DOH / HAAD Abu Dhabi Exam Exemption and Experience Criteria 2026
DOH Exam Exemption and Experience Quick Summary
DOH Abu Dhabi exempts you from its licensing exam only in set cases: UAE nationals and children of Emirati women, a valid (or recently cancelled) DHA or MOHAP licence in the same title, a previous DOH licence or DOH pass in the same title within 5 years, or a qualifying exam under the PQR exam equivalency rules. Experience is a separate rule: a GP needs 2 years after internship, a specialist needs none with a Tier 1 or 2 qualification and 3 years with Tier 3.
Two questions arrive on this page again and again. "Do I have to sit the DOH exam?" and "Do I have enough experience to apply?" They sound related, but DOH treats them separately. An exam exemption only removes the exam. It does not remove credentialing, the experience rule or DataFlow verification. This page puts both answers in one place for every main title. If you are a doctor and want the full licence route, read our DOH licence guide for doctors after this.
What is DOH exam exemption criteria?
The DOH Licensing Procedure Manual lists five routes to an exam exemption. If none of them fits you, plan to sit the exam. DOH confirms the exemption itself while it reviews your TAMM application, so you will see it there before any booking step.
| Exemption route | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| UAE national or child of an Emirati mother | Exempt from the DOH assessment for the title, once the title requirements are met. |
| Valid DHA or MOHAP licence in the same title | Also applies if that licence expired or was cancelled within the last 6 months. You must be in good standing. See how to transfer a DHA or MOHAP licence to DOH. |
| Previous DOH licence in the same title | Exempt if that DOH licence was cancelled within the past 5 years. |
| DOH exam passed in the same title | A PASS within the past 5 years means you do not sit it again. |
| PQR exam equivalency | Certain international exams or active licences from certain regulators, as listed in the Unified PQR. DOH checks the exact exam, title and country. |
The last row is where most confusion comes from. The PQR says clearly that this exemption covers the exam only. You still need the qualification, the experience and a clean primary source verification. Part exams such as MRCP Part 1 alone are not on the list, so do not plan around one. For a general dentist, the PQR list does include the US National Board Dental Examination Part I and II (both parts), and for a GP it includes USMLE Part III, PLAB I and II, AMC, LMCC, PRES, NZREX and EMREE. A pass record that states no validity is accepted within 5 years of issue, and none of these exemptions applies after a gap of practice of more than 2 years. A Saudi licence is not on the list either; see Saudi licence holders applying to DOH.
Which DOH exam do you sit if you are not exempt?
Most titles sit a computer-based test at Pearson VUE: a GP sits 120 MCQs, the main specialist titles 100 MCQs, a general dentist 150 MCQs. Some specialist titles have an oral assessment instead. Our DOH exam paper pattern by title has the full list, and the DOH oral exam page explains how the oral works. The pass rules are on DOH exam passing criteria.
What is DOH exam experience criteria?
Experience is set by the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), which DOH, DHA and MOHAP all use. The minimum depends on your title and, for specialists and consultants, on the tier of your postgraduate qualification.
| Title | Minimum experience (Unified PQR) | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| General Practitioner | 12-month internship, then 2 years of clinical experience after the internship in an accepted specialty (for example internal medicine, emergency, family medicine, pediatrics, surgery, Obs & Gynae). | DOH licence for doctors |
| Specialist (physician) | Tier 1 or Tier 2 qualification: no experience required. Tier 3: 3 years after the main specialty qualification (1 year for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women). | Doctors by tier |
| Consultant (physician) | Tier 1: 2 years after the main specialty qualification. Tier 2: 5 years. Tier 3 cannot be licensed as consultant. | DOH exam for GP and specialties |
| General Dentist | Internship, then 2 years of clinical experience after the internship. | DOH for dentists |
| Specialist Dentist | Tier 1 or 2: none. Tier 3: 3 years (1 year for UAE nationals). | DOH for dentists |
| Registered Nurse | No minimum experience since 2022, with a bachelor's degree in nursing. Diploma holders fit the Assistant Nurse title. | DOH nursing licence |
| Pharmacists and allied health | Set for each title in the PQR (physiotherapy, radiography, laboratory, dietetics and others). Check your own title before you apply. | DOH physiotherapist exam |
Two rules catch people out. First, the internship year never counts towards the 2 GP years. Second, gaps matter: a break from practice of more than 2 years needs CME or supervised training before licensing, and non-UAE nationals with a gap of more than 5 years cannot apply. If you are unsure of your qualification's tier, the official answer comes from DOH during review on TAMM.
How to check your own case before you pay
DOH exemption compared with DHA, MOHAP and Qatar
Each authority writes its own exemption list, even though the PQR is shared. If you are choosing where to apply, compare them side by side: DHA exam exemption criteria, DHA written or oral exemption, MOHAP exam exemption criteria and Qatar DHP exam exemption criteria. A licence in one UAE authority is often the shortest way to skip the exam in another.
DOH Qbanks for doctors and dentists
Pick the bank that matches the title DOH approves you for. General dentists can use the DOH General Dentist Qbank, and GPs the DOH GP Qbank below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is exempt from the DOH Abu Dhabi exam?
UAE nationals and children of Emirati women; holders of a valid DHA or MOHAP licence in the same title (or one expired or cancelled within 6 months) in good standing; anyone whose DOH licence in the same title was cancelled within 5 years; anyone who passed the DOH exam for the same title within 5 years; and those who meet the PQR exam equivalency list. DOH confirms the exemption in TAMM.
Does an exam exemption also remove the experience requirement?
No. The PQR states that an exam exemption covers the exam only. You still need the qualification, the minimum experience for your title and a completed DataFlow primary source verification.
How much experience does a GP need for DOH?
A 12-month internship plus 2 years of clinical experience after the internship, in an accepted specialty. The internship year is not counted in the 2 years. UAE nationals, children of Emirati women and UAE university graduates have an exemption if they apply within 2 years of the internship.
Does a specialist need experience after the postgraduate degree?
It depends on the tier of the qualification under the Unified PQR. Tier 1 and Tier 2 need no post-qualification experience. Tier 3 needs 3 years (1 year for UAE nationals). DOH decides the tier during review.
Does MRCP Part 1 or NBDE exempt me from the DOH exam?
MRCP Part 1 does not: it is not on the PQR exam equivalency list. For a general dentist, passing both NBDE Part I and Part II is on the list (PQR section 21.10), as long as the pass is within 5 years of issue and you have no practice gap over 2 years. DOH checks your exact exam and title and confirms the exemption on TAMM.
Do nurses need experience to apply to DOH?
A Registered Nurse with a bachelor's degree in nursing needs no minimum experience under the current PQR. Diploma holders apply as Assistant Nurse. Other nursing titles, such as school nurse, have their own rules.
Your Comments
Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.
sarah (Karachi, Pakistan): will MRCP Part 1 exempt me from the experience rule?
"i want to apply for DOH /HAAD Abu Dhabi exam.I have done mbbs and have one and a half year experience postinternship..I will be sitting for mrcp part 1 exams next year in jan..will I be exempted from experience criteria then? will they take me after one and a half year of experience? "
sarah
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: karachi,pakistan
Dr Usman Iqbal (Lahore, Pakistan): does NBDE Part 1 and 2 exempt me?
"Is there any exemption from the the DOH exam if you have cleared NBDE part 1 and 2? "
Dr Usman Iqbal
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: Lahore, Pakistan
Chaudhry Mazhar iqbal (Lahore, Pakistan): consultant orthopaedic surgeon wanting private practice
"I am consultant orthopaedic surgeon in Pakistan since1990 and also worked in gov hospital and King Edward Medical College as Assistent professor for three years and then established my own hospital OMC Hospital in Lahore .I want my registration In UAE/AbuDhabi to practice privately in some private hospital . "
Chaudhry Mazhar iqbal
Medical Qualification: MBBS,MS Orthopaedics
City, Country: Lahore pakistan
Asma ismail (Karachi, Pakistan): MCPS psychiatry, specialist or resident?
"I graduated from Pakistan and worked as registrar for 2 years after MCPS ( 2 year diploma program). I want to know in which category will I fall other specialist or medical residents??? And what salary will be expected. Thanks "
Asma ismail
Medical Qualification: MBBS, MCPS ( psychiatry)
City, Country: Karachi, Pakistan
Ambreen Anjum (Kanpur, India): fixed exam date and 2 years experience for dentists?
"Is there any specific fixed date for next doh exam? "I want to apply for DOH General dentist exam, but could not undestand how to apply to DOH and Do I need to have two years of experience before I will be eligible to take doh exam? "
Ambreen Anjum
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: Kanpur,India
Samreen saqib khan (Karachi, Pakistan): eligible with MBBS and 1 year house job?
"I have done mbbs and one year house job. Whether I am eligible to give Doh exam?"
Samreen saqib khan
Medical Qualification: Mbbs
City, Country: Karachi pakistan
dr suresh vemuri (India): how to approach the DOH exam with BDS and MDS
"i want to take DOH exam how to aprroach for it "
dr suresh vemuri
Medical Qualification: bds and mds
City, Country: india
AS (Mumbai, India): has anyone taken this exam?
"Hi.. anyone who has given this HADD exam? can you share your experience?"
AS
Medical Qualification: MS
City, Country: Mumbai,India
tariq (Abbottabad, Pakistan): MBBS, internship and 2 years, what next?
"Well my question is i completed my 5 year Mbbs,then One year internship,and 2 years experience other then internship..so what procedure i should follow.. "
tariq
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Abbottabad,Pakistan
Odo Emmanuel k (Nigeria): neurosurgery residency in Abu Dhabi
"I would like to work and do residency in neuro surgery in Abu dhabi. i have about 3years experience.please how do i go about it. "
Odo Emmanuel k
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Nigeria
sanu.v.s (Kerala, India): BSc nursing with 2 years, am I eligible?
"After course completion.i completed 2 year experience in hospital.i am eligible to write DOH exam.plzz reply me."
sanu.v.s
Medical Qualification: bsc nursing
City, Country: kerala india
Shabana Salam (Manathawady): BSc nursing with 6 months experience, which post?
"I have complete b.sc nursing,and have 6 month clinical experience .which post can i applyunder doh..please guide me.... thank you... "
Shabana Salam
Medical Qualification: b.sc nursing
City, Country: Manathawady
Siddayya Hiremath (India): working in Abu Dhabi as a urology specialist
"I am interested in working in abudhabi as a specialist. What is the procedure,requirement for the same "
Siddayya Hiremath
Medical Qualification: Much urology
City, Country: India
kawanpreet kaur (India): how to give the exam with BSc nursing and 2 years
"Hlo please guide me how I give exam of had I have done bsc nsg and nd I have 2years experince "
kawanpreet kaur
Medical Qualification: bsc nursing
City, Country: India
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