Run the free eligibility check before you pay any fees.
Where the SDLE fits in the SCFHS process
- Mumaris+ account — create it and upload degree, transcripts, internship certificate, registration, experience letters and passport (Mumaris+ step by step).
- Classification — SCFHS decides your title (General Dentist, Specialist, Consultant). This decides which exam you sit, and later your salary grade (classification explained).
- DataFlow — primary source verification of your documents, usually 4–8 weeks (DataFlow guide).
- SDLE eligibility — once classification and verification allow it, you book your SDLE slot with Prometric.
- Pass and register — pay the registration fee and SCFHS issues your professional registration.
What the SDLE tests
Expect a broad, practical general-dentistry paper. Typical weighting in the blueprint looks like this:
- Restorative and operative dentistry — caries management, materials, cavity design, adhesion.
- Endodontics — pulp diagnosis, access, working length, irrigation, endo-perio lesions.
- Prosthodontics — complete and partial dentures, crowns and bridges, occlusion, implant basics.
- Periodontics — classification, non-surgical therapy, medically compromised patients.
- Oral surgery and oral medicine — extractions, local anaesthesia, medical emergencies, white and red lesions, oral cancer red flags.
- Paediatric dentistry and orthodontics — behaviour management, pulp therapy in primary teeth, eruption, interceptive orthodontics.
- Oral radiology, infection control, ethics — reading radiographs, sterilisation, consent and professional conduct.
Many stems carry a clinical photo or radiograph. Practise with image-based questions in the General Dentist question bank and the dentist sample questions with answers.
SDLE and SCFHS fees for dentists (2026)
| Item | USD | SAR | INR | PKR | EGP | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumaris+ classification and evaluation | USD 100–270 | SAR 380–1,010 | INR 8,800–24,000 | PKR 28,000–75,500 | EGP 4,900–13,000 | Candidate |
| DataFlow verification | USD 220–340 | SAR 830–1,280 | INR 19,500–30,000 | PKR 61,500–95,000 | EGP 11,000–16,500 | Candidate |
| SDLE (Prometric) | USD 200–320 | SAR 750–1,200 | INR 17,500–28,000 | PKR 56,000–89,500 | EGP 9,800–15,500 | Candidate |
| Professional registration | USD 130–270 | SAR 490–1,010 | INR 11,500–24,000 | PKR 36,500–75,500 | EGP 6,370–13,000 | Often reimbursed by employer |
All figures are approximate 2026 ranges, converted at fixed rates (USD 1 = AED 3.67, INR 88, PKR 280, PHP 57). Authorities change fees without notice and your bank adds its own card charge, so confirm the amount on the official portal at the moment you pay.
The full breakdown, including re-exam fees, is in SCFHS exam fees 2026, and the licence fee calculator adds it up for your profession.
A six-week SDLE study plan
- Week 1: one timed diagnostic block; list your three weakest domains.
- Weeks 2–3: restorative, endo and prostho — the heaviest domains — with 50–80 questions a day.
- Week 4: perio, oral surgery, oral medicine and medical emergencies in the dental chair.
- Week 5: paediatrics, orthodontics, radiology, infection control and ethics.
- Week 6: full-length timed mocks, then review every wrong answer by domain.
The general approach in how to pass the Prometric exam on the first attempt applies to the SDLE too.
After you pass
Pay the registration fee, get your SCFHS registration and link it to your employer for the work visa and iqama. Dentist pay in the Kingdom is covered in dentist salary in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. To be seen by Saudi clinics while your file is in progress, join the dentist talent pool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SDLE?
The Saudi Dental Licensure Exam — the SCFHS licensing exam for general dentists, taken on computer at Prometric centres.
Is the SDLE the same as the SCFHS Prometric exam for dentists?
Yes. "SDLE", "SCFHS dental exam" and "Saudi Prometric exam for dentists" all refer to the same exam.
What is the SDLE pass mark?
SCFHS uses a scaled score; around 60% is the usual benchmark. Your score report states pass or fail.
Can I take the SDLE in India, Pakistan or Egypt?
Yes. Once SCFHS releases your eligibility you can book at a Prometric centre in many countries, including India, Pakistan and Egypt.
What happens if I fail the SDLE?
You can rebook and pay the exam fee again. SCFHS limits the number of attempts within an eligibility period — read retake rules before your second attempt.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.