MOHAP Ophthalmology, General Practitioner Exam 2026: Which Title Fits You?
MOHAP Ophthalmology or GP Quick Summary
If you hold a recognised ophthalmology specialist qualification from a programme of at least 3 years, you apply to MOHAP for the Specialist Ophthalmologist title, and the experience you need after it depends on the PQR tier of that qualification (none for Tier 1 and 2, 3 years for Tier 3). If you finished training without the qualification, there is no trainee or "specialist under evaluation" title to fall back on, and the GP route needs 2 years of experience in specialties the PQR accepts, a list that does not include ophthalmology.
Doctors who trained in ophthalmology ask us the same thing in different words: will the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) license me as an ophthalmologist, or will I end up sitting the general practitioner exam? The answer depends on two things only. Do you hold a specialist qualification MOHAP recognises, and how many years of licensed practice do you have after it? This page works through both, using the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) that MOHAP, DHA and DOH all follow. The general specialist rules for every specialty are on our MOHAP specialist doctors examination page.
What does MOHAP require for a Specialist Ophthalmologist?
To apply for the Specialist title in ophthalmology you need:
- A recognised medical degree (MBBS, MD or equivalent) and a completed internship.
- A recognised specialist qualification in ophthalmology, such as MS, MD, DNB, FCPS, a European or Arab board, or a Western board certificate, from a structured programme of at least 3 years full time.
- Post-qualification experience according to the PQR tier of that qualification (table below).
- A Good Standing Certificate dated within the last 6 months and a positive DataFlow verification report.
- A record of the procedures you perform, because MOHAP asks for a surgical record in surgical specialties. Keep a signed list of your cataract, laser and other cases ready.
| Title | Tier 1 qualification | Tier 2 qualification | Tier 3 qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist Ophthalmologist | No experience required | No experience required | 3 years after the qualification (1 year for UAE nationals) |
| Consultant Ophthalmologist | 2 years as specialist | 5 years as specialist | Cannot attain the title |
Which tier your degree sits in is listed in the PQR tables by country and qualification. Do not rely on what a colleague with a similar degree was told; MOHAP reads the exact title and awarding body on your certificate.
Is 2 years post-qualification experience mandatory?
Not as a flat rule. Older guides, including an earlier version of this page, said South Asian MS, DNB and FCPS holders need 2 years and Western board holders need none. Under the current PQR the number comes from the tier: none for Tier 1 and Tier 2, and 3 years for Tier 3. So for some degrees the honest answer is "none", and for others it is 3 years, not 2.
One point catches surgeons out. The PQR lets physicians with an accredited American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) certificate take the Consultant title without the experience requirement, but that note excludes surgical and interventional specialties. Most ophthalmologists should plan on the normal experience rule even with a US board.
MOHAP counts experience from the date your professional licence was issued, and training years are not counted as specialist experience. A gap in practice of more than 2 years is not accepted, so apply while you are still working if you can.
Can I get a MOHAP GP licence with ophthalmology training?
This is the part most ophthalmology trainees do not expect. The General Practitioner title needs 2 years of experience after internship, and the PQR lists the specialties whose experience is accepted for it: cardiology, critical care, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and pediatrics. Ophthalmology is not on that list.
In practice, years spent only in an eye unit are unlikely to qualify you for the GP title. If you also worked as a medical officer in general medicine, surgery, emergency or another listed field, those years can count. Show them in separate experience letters with dates, because one letter that says "ophthalmology and general duties" is hard for an evaluation officer to credit. Full GP rules are on MOHAP requirements for GP, specialist and consultant and the MOHAP GP examination guide.
Earlier versions of this page also mentioned applying as a "specialist under evaluation". That title does not exist in the PQR. You either meet the requirements for a title on the day you apply, or you do not.
Can I join MOHAP as an ophthalmology trainee?
The MOHAP Health Professional Evaluation and its Prometric exam are for licensed titles (GP, Specialist, Consultant). They are not a way into a training post. If you still need training, residency places in the UAE are offered through the residency programmes, each with its own application window; see our UAE medical residency programs guide.
How do I apply to MOHAP as an ophthalmologist?
Where is a MOHAP licence valid?
MOHAP licenses the Northern Emirates (Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah) and federal facilities. Sharjah was traditionally MOHAP too, but since July 2025 the Sharjah Health Authority licenses its local government and private facilities, so confirm with your employer. Dubai is licensed by DHA and Abu Dhabi by DOH; if Abu Dhabi is your target, our DOH ophthalmology exam guide covers that exam. A MOHAP licence can later be moved to the other emirates; see MOHAP licence transfer to DHA or DOH.
MOHAP GP sample practice MCQs: eye emergencies
Eye emergencies appear in the GP paper, and they are where ophthalmology-trained candidates can pick up easy marks. Tap a question to see the answer.
Question 1: Chemical eye injury
A 34-year-old factory worker is brought to the emergency department 10 minutes after cement powder mixed with water splashed into his right eye. He has severe pain, blepharospasm and watering. Which of the following is the most appropriate first step?
A) Measure visual acuity and perform slit-lamp examination before any treatment
B) Instil topical anaesthetic and start immediate copious irrigation with saline until the conjunctival pH is neutral
C) Apply topical antibiotic ointment and a pressure patch, then refer to the eye clinic the next day
D) Irrigate with a dilute acid solution to neutralise the alkali
Correct answer: B) Instil topical anaesthetic and start immediate copious irrigation with saline until the conjunctival pH is neutral
Cement is an alkali, and alkali burns penetrate quickly, so irrigation comes before anything else, including acuity. Irrigate with litres of saline or clean water, evert the lids and sweep the fornices to remove particles, and recheck the pH a few minutes after stopping (aim for about 7.0 to 7.5). Neutralising with acid causes a heat reaction and further injury. Urgent ophthalmology review follows once the pH is normal.
Question 2: Orbital cellulitis
A 9-year-old boy has had a cold for a week. Over the last day his left upper and lower eyelids have become red and swollen. He has a temperature of 38.9 C, his eye looks pushed forward, eye movements are painful and restricted, and his visual acuity is reduced to 6/18 in that eye. What is the most appropriate management?
A) Oral co-amoxiclav and review in 48 hours
B) Warm compresses and topical chloramphenicol drops
C) Admission, intravenous antibiotics and urgent contrast-enhanced CT of the orbits and sinuses, with ophthalmology and ENT review
D) Oral prednisolone for presumed allergic eyelid swelling
Correct answer: C) Admission, intravenous antibiotics and urgent contrast-enhanced CT of the orbits and sinuses, with ophthalmology and ENT review
Proptosis, painful or restricted eye movements and reduced vision mean the infection is behind the orbital septum (orbital, not preseptal, cellulitis), usually spreading from the ethmoid sinuses. It needs admission, intravenous antibiotics and CT to look for a subperiosteal or orbital abscess, which may need drainage. Oral antibiotics with review suit only preseptal cellulitis with normal eye movements and vision.
Which QBank should an ophthalmology-trained doctor use?
We do not have a dedicated MOHAP ophthalmology QBank, so pick by the title and country you will actually apply for. If you apply to MOHAP as a GP, use the MOH UAE GP QBank linked on this page; the other MOHAP banks, for specialists and dentists, are listed on our MOH UAE exam page. For a GP title in another country, the QBank finder shows the bank for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to MOHAP as a Specialist Ophthalmologist straight after residency?
Only if your residency ended with a recognised specialist qualification from a programme of at least 3 years. If that qualification is Tier 1 or Tier 2 in the PQR, no further experience is required; if it is Tier 3, you need 3 years of practice after it. Completing training without the qualification does not give you the Specialist title.
Does ophthalmology experience count towards the MOHAP GP title?
Usually not. The PQR lists the specialties whose experience is accepted for the GP title (cardiology, critical care, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, pediatrics), and ophthalmology is not one of them. Experience in a listed field, shown in separate dated letters, can count.
How much experience do I need after my MS, DNB or FCPS in ophthalmology?
It depends on the PQR tier of the exact qualification: none for Tier 1 and Tier 2 and 3 years for Tier 3 (1 year for UAE nationals). Experience counts from the date your licence was issued, and a gap in practice of more than 2 years is not accepted.
Does MOHAP give trainee or specialist under evaluation licences?
The MOHAP evaluation and exam are for the GP, Specialist and Consultant titles. There is no "specialist under evaluation" title in the PQR. Training posts in the UAE are applied for through residency programmes, not through the MOHAP exam.
Is a MOHAP ophthalmology licence valid in Dubai?
No. Dubai is licensed by DHA and Abu Dhabi by DOH. MOHAP covers the Northern Emirates and federal facilities, and a valid MOHAP licence can later be used to apply to DHA or DOH through their transfer routes.
Your Comments
Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.
Ali Ul Mehdi (Karachi, Pakistan): working as an ophthalmology trainee instead of a GP
"i have completed my training in ophthalmology so can i work there as ophthalmology trainee in MOHAP and not as a General Practitioner thank u ."
Ali Ul Mehdi
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Karachi,pakistan
Ikenna Okonkwo (Lagos, Nigeria): working as a medical officer in Oman, Qatar or the UAE
"I am A medical doctor in Nigeria with 5 years post-internship. I want to practice as a Medical officer in Oman, Qatar, or UAE. Please can someone with valuable information on the process send me mail. Many thanks ."
Ikenna Okonkwo
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Lagos, Nigeria
Subboh fatima (Karachi): SLE or MOHAP, and where each is valid
"A.salam i have done 1 year medical officer ship in gastroenterology and will be starting in peadiatrics so can i give SLE OR MOHAP exam?? DO MOHAP IS ONLY RECOCNIZED IN DUBAI? MOHAP PASSED PERSON CAN NOT PRACTISE IN SAUDIA ARAB??"
Subboh fatima
Medical Qualification: M.b.b.s
City, Country: Karachi
Aisha darvesh (Karachi, Pakistan): how to register for the MOHAP exam with 1 year of experience
"want to know how i will register my for mohap exam. I have 1 year clinical experience only."
Aisha darvesh
Medical Qualification: Bds
City, Country: Karachi,pakistan
Aisha darvesh (Karachi, Pakistan): post-internship training for Pakistani dentists in the UAE
"Is there any post internship training program in uae for pakistani dentist."
Aisha darvesh
Medical Qualification: Bds
City, Country: Karachi,pakistan
Aneta Hruskova (Czech Republic): MOHAP licence and cost for an optometrist in Dubai
"Hello, I am looking for a job in Dubai as optometrist and I need MOHAP, where can I get it? How much does it cost?"
Aneta Hruskova
Medical Qualification: Optometrist
City, Country: Czech republic
Naji (Lebanon): MOHAP requirements for a pediatrician trained at LAU
"I want to know the requirements to apply for MOHAP I Did my residency in LAU. Lebanese American University. "
Naji
Medical Qualification: Pediatrician
City, Country: Lebanon
Amir Ali (Azad Kashmir, Pakistan): how a Pharm-D graduate applies for MOHAP
"I want to know about MOHAP and want to apply and appear in this test.. plz guide "
Amir Ali
Medical Qualification: Graduate (Pharm-D)
City, Country: Azad Kashmir Pakistan
Teja (Hyderabad, India): registration and documents for nurses
"I want to learn the registration and documentation process for MOHAP exam. I want to sit for exam."
Teja
Medical Qualification: Bsc nursing
City, Country: Hyderabad. India
Mahima (Kuwait): model question papers and answers
"I need modelquestion paper and answers."
Mahima
Medical Qualification: GNM
City, Country: Kuwait
Mohd Masroor Hasan (Bhagalpur, India): working in the UAE or Qatar with a BUMS degree
"Dear sir I am graduate in unani medicine this time i am working as a Research Associate unani in NPCDCP project in india but I want to work at UAE & Qatar so please helpe me ."
Mohd Masroor Hasan
Medical Qualification: Bechlor of unani medicine & surguru (BUMS)
City, Country: Bhagalpur. Bihar . India
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