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DOH Abu Dhabi

DOH Abu Dhabi Nursing Exam Guide

Complete HAAD/DOH Licensing Roadmap for GCC Nurses

Pearson VUE Testing 150 MCQs • 3.5 Hours 60% Pass Mark Updated 2025
UAE Nursing Licensing Authorities — Comparison
Feature DOH Abu Dhabi DHA Dubai MOH UAE
Full NameDepartment of Health – Abu DhabiDubai Health AuthorityMinistry of Health & Prevention
JurisdictionAbu Dhabi EmirateDubai EmirateNorthern Emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, etc.)
Exam PlatformPearson VUEPrometricPrometric
MCQ Count150 questions100–150 questions100–150 questions
Time Allowed3.5 hours2.5–3 hours2.5–3 hours
Pass Mark60%65%60%
Verification BodyDataflow (PSV)Dataflow (PSV)Dataflow / MOH PSV
Result Validity2 years2 years2 years
Approx. CostAED 1,400–1,800AED 1,200–1,600AED 800–1,200
Application Portaldoh.gov.aedhaportal.gov.aemohap.gov.ae
License RenewalEvery 2 yearsEvery 2 yearsEvery year
CME Requirement30 hours / 2 years30 hours / 2 years20 hours / year
Eligibility Requirements

Education & Experience

  • BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) — preferred and often required for RN registration
  • Diploma in Nursing — accepted for LPN/PN registration (minimum 3-year diploma)
  • Minimum 2 years of post-graduation clinical experience
  • Experience must be verifiable via employer letters on official letterhead
  • Speciality-specific experience required for certain DOH categories (ICU, OR, etc.)

English Language Requirement

  • IELTS Academic: Overall band 6.0 (no component below 5.5)
  • OET (Nursing): Grade B in all sub-tests
  • TOEFL iBT: Score of 60+ (check current DOH policy)
  • English test waived if primary education was in English medium
  • Test results must be less than 2 years old at time of application
Important Note on DOH Categories DOH licenses nurses under: Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Each category has different eligibility criteria and exam content. Ensure you apply under the correct category.
Exam Format at a Glance
Question Count
150 MCQs
Time Allowed
3.5 hours
Passing Score
60% = 90/150
Language
English only
Testing Platform
Pearson VUE
Result Validity
2 years
Exam Fee
AED 1,400 –1,800
Testing Centres
Abu Dhabi Pearson VUE sites
Pearson VUE — Not Prometric Unlike DHA Dubai and MOH UAE which use Prometric, the DOH Abu Dhabi exam is delivered exclusively through Pearson VUE testing centres in Abu Dhabi. Candidates must create a Pearson VUE account to book their exam slot after receiving eligibility approval.
Licensing Timeline — Typical 3–6 Month Journey
Step 1 — Document Preparation Week 1–2
Gather all required documents: passport, degree certificate, transcripts, experience letters, good standing certificate, English test results, passport-size photo
Step 2 — Dataflow Verification Week 2–8
Primary Source Verification (PSV) through Dataflow. This is the most time-consuming step — typically 4–8 weeks. Dataflow contacts your institutions directly.
Step 3 — DOH Application Review Week 6–10
DOH reviews your application and Dataflow results. Additional documents may be requested. Maintain access to your registered email.
Step 4 — Exam Eligibility & Booking Week 10–12
Receive exam eligibility notification. Book your exam slot via Pearson VUE Abu Dhabi centres. Slots can fill quickly — book early.
Step 5 — Sit the Exam Week 12–16
150 MCQs over 3.5 hours at Pearson VUE centre. Bring valid passport as ID. No mobile phones. Results often available within 3–5 business days.
Step 6 — License Issuance Week 14–20
Download provisional license via DOH portal. Secure employment offer and apply for full license registration with your employer's sponsorship.
10-Step Application Process

Check off each step as you complete it — progress is saved in your browser.

  • 1
    Visit doh.gov.ae and register for a new account. Use a personal email address you check regularly. Note your username/password securely.
  • 2
    Fill in personal details, nursing category (RN/LPN/NP/CNS), specialty area, and work history. Double-check all spellings match your documents exactly.
  • 3
    Pay via the DOH portal (credit/debit card). Fee ranges AED 1,400–1,800 depending on specialty. Keep payment receipt for your records.
  • 4
    See document checklist below. Scan in colour, minimum 300 DPI. PDFs preferred. Each file should be under 5 MB.
  • 5
    DOH will initiate Dataflow verification of your credentials. You will receive a Dataflow tracking number. Monitor status at dataflowgroup.com.
  • 6
    Dataflow contacts your university and previous employers directly. Respond promptly to any requests. Delays often occur with institutions in certain countries — follow up proactively.
  • 7
    DOH emails your exam eligibility letter once PSV is complete and application approved. This letter is required to book your Pearson VUE exam.
  • 8
    Register at pearsonvue.com, select DOH exam, and choose an Abu Dhabi test centre and available slot. Book as early as possible — slots fill quickly.
  • 9
    Arrive 30 minutes early with a valid passport. 150 MCQs in 3.5 hours. No electronic devices. Results typically available within 3–5 business days via your DOH portal.
  • 10
    After passing, download your provisional license from the DOH portal. Secure a job offer from a DOH-licensed facility and complete full license registration with your employer as sponsor.
Document Checklist
  • Valid Passport (all pages)Required
  • Nursing Degree / Diploma Certificate (attested)Required
  • Official University Transcripts (attested)Required
  • Experience Letters from all employers (minimum 2 years)Required
  • Good Standing Certificate / Certificate of Current LicensureRequired
  • English Language Test Results (IELTS / OET / TOEFL)Required
  • Passport-size Photo (white background, recent)Required
  • Nursing Registration / License from home countryRequired
  • Emirates ID (if already in UAE)If applicable
  • UAE Residence Visa (if already in UAE)If applicable
  • Speciality Certifications (e.g., BLS, ACLS, CCRN)Optional/Beneficial
  • CPD/CME Certificates from past 2 yearsOptional/Beneficial
  • Proof of Name Change (if name differs across documents)If applicable
Attestation Requirement Academic certificates must be attested by: (1) the university, (2) the Ministry of Education in your home country, (3) the UAE Embassy in your home country, and (4) the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Start this process early as it can take 4–8 weeks.
Exam Content Breakdown

Approximate percentage distribution based on reported DOH exam blueprints

Medical-Surgical Nursing30%
Fundamentals & Basic Care25%
Critical Care & Emergency15%
Paediatrics & Maternity15%
Mental Health Nursing10%
Community & Public Health5%
High-Yield Topics Reported by Candidates
  • Pharmacology Calculations — dosage, IV drip rates, paediatric weight-based dosing
  • Infection Control — standard/transmission-based precautions, hand hygiene, PPE
  • Maslow's Hierarchy — prioritisation of patient needs, safety first
  • Ethical & Legal Issues — informed consent, patient rights, confidentiality (UAE law)
  • Communication & Therapeutic Relationships — SBAR, active listening, de-escalation
  • Wound Care & Pressure Ulcers — staging, dressing types, Braden scale
  • ABG Interpretation — respiratory/metabolic acidosis and alkalosis
  • Cardiac Monitoring — ECG interpretation, arrhythmia recognition, code response
  • Diabetes Management — insulin types, hypoglycaemia recognition, monitoring
  • Post-operative Care — pain assessment, airway, early mobilisation, VTE prevention
  • Paediatric Milestones — developmental stages, immunisation schedules
  • Obstetric Complications — preeclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage, APGAR
  • Mental Health Laws (UAE) — involuntary admission criteria, patient rights
  • Delegation & Supervision — RN vs LPN scope in Abu Dhabi context
Recommended Study Resources
📖
Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN
Gold standard review book. Strong on pharmacology, medical-surgical, and fundamentals. Excellent rationales for all answers. Highly recommended as primary study text.
📚
Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN
Excellent question bank with detailed explanations. Great for practising application-level questions similar to DOH exam style.
🏥
Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing
Comprehensive content review covering all specialties. Good for candidates who want structured content organised by body system.
💻
UWorld NCLEX-RN QBank (Online)
High-quality online question bank with detailed rationales and performance analytics. Questions are at a level appropriate for DOH exam preparation.
🌍
GCC-Specific Prep Materials & Facebook Groups
Join DOH exam preparation groups on Facebook and Telegram where nurses share recent exam experiences, question patterns, and Abu Dhabi-specific regulations content.
📋
DOH Abu Dhabi Health Regulations & Scope of Practice Documents
Download official DOH scope of practice documents from doh.gov.ae. Know the Abu Dhabi Health System (HAAD/DOH) policies on nursing practice, delegation, and patient rights.
8-Week Study Plan
Week 1
  • Fundamentals review
  • Nursing process (ADPIE)
  • Safety & infection control
  • Basic pharmacology
Week 2
  • Medical-Surgical Part 1
  • Cardiovascular system
  • Respiratory system
  • Drug calculations practice
Week 3
  • Medical-Surgical Part 2
  • GI, renal, endocrine
  • Neurological nursing
  • 50 practice questions
Week 4
  • Critical care concepts
  • Haemodynamic monitoring
  • Emergency nursing
  • ABG interpretation
Week 5
  • Paediatric nursing
  • Growth & development
  • Maternity / OB nursing
  • Neonatal care
Week 6
  • Mental health nursing
  • UAE mental health law
  • Community health
  • 75 practice questions
Week 7
  • Ethics & legal (UAE)
  • DOH scope of practice
  • Delegation principles
  • Full practice exam
Week 8
  • Weak area review
  • Drug calculations drill
  • Final mock exam (150Q)
  • Logistics prep / rest
Study Tip Aim for 2–3 hours of focused study per day. After each study session, do at least 25–50 practice questions. Review every wrong answer's rationale — understanding WHY is more important than memorising facts. Target 70%+ on practice tests before sitting the real exam.
✅

If You Pass

  • Results available in DOH portal within 3–5 business days
  • Download your provisional license certificate immediately
  • Secure a job offer from a DOH-licensed healthcare facility
  • Employer submits license activation request to DOH
  • Full license issued — valid for 2 years
  • Full license tied to your employer/facility
  • Register for your Emirates Health ID
❌

If You Fail

  • You may retake after a mandatory 45-day waiting period
  • Maximum 3 attempts per calendar year
  • Pay re-examination fee for each attempt
  • Re-book via Pearson VUE using same eligibility letter (if still valid)
  • After 3 failed attempts, must wait 1 year before reapplying
  • Analyse your score report to identify weak domains
  • Consider targeted coaching for low-scoring areas
DOH Scope of Practice — Nursing Categories
Function RN (Registered Nurse) LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) NP (Nurse Practitioner)
Nursing AssessmentFull independentFocused / supervisedFull + advanced
Care Plan DevelopmentInitiates & managesContributes under RN supervisionDevelops independently
Medication AdministrationIV, IM, SC, oral, all routesOral, IM (limited IV per facility)Prescribing authority (limited)
IV TherapyFull managementMonitoring onlyFull management + insertion
DelegationCan delegate to LPN/HCACannot delegate nursing tasksCan delegate to RN/LPN
Patient EducationFull responsibilityReinforces onlyAdvanced health education
Supervision RequirementIndependent practiceMust be supervised by RNCollaborates with physician
Education RequirementBSN / 3-yr Diploma2-yr DiplomaMSN / Post-grad certification
License Renewal & Continuing Education

Renewal Requirements

  • DOH license valid for 2 years from date of issue
  • Renewal application submitted through doh.gov.ae
  • Minimum 30 CME (Continuing Medical Education) hours required per 2-year cycle
  • CME must be from DOH-approved providers
  • Current employment letter from DOH-licensed facility
  • Valid passport copy
  • Renewal fee applicable (check current DOH schedule)
  • No exam required for renewal (unless license lapsed >2 years)

Approved CME Activities

  • Hospital-based in-service training
  • DOH-accredited online courses
  • Nursing conferences and seminars
  • BLS/ACLS/PALS recertification
  • Specialty certification programs
  • Formal academic courses (post-graduate)
  • Abu Dhabi Healthcare Academy (HAAD Academy) programs
License Transfer: DOH → DHA or MOH A DOH Abu Dhabi license does NOT automatically transfer to DHA Dubai or MOH UAE. Each emirate requires a fresh application, including new Dataflow verification and exam. However, holding a DOH license may give you an advantage in the DHA dataflow process and some mutual recognition provisions may apply — check with DHA directly.
Major Abu Dhabi Healthcare Employers
🏥
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC)
Public — SEHA Network
🏥
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Private — World-class Specialty
🏥
Tawam Hospital
Public — SEHA / Johns Hopkins
🏥
Mafraq Hospital
Public — SEHA Network
🏥
NMC Abu Dhabi
Private — Multi-specialty
🏥
Aster Hospitals Abu Dhabi
Private — GCC Chain
🏥
LLH Hospital Abu Dhabi
Private — Multi-specialty
🏥
Burjeel Hospital
Private — VPS Healthcare
🏥
SEHA Corporate
Abu Dhabi Health Services Co.
Practice MCQ Quiz — DOH Exam Style

15 clinical questions covering high-yield DOH exam topics. Select your answer to see the explanation.

Question 0 / 15
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