DOH Exam 2026 (HAAD Exam): Eligibility, Fees, Syllabus and Registration

What is the DOH Exam (HAAD Exam)?

The DOH Exam — previously known as the HAAD Exam — is the mandatory medical licensing examination for all healthcare professionals who wish to practise in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. It is conducted by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH), which replaced the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) as the regulatory body in 2017. The exam itself, the process and the Pearson VUE testing platform remain the same — only the name of the authority changed.

• The DOH Exam evaluates both the theoretical knowledge and practical competence of healthcare professionals against Abu Dhabi's healthcare standards.
• Passing the exam is a prerequisite for obtaining a DOH licence, which is required before any healthcare professional can legally practise in Abu Dhabi.

Who Needs to Take the DOH Exam?

All healthcare professionals who wish to practise in Abu Dhabi must pass the DOH Exam and obtain a DOH licence. This applies to both international candidates (including Indian professionals) and UAE nationals who trained abroad. The exam is required regardless of your years of experience or the country where you obtained your qualification.

DOH Exam Eligibility 2026

Eligibility requirements for the DOH Exam vary by profession. The following are the core requirements for the three most common applicant categories among Indian healthcare professionals.

DOH Exam eligibility for nurses

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing or a recognised nursing diploma
• Minimum 1 year of relevant clinical experience in a hospital setting
• Must not have a gap in practice of more than 2 years (if gap exists, a supervision period is required)
• Candidates with a gap of more than 5 years are not eligible to apply
• Valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate required
• Fellowship or registration with a recognised professional nursing body (e.g. Indian Nursing Council)

DOH Exam eligibility for doctors

• MBBS or MD from a recognised and accredited university
• Minimum 2 years of post-qualification clinical experience (Tier 1)
• Fellowship in a relevant professional organisation
• Must not have a gap in practice of more than 2 years (supervision period required if gap exists)
• Valid home country medical licence

DOH Exam eligibility for pharmacists

• BSc in Pharmacy from an approved institution (minimum); Pharm D preferred
• Current national pharmacy licence from home country
• Relevant work experience at the level for which you are applying
• Must not have a gap in practice of more than 2 years

How to Register for the DOH Exam 2026?

The DOH Exam registration is a multi-step process. The most important thing to understand is that you cannot directly book the exam — you must first complete DataFlow Primary Source Verification (PSV) and receive PQR approval from DOH before you can schedule your Pearson VUE exam. This process typically takes 2 to 4 months in total.

Step-by-step DOH Exam registration process

1. Step 1 — DataFlow Primary Source Verification (PSV)
   Submit your credentials (degree certificates, experience letters, professional licence) to DataFlow for verification. DataFlow contacts your institutions directly to verify authenticity. This is mandatory and typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Cost: approximately USD 140 to 200 depending on the number of documents.
2. Step 2 — PQR Assessment by DOH
   Once your DataFlow report is positive, apply to DOH Abu Dhabi through the TAMM portal (tamm.abudhabi) for Professional Qualification Requirement (PQR) assessment. DOH evaluates your qualifications against their standards. This takes 2 to 6 weeks.
3. Step 3 — Receive Pearson VUE Credentials
   Once your PQR is approved, DOH sends your Pearson VUE eligibility credentials to your registered email. You cannot schedule the exam without these credentials.
4. Step 4 — Schedule Exam on Pearson VUE
   Log in to the Pearson VUE portal, enter your eligibility credentials, choose your preferred test centre (Abu Dhabi or international centres including India) and select your exam date.
5. Step 5 — Pay Exam Fee and Confirm Booking
   Pay the Pearson VUE exam fee at the time of scheduling. Print or save your exam confirmation.
6. Step 6 — Appear for the Exam
   Arrive at the test centre with two valid photo IDs. No personal belongings are allowed in the testing room.

Important for Indian applicants: You can take the DOH Exam at Pearson VUE international testing centres in India. The fee for international testing centres (USD 94.59) is higher than for Abu Dhabi testing centres (USD 73.57). Taking the exam in India before travelling to Abu Dhabi is a common and practical approach.

DOH Exam Fees 2026

Conversion rates used: 1 AED = INR 25.76; 1 USD = INR 84.50. Rates change daily — verify before financial planning.

Note: The above fees cover the exam only. DataFlow PSV costs an additional USD 140 to 200 (approx. INR 11,830 to 16,900) depending on the number of documents verified. Total end-to-end cost including DataFlow is approximately INR 21,000 to 28,000 for most professions.

DOH Exam Pattern and Format 2026

DOH Exam Syllabus 2026

DOH Exam syllabus for nurses

DOH Exam syllabus for pharmacists

DOH Exam syllabus for doctors (GPs)

DOH Exam Passing Score and Results 2026

The DOH Exam passing score varies by profession and by the country where the candidate obtained their qualification. Indian candidates are subject to the following passing score requirements:

Results are displayed immediately on screen after completing the exam — Pass or Fail only. No numerical score is provided. If you pass, you must then find an employer in Abu Dhabi who will link your application to DOH for the licence to be issued. Passing the exam alone does not grant you a licence.

If you fail, you must wait 3 months before reattempting. A maximum of 3 attempts is allowed. After 3 failed attempts, additional training or a supervision period may be required before you can reapply.

DOH vs DHA vs MOH Exam — Which One Do You Need?

This is the most common question among Indian healthcare professionals planning to work in the UAE. The answer depends entirely on which emirate you plan to work in.

Key insight for Indian nurses: The DOH Exam requires an 80% passing score for nurses from India — significantly higher than the 60 to 70% required for candidates from Western countries. This is a well-known pain point in Indian nursing communities on Reddit and Facebook groups. Prepare accordingly — the DOH Exam is harder for Indian nurses than for most other nationalities.

DOH Exam Preparation Tips for Indian Candidates

Start with the official DOH blueprint

The DOH publishes a content blueprint for each profession on the Pearson VUE website. Download it before you start studying — it tells you exactly which domains are tested and their weightage. Most Indian candidates skip this step and waste time on low-weightage topics.

Use Pearson VUE practice tests

Pearson VUE offers official practice tests for the DOH Exam. These are the closest simulation of the actual exam format and question style. Aim to complete at least 3 to 4 full practice tests before your exam date.

Nurses: target 85% in practice tests

Since Indian nurses need 80% to pass, you should be consistently scoring 85% or above in practice tests before booking your exam. A 5% buffer accounts for exam-day pressure and unfamiliar question phrasing.

Allow 2 to 3 months for preparation

Most successful candidates report spending 2 to 3 months preparing, dedicating 15 to 20 hours per week. Do not rush the DataFlow and PQR process — use that waiting time (4 to 8 weeks) to study.

Understand UAE-specific healthcare protocols

The DOH Exam includes questions on UAE healthcare regulations, Abu Dhabi health system structure and UAE-specific ethical guidelines. These are not covered in Indian nursing or medical textbooks. Dedicate specific study time to UAE healthcare context.