If I Pass the DOH Exam, Can I Continue Fellowship in 2026?
Last updated on 27-Oct-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

If I Pass the HAAD/DOH Exam, Can I Continue Fellowship in 2026?

DOH Exam and Fellowship Quick Summary

Not by itself. Passing the DOH (HAAD) exam qualifies you for a licence in a title such as GP or specialist once an Abu Dhabi facility employs you; it does not give you a training seat or continue a fellowship you started at home. Fellowships in Abu Dhabi go through the DOH Medical Education annual application (1 to 31 March), with their own rules: non-UAE applicants 36 or younger, a Tier 1 or Tier 2 specialty certificate, and an interview and match at the training facility.

This question usually comes from doctors who are halfway through postgraduate training. You have a year or two of FCPS, MD or DNB behind you, a job lead in Abu Dhabi, and you want to know if the DOH exam lets you carry on training there. The honest answer is that the licence and the training are two separate tracks. This page explains the difference, who qualifies for a DOH fellowship, and how to time the licensing exam around your training so you do not waste a pass or a training year.

Does passing the DOH exam let me continue my fellowship?

No, not on its own. The DOH exam is an assessment for a licence title. When you pass, DOH records a PASS on TAMM and you can be licensed in that title once a facility links you. A licence lets you work. It does not enrol you in a training programme, and it does not move your home training to Abu Dhabi.

Part of the confusion is the word "fellowship" itself. In Pakistan, FCPS (Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons) is the main specialist training, so a trainee calls it "my fellowship". In Abu Dhabi, a fellowship means subspecialty training that you start after you are already a certified specialist, for example a cardiology fellowship after internal medicine. An FCPS trainee is at the stage Abu Dhabi calls residency, which has different and stricter rules.

  DOH licence (GP or specialist) DOH fellowship (training)
How you get it TAMM application, DataFlow, then the exam or an exemption Annual Medical Education application, interview, then match
When you can apply Any time of year Once a year, 1 to 31 March
What it allows Practice in your title at the facility that employs you Training only, in the accredited training facility
Validity PASS valid 5 years (subject to PQR); licence issued for 2 years For the length of the programme

DOH's licensing manual is clear on the last point: an intern, resident or fellow licence only permits training in the accredited facility and cannot be used to practise elsewhere in Abu Dhabi. So a fellow is not a GP who also trains. If you want both, you need to know which one you are applying for.

What is the age limit and eligibility to apply for DOH fellowship?

DOH publishes its fellowship admission criteria on its Medical Education (MEAD) pages each year, before the March window. The current page asks for:

Age
36 or younger for non-UAE applicants and 40 or younger for UAE nationals, on the date you submit.
Specialty certificate
A Tier 1 or Tier 2 specialization certificate under the Unified PQR. For non-UAE nationals it should be recent: DOH asks for less than 5 years between the certificate and the application.
Exams and practice
Proof of passing your specialty certification exams (parts 1 and 2), and no discontinuity of practice as defined in the PQR.
Documents and match
Health licences and good standing certificates not older than 6 months. You must interview at a programme to be matched there, and a matched applicant cannot decline the seat.

DOH also notes that more criteria are set each year, and its licensing manual lists verification fees of AED 300 to 1,200 for medical education applicants depending on whether you are new or re-registering. Read the current DOH medical fellowship page before you plan around these numbers.

Still in specialist training? Then fellowship is not your door yet. The Abu Dhabi residency has its own limits (for non-UAE applicants: under 30, graduated within 5 years, EMREE score of 70 or more). Our UAE medical residency programs guide sets out the Abu Dhabi, Dubai and EHS routes side by side.

When should a trainee sit the DOH exam?

Timing matters because the pass is tied to a title, and the title depends on where you are in training. A few rules shape the decision:

RULE 1
A pass belongs to one title
A GP pass does not carry over when you later apply as a specialist. Once your specialty certificate is in hand you apply again under the specialist title, which is a CBT for 8 specialties and an oral exam for the rest.
RULE 2
A PASS lasts 5 years, but gaps reset it
DOH treats a PASS as valid for 5 years, subject to the PQR. If you stop practising long enough to fall into a gap of practice, DOH can ask you to sit the exam again.
RULE 3
The exam window is 6 months
After DOH approves your application you have 6 months to book and pass. Do not open an application in the middle of a heavy rotation or just before your own part 2 exam.
RULE 4
A GP title needs 2 years after internship
DOH counts licensed, paid clinical work; observership and volunteer work do not count. Training posts are judged on your experience letters, so make sure they show dates, title and that the post was paid.

In practice we see three paths. Some trainees finish their specialty at home and then apply to DOH as specialists, which keeps the training intact and gives the better title. Others leave training to work as GPs in Abu Dhabi now; that is a valid choice, but treat it as a career change, not a pause. A smaller group aims for the Abu Dhabi residency or fellowship match, which means meeting the age and certificate limits above. If you are unsure which applies to you, the DOH licence guide for doctors and the DOH exam for GP and specialists cover the licence side in detail.

Will Abu Dhabi work count towards my home training?

That is not DOH's decision. Your FCPS, MD, DNB or other programme is run by its own college or university, and only that body decides whether time in a foreign hospital counts, and on what terms. Get the answer in writing before you resign from a training post. A DOH pass will still be valid for 5 years if you change your plans, as long as you do not fall into a practice gap.

Sitting the DOH GP exam while you decide?
The GP CBT is 120 MCQs. Timed, high-yield DOH GP practice fits around a training rota better than long textbooks.

Specialists who need a different bank can find every DOH specialty QBank on the DOH exam for doctors hub. For attempts and rebooking rules, see the DOH exam retake policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does passing the DOH exam make me eligible for a fellowship in Abu Dhabi?

No. The DOH exam is a licensing assessment for a title such as GP or specialist. Fellowships in Abu Dhabi are filled through the DOH Medical Education annual application and match, which has its own age, certificate and interview rules. DOH's fellowship page does not list the licensing exam as an entry requirement.

What is the age limit for a DOH fellowship?

On the date you submit, non-UAE applicants must be 36 or younger and UAE nationals 40 or younger. DOH publishes the criteria each year before the March window, so check the current page before you apply.

How long is a DOH exam pass valid?

A DOH PASS is valid for 5 years, subject to the PQR rules when you apply for the licence. If you fall into a gap of practice, DOH can ask you to sit the exam again even with a recent pass.

Can I use a fellow licence to work as a doctor elsewhere in Abu Dhabi?

No. DOH states that an intern, resident or fellow licence only permits training in the accredited facility and cannot be used to practise elsewhere in the emirate.

Can I continue my FCPS or MD training while working in Abu Dhabi?

Your home training is run by your own college or university, not by DOH. Only that body can say whether time in an Abu Dhabi hospital counts. Ask them in writing before you resign from a training post.

Your Comments

Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.

qaisar khan (Chiniot, Pakistan): FCPS trainee, can I continue my fellowship after the DOH exam?

"im graduate of 2017 having experience of 2 yrs govt service and 1 yr fcps training in pediatrics...........if i pass HAAD/DOH exam can i continue my fellowship over there in Abu Dhabi?? "
qaisar khan
Medical Qualification: mbbs.....fcps {trainee}
City Country: chiniot pakistan

Team Interface: Passing the DOH exam gives you a licence title (for example GP), not a training post, so it cannot continue an FCPS. Whether any Abu Dhabi training would count towards your FCPS is a question for CPSP. Your 2 years of government service may count towards the GP experience if it was licensed, paid work after internship; see DOH licence for doctors, and for training seats in Abu Dhabi read our UAE residency programs guide.
Amber baleegh ur rehman (Bisha, Saudi Arabia): MFDS and 12 years in general dentistry, am I eligible for the specialist exam?

"Hi, Ive done mfds a and would like to practice in Abu Dhabi , I have 12 years experience in general dentistry,,and one year after mfds,am I eligible for the specialist exam? "
Amber baleegh ur rehman
Medical Qualification: BDS, MFDS (Edinburgh)
City Country: Bisha,Saudi Arabia

Team Interface: DOH decides a dental specialist title from the specialty certificate tables in the Unified PQR, not from years in general practice. Check whether your MFDS is listed as a specialist qualification for your specialty; if it is not, you apply as a general dentist. The rules are on our DOH dentist eligibility page.
ahsan khan (India): AMC MCQ and Saudi licence passed, am I exempt from DOH?

"I am doctor working in saudi arabia. I have cleared australian medical council mcq exam and saudi liecence exam. my ielts band was 7.In my case what will be steps required to work in abudehbi? Do I have examption for doh?"
ahsan khan
Medical Qualification:mbbs
City Country: India

Team Interface: PQR 21.7 lists AMC among the qualifications that exempt a GP from the DOH exam (passed within 5 years, no practice gap over 2 years). DOH decides on TAMM whether your AMC result meets that rule; a Saudi licence on its own is not an exemption. See DOH exemption criteria and moving from a Saudi licence to DOH.
Dr syed imthiiaz ahmed (India): anesthesiologist, DOH exam before or after DataFlow?

"Iam applying for anesthesiologist job in abudhabi, What is dataflow process. How to do it DOH exam to be done before dataflow or afterwards "
Dr syed imthiiaz ahmed
Medical Qualification: MD-anesthesiology
City Country: India

Team Interface: The order is: TAMM application, then DataFlow, then DOH approval, then the exam. You cannot book until DataFlow is positive. Anesthesia is one of the 8 specialties that sit a CBT; the steps are in the DOH registration guide.
Dr Easa (India): DataFlow done three years ago, how to sit the exam now?

"I already processed my data flow before three year I want to give exam now, pl guide me for the complete procedure ."
Dr Easa
Medical Qualification: pharm d
City Country: India

Team Interface: Start a new licence application on TAMM. DOH works with primary source verification done for DOH, so an old report made for another authority may not be enough on its own. Our page on DataFlow report transfer to DOH explains when an earlier report helps.
Dr. Jhon (Hyderabad, India): DOH dentist study material and oral exam

"hi I would like to get more information regarding DOH study material for dentist, oral examination where to go ? all the stuff."
Dr. Jhon
Medical Qualification:Dentist
City Country:Hyderabad,India

Team Interface: The DOH general dentist exam is a CBT of 150 MCQs in 3 hours at Pearson VUE; some dental specialist titles sit an oral instead. Topics are on DOH exam subjects for dentists, and the oral format on the DOH oral exam guide.
Ramya Rajivganth (Abu Dhabi, UAE): new BDS graduate, can I get a DOH licence as an intern?

"Hi, I have just finished my Degree in Sri Lanka as Bachelor of Dental Sugery.I would like to obtain the DOH license here as an intern.Can you please guide me? "
Ramya Rajivganth
Medical Qualification: Bachelor of Dental Surgery Sri Lanka
City Country: Abu Dhabi,Unite Arab Emirates.

Team Interface: Internships in Abu Dhabi are not a normal licence application. DOH places interns through its Medical Education programme, which opens once a year (around February to March) and asks for graduation within the past 2 years. Check the current admission rules on the DOH Medical Education page, since eligibility, including nationality, varies by programme.
Rasul mohammad (Peshawar, Pakistan): old DataFlow report, how to apply for the DOH test?

"Medical Qualification: Before I make dataflow in uae my data flow was correct know I want to apply for had test plz guide me"
Rasul mohammad
Medical Qualification: Bachelor of Dental Surgery Sri Lanka
City Country: Peshawar pakistan

Team Interface: Open a fresh application on TAMM for your title. Whether your earlier DataFlow report can be reused is decided by DOH; see DataFlow report transfer to DOH and the DOH DataFlow process.
ASHOK (Karachi, Pakistan): ENT specialist with FCPS, how to proceed for Abu Dhabi?

"I am working as ENT specialist in karchi, now want to work in UAE/Abu dhabi. please guide me how to proceed for thnks."
ASHOK
Medical Qualification: DLO,FCPS
City Country: KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Team Interface: ENT is one of the 8 specialties that sit a CBT at DOH. Your title (specialist or consultant) depends on how DOH classifies your qualification in the PQR and your experience after it. Start with DOH exam for GP and specialists.
Mariam (India): MD Microbiology, can I take the DOH or DHA exam in India?

"I have done My MD Microbiology and i am having several years of experience. I would like to give DOH or DHA exam, can i give the prometric exam here in India? How to register for the licencing exam? please guide?"
Mariam
Medical Qualification: MD Microbiology
City Country: India

Team Interface: Yes, DOH exams are delivered by Pearson VUE, with centres in India (DOH Pearson VUE in India). Microbiology is not one of the 8 CBT specialties, so DOH may assign an oral; it confirms the type on TAMM. For Dubai, DHA uses Prometric, also in India.
VIMALA (India): medical technologist asking for previous DOH papers

"I'm Medical Technologist I want to apply for DOH exam please email me previous papers?"
VIMALA
Medical Qualification: Bsc, MLT
City Country: India

Team Interface: We do not share actual exam papers. Lab staff apply under allied health on TAMM, and DOH sets the title from your degree. Check the DOH required documents before you apply.
Nour Hisham (India): post basic BSc nurse with 5 years diploma experience

"Reuirement of DOH exam for fresh post basic bsc nurse with old diploma experiance of 5years?"
Nour Hisham
Medical Qualification: Post basic bsc nursing
City Country: India

Team Interface: Under the Unified PQR, the Registered Nurse title needs a bachelor degree in nursing and no previous experience. Your diploma years can still go on your CV. Requirements by title are on the DOH nursing licence page.
Dr. Hina Kauser (India): resident doctor offer in Abu Dhabi, how to prepare for the DOH exam?

"I was given an offer for Abu Dhabi as Resident Doctor, interview arrange on 12th June, now there will be DOH exam, kindly help me out for its preparation."
Dr. Hina Kauser
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City Country:India

Team Interface: If the post is a GP level job, you sit the DOH GP CBT of 120 MCQs (unless exempt). This is a service post, not a residency training seat. Practice questions and topics are on DOH GP sample questions.
kapil panchbhai (Nagpur, India): past DOH General Surgery papers

"I have to appear for doh exam for general surgeon, can u send me the past 6 year DOH question paper of general surgery."
kapil panchbhai
Medical Qualification: mbbs,dnb(gen surgery)
City Country: nagpur,india

Team Interface: We do not share real past papers, but General Surgery is a CBT specialty at DOH. Our DOH General Surgery examination guide covers format and topics.

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