MOHAP Orthodontics Specialty Exam: Eligibility Criteria 2026
MOHAP Orthodontics Eligibility Quick Summary
To sit the MOHAP Orthodontics specialist exam you need a dental degree (BDS, DDS or DMD), a recognised orthodontic specialty qualification from full-time training (at least 3 years for a residency or 2 years for a clinical master's), the experience your PQR tier requires (none for Tier 1 and Tier 2, 3 years for Tier 3), a valid licence with a Good Standing Certificate, and a positive DataFlow report. The exam is a Prometric MCQ test marked Pass or Fail at 60%, with 3 attempts.
Orthodontists who want to work as a specialist or consultant under the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) are assessed against the dental specialist rules of the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), which MOHAP shares with DHA and DOH. The general rules for every dental specialty are on MOHAP qualification and experience requirements for dentists. This page applies them to orthodontics and answers the question our readers ask most often: can I do my orthodontic training in the UAE?
Who is eligible for the MOHAP Orthodontics specialty exam?
To work as a Specialist or Consultant Orthodontist under MOHAP, you must have:
- A primary dental degree (BDS, DDS, DMD or equivalent) from an accredited institution, with internship completed.
- A recognised postgraduate qualification in orthodontics from full-time training. The PQR counts a dental specialty only if the training was at least 3 years in a clinical residency, at least 2 years in a clinical master's, or at least 3 years in a clinical PhD. Typical examples are MDS Orthodontics, FCPS Orthodontics, a Membership in Orthodontics from a UK Royal College, the Saudi Specialty Certificate, or a clinical master's in orthodontics.
- The post-qualification experience your PQR tier requires (table below), in licensed practice.
- A valid dental licence from your home country and a Good Standing Certificate dated within the last 6 months.
- All credentials verified by the DataFlow process, with a positive report.
- No break in clinical practice of more than 2 years.
How much experience does an orthodontist need?
Older guides, including an earlier version of this page, said "at least 2 years of post-specialty experience" for everyone. Under the PQR the answer depends on the tier of your orthodontic qualification:
| Title | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist Orthodontist | No experience required after qualification | No experience required after qualification | 3 years after qualification (1 year for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women) |
| Consultant Orthodontist | 2 years after the specialty qualification | 5 years after the specialty qualification | Cannot be attained |
Source: Unified PQR 2022, dental specialist and consultant requirements. Graduates of UAE dental schools are exempt from the specialist experience requirement. Which tier your qualification falls into depends on the awarding country and body, and the evaluation officer confirms it.
Not yet a specialist? Start as a general dentist
If you are still in orthodontic training, or have only passed a Part 1 examination, you do not yet hold a specialty qualification. You can still apply for the general dentist title with a dental degree, internship and 2 years of licensed experience. The PQR also allows a dental specialist without the required experience to be accepted as a general dentist, except in a few specialties (dental radiology, forensic dentistry, dental pathology and maxillofacial surgery); orthodontics is not one of the exceptions. The general dentist route is on MOHAP general dentist exam guide.
Can I do FCPS Part 2 orthodontic training in the UAE?
This is a different question from licensing. FCPS training is supervised and accredited by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), so before you accept any training post abroad, check that the hospital is on the CPSP list of accredited training sites for orthodontics. The MOHAP exam does not give you a training post; it licenses you to practise.
In the UAE, residency places are offered through the regulators' and hospitals' own programmes, and trainee titles are given only after you are accepted into a recognised programme. Our UAE residency programs guide explains how those programmes work. Most orthodontists from Pakistan and India finish their specialty training at home and then apply to MOHAP as a specialist.
What is the suggested study plan for the Orthodontics exam?
MOHAP describes a Prometric computer-based exam of single-best-answer MCQs, marked Pass or Fail with a 60% minimum and 3 attempts, and does not publish an orthodontics blueprint. For comparison, DOH Abu Dhabi tests orthodontic specialists with a 100 MCQ computer-based exam in 2 hours. Questions are usually short cases: a cephalometric value, a malocclusion, a patient's age and growth stage, and a question about the best treatment or the most likely problem. Cover these areas:
Revise from a standard textbook such as Proffit's Contemporary Orthodontics, then spend the last weeks on timed questions. Because general dental topics can appear alongside orthodontic ones, keep some time for infection control, medical emergencies and radiology. Our MOHAP Orthodontics exam page groups orthodontic MCQs by these topics.
MOHAP Orthodontics sample practice MCQs
Two questions in the clinical scenario style Prometric uses. Tap a question to see the answer.
Question 1: Timing of functional appliance treatment
An 11-year-old boy has a Class II division 1 malocclusion with an overjet of 10 mm. Cephalometric analysis shows a normally positioned maxilla and a retrusive mandible (ANB 7 degrees). Hand-wrist and cervical vertebral maturation assessment suggest he is approaching his pubertal growth spurt. His oral hygiene is good and he is keen to start treatment. Which is the most appropriate management?
A) Wait until growth has finished and plan orthognathic mandibular advancement
B) Start a removable functional appliance, such as a Twin Block, now
C) Extract the upper first premolars now and retract the incisors
D) Rapid maxillary expansion as the first phase of treatment
Correct answer: B) Start a removable functional appliance, such as a Twin Block, now
In a growing patient with a Class II skeletal pattern due to mandibular retrusion, functional appliances work best when used around the pubertal growth spurt, when mandibular growth and dentoalveolar change are greatest. They also reduce the large overjet early, which lowers the risk of incisor trauma. Surgery is for non-growing patients with severe discrepancies, premolar extraction alone camouflages rather than treats a growing skeletal Class II, and there is no transverse problem that calls for expansion.
Question 2: Unilateral posterior crossbite with displacement
An 8-year-old girl in the early mixed dentition has a right-sided posterior crossbite. With her jaw guided into retruded contact, the upper and lower midlines coincide and the buccal segments meet edge to edge on both sides; on full closure the mandible shifts to the right. The maxillary arch is narrow, with no single occlusal interference. Which is the most appropriate treatment?
A) Defer treatment until all permanent teeth have erupted
B) Maxillary expansion now, for example with a quad helix
C) Class III facemask therapy
D) A lower lingual holding arch
Correct answer: B) Maxillary expansion now, for example with a quad helix
A crossbite with a mandibular displacement on closure is caused here by a bilaterally narrow maxilla. Early expansion removes the displacement, which otherwise can lead to asymmetric mandibular growth and wear. Slow expansion with a quad helix or a removable expansion appliance works well at this age. Waiting allows the displacement to persist, a facemask treats a Class III skeletal pattern, and a lingual arch is a space maintainer that does not correct the transverse problem.
See MOHAP Orthodontics Resources
For Abu Dhabi, the dentist rules are on DOH exam requirements for dentists and you can practise with the DOH Orthodontics QBank. The DHA outline is on DHA exam syllabus for orthodontics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the MOHAP Orthodontics exam?
Dentists with a BDS, DDS or DMD and a recognised orthodontic qualification from full-time training of at least 3 years (residency) or 2 years (clinical master's). You also need the experience your PQR tier requires, a valid licence, a Good Standing Certificate within 6 months, a positive DataFlow report and no practice gap over 2 years.
How many years of experience does a Specialist Orthodontist need for MOHAP?
None after qualification for Tier 1 and Tier 2 qualifications, and 3 years for Tier 3 (1 year for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women). The Consultant title needs 2 years for Tier 1 and 5 years for Tier 2; Tier 3 cannot become consultant.
Are FCPS and MDS Orthodontics accepted by MOHAP?
The PQR country lists include Pakistan's FCPS and India's MDS among recognised specialty qualifications. Your exact tier is set by the evaluation officer based on the awarding body, so upload your full certificates and training letters.
Can I apply as an orthodontist with FCPS Part 1 only?
No. Part 1 is an entry examination, not a specialty qualification. You can apply for the general dentist title instead if you have completed internship and have 2 years of licensed experience.
Is the MOHAP Orthodontics exam written or oral?
MOHAP describes a Prometric computer-based MCQ exam marked Pass or Fail at 60%, with 3 attempts. It does not publish an orthodontics blueprint; DOH Abu Dhabi, for comparison, uses a 100 MCQ computer-based exam of 2 hours for orthodontic specialists.
Your Comments
Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.
dr tariq javed (Multan, Pakistan): BDS and FCPS Part 1, orthodontic training in the UAE
"hi.. I hav passed my BDS and FCPS part1.now i want to apply for FCPS part 2 training in Orthodontic in UAE.what is eligibility criteria for it?would i hav to pass through any EXAM? Would u plz send me the detailz about all steps, MOHAP past Orthodontic questions, and packages.THANKZ."
dr tariq javed
Medical Qualification: BDS.FCPS part1
City, Country: multan, pakistan
Danish.J.K (Thiruvananthapuram, India): BSc Nursing, exam dates, registration and study material
"I would like to write MOHAP exam so kindly guide me giving appropriate information regarding the dates of the exam and how to get registered for the exam and also all about the study materials sample of question papers."
Danish.J.K
Medical Qualification: BSC .Nursing
City, Country: Thiruvananthapuram,India
Dr Liaqat Ali (Peshawar, Pakistan): FCPS Urology, working in the UAE as a urologist
"I am specialist Urologist, working as Senior Registrar at Institute of Kidney Diseses Peshawar. i want to apply and work in UAE as urologist."
Dr Liaqat Ali
Medical Qualification: MBBS, FCPS Urology
City, Country: Peshawar, Pakistan
Thressiamma M.T (Sharjah, UAE): nurse and midwife, when and where to apply
"I have six years experiance in general nursing. i would like to write next MOHAP examination. could you please advise the exam schedule and when i can apply and where (i am in sharjah) ."
Thressiamma M.T
Medical Qualification: General Nursing & Midwifery
City, Country: sharjah, UAE
ashwini sachin garthe (Mumbai, India): dentist, exam type, syllabus and schedule
"Iwould like to know aboutthe exam type, mohap exam syllabus,schedule of MOHAP for me as dentist in UAE."
ashwini sachin garthe
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: Mumbai,India
Smitha Anoop (Sharjah): physiotherapist, is the exam theory only or practical too?
"I am a physiotherapist having 6 years experience.I would like to give MOHAP exam.Can u pls send the details regarding MOHAP exam for physiotherapist and also like to know the mohap exam syllabus.Mohap exam includes only theory or practical also?"
Smitha Anoop
Medical Qualification: BPT
City, Country: Sharjah
jisha (Marthandam, India): BSc Nursing, how to proceed and requirements
"Respected Sir,I would like to appear for MOHAP examination and know how to proceed and what are all the requirements needed."
jisha
Medical Qualification: B.Sc Nursing
City, Country: Marthandam,India
FIROZ CK (Malappuram, Kerala, India): MSc MLT with biochemistry, guidance for MOHAP
"good mrng friends i wish to attend the MOHAP in the near future,so i request u all plz send d relevant guidance lovingly FIROZ."
FIROZ CK
Medical Qualification: Bsc MLT,Msc MLT with specialisation BIOCHEMISTRY
City, Country: MALAPPURAM,KERALA,INDIA
nibin john (India): biomedical engineer, do I need the MOHAP exam?
"I am a Bio Medical Engineer having two year of experience in the same field.I would like to wright MOHAP exam if required .What I will do for that?"
nibin john
Medical Qualification: Msc in Bio Medical Instrumentation
City, Country: India
shereefa (Saudi Arabia): telephone number of the exam centre in Riyadh
"respected sir, i need the telephone number of exam center in riyadh (M O H)i am living n riyadh .. thanks."
shereefa
Medical Qualification: staff nurse
City, Country: saudiarabia
Millat Sultan (Lahore, Pakistan): MBBS, MPhil, working in chemical pathology
"I wants to work as Chemical Pathology in UAE kindly let me know how is it possible I have more than 10 years post graduation experience."
Millat Sultan
Medical Qualification: MBBS, MPhil
City, Country: lahore Pakistan
Parwaiz Khan (Delhi, India): DMLT and BMLT, dates, registration and study material
"Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to write MOHAP exam so kindly guide me giving appropriate information regarding the dates of the exam and how to get registered for the exam and also all about the study materials sample of question papers.i hope you will replay me as soon as possible. Thanx Regards Parwaiz khan"
Parwaiz Khan
Medical Qualification: DMLT/BMLT
City, Country: Delhi (India)
Preparing for the MOHAP Orthodontics exam?
Practise orthodontic MCQs on growth, diagnosis, biomechanics and treatment planning, with explanations and timed mocks.
Start MOH UAE Orthodontics QBank