DOH Exam for Nurses
Everything nurses need to pass the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) licensing exam in United Arab Emirates — format, fees, passing score, syllabus focus and the fastest way to prepare.
The DOH pathway for nurses
Nursing is the single largest healthcare workforce in the GCC, and every Gulf regulator runs a dedicated nursing exam on the Prometric platform. Whether you trained in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Nigeria or anywhere else, the sequence is the same: verify your documents through Dataflow, get your eligibility approved, then pass the authority's nursing MCQ exam.
The nursing exams test general adult medical-surgical nursing, fundamentals, pharmacology and drug calculation, pediatrics, obstetrics, community health and professional ethics. Most authorities use a 2–3 hour computer-based MCQ format with a pass mark around 60%.
Regulates all healthcare professionals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi via the Tamm and Riayati platforms. Read the full DOH licensing guide for the complete document checklist and fee breakdown.
What the DOH exam tests for nurses
Eligibility for nurses (DOH)
- BSc Nursing, GNM diploma or equivalent recognised nursing qualification
- Current registration with your home-country nursing council
- Typically 2 years of post-registration clinical experience (varies by authority and title)
- Good Standing Certificate from your nursing council, no older than 6 months
Requirements vary by title tier — run the free eligibility check to see exactly where you stand before spending on Dataflow.
DOH licensing process, step by step
- 1
Tamm / Riayati registration
Open a professional file on Tamm (individuals) or via a sponsoring facility on Riayati.
- 2
Dataflow PSV
DOH-specific Dataflow report validates every document with the issuing body.
- 3
Eligibility & Prometric
DOH reviews the file, issues an Eligibility Letter, and schedules the Prometric assessment.
- 4
Assessment (exam or interview)
Prometric MCQ for most cadres; consultants may face an in-person interview panel.
- 5
Facility linking
License is activated once a DOH-registered facility submits your practice permit request.
DOH Exam FAQs for Nurses
What is the passing score for the DOH exam for nurses?›
The DOH (Department of Health – Abu Dhabi) exam pass mark is 60% (title-dependent). The result appears on-screen immediately after you finish the computer-based exam.
How much does the DOH nurse exam cost?›
The DOH exam fee is $180 – $280. Budget separately for Dataflow verification and licence issuance — the full DOH licensing journey typically runs higher once every step is included.
What is the format of the DOH exam for nurses?›
100 – 150 MCQs, completed in 2 – 3 hours. The paper for nurses focuses on medical-surgical nursing (largest section on every gcc nursing exam) and related clinical areas.
Can I take the DOH nurse exam in my home country?›
Yes. Once DOH issues your eligibility, you can book any authorised Prometric centre worldwide — most candidates sit the exam in their home country before travelling.
How long does DOH licensing take for nurses?›
On average 10-18 weeks end-to-end, including Dataflow verification (the longest single step), eligibility review, the exam itself and licence issuance.
What should nurses study for the DOH exam?›
High-yield areas include: medical-surgical nursing (largest section on every gcc nursing exam); fundamentals of nursing & patient safety; pharmacology and drug-dose calculations; pediatric and obstetric nursing. Chapter-wise MCQ practice with explanations is the fastest way to find and close your weak areas.
Ready to pass the DOH exam?
Practice with chapter-wise DOH-style MCQs for nurses — detailed explanations after every question, unlimited retries, and progress tracking until you're consistently above the pass mark.