DOH Abu Dhabi Oral Exam 2026: Who Sits It, Format, Results
Last updated on 27-Oct-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

DOH (HAAD) Abu Dhabi Oral exam: Guide 2026

DOH Oral Exam Quick Summary

The DOH Oral Exam is the licensing assessment the Department of Health Abu Dhabi sets, instead of the computer-based test (CBT), for specialist and consultant doctors outside the CBT specialty list and for some dental, nursing and allied titles. It lasts 45 to 60 minutes, is held in English and the result appears on TAMM within 5 working days. Passing oral exam alone does not allow practice.

Is DOH exam has Oral / Viva part?

For doctors, the DOH (Department of Health) Abu Dhabi exam is either a written CBT at Pearson VUE or an oral exam, depending on your title. It is not a written exam followed by an oral. The DOH Licensing Procedure Manual sets it out like this:

  • General Practitioner: CBT only, 120 MCQs in 2.5 hours. No oral.
  • Specialist and Consultant (CBT titles): 100 MCQs in 2 hours for Anesthesia, Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Otolaryngology, General Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynecology. Consultants in Ophthalmology also sit the CBT.
  • All remaining Specialist and Consultant specialties: oral exam of 45 to 60 minutes instead of the CBT. This covers surgical and non-surgical titles alike, for example Orthopaedics, Urology, Radiology or Specialist Ophthalmology.
  • Dentists: General Dentist sits a CBT (150 MCQs). Specialists in Endodontics, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics and Prosthodontics sit a CBT; other dental specialist titles listed in the manual and all dental consultants sit an oral.
  • Nurses and allied health: Registered Nurses sit a CBT, while Nurse Practitioner, specialty nurse titles and Assistant Midwife sit an oral. Most allied titles sit a CBT or an oral depending on the title; a few (for example EEG Technician, Histopathology Technologist and Clinical Pharmacist) sit both a CBT and an oral.

DOH confirms your exam type when it approves your application on TAMM.

How to prepare for DOH Oral exam?

To effectively prepare for DOH Oral exam, the best strategies to consider are:

  • Review Clinical Guidelines: Candidate should focus on:
    • updated protocols
    • evidence-based practice
    • specialty management guidelines
  • Practice Clinical Scenarios: Candidate should prepare for:
    • emergency cases
    • complications
    • difficult patient situations
    • prioritization questions
  • Improve Communication: Examiners evaluate:
    • confidence
    • clarity
    • structured answers
    • professional language
  • Focus on Patient Safety: Patient safety principles are extremely important. Candidate should understand:
    • escalation protocols
    • documentation
    • consent
    • infection control
    • medication safety
  • Revise Core Specialty Topics: DOH oral exams usually focus on practical clinical knowledge rather than memorized theory.

Is English communication important?

Yes. Clear professional communication is very important during oral assessment. All DOH exams are conducted in English, and no translator is allowed to attend the oral examination.

Is the DOH Oral Exam difficult?

The oral exam is considered moderate to challenging depending on experience. It is not memorization-based but scenario-based. It becomes easier for candidates who:

  • have strong clinical exposure
  • understand emergency protocols
  • can explain cases clearly
  • follow structured clinical reasoning

How long does the DOH Oral Exam take?

The DOH manual gives 45 to 60 minutes for the oral exam. Where it falls in that range may depend on:

  • specialty
  • complexity of cases
  • examiner panel structure

What topics are asked in the DOH Oral Exam?

Questions are usually based on real hospital scenarios. The Unified PQR states that an oral exam has at least five different scenarios or questions related to the specialty, or as the examining panel decides. Common topics may include:

  • emergency management
  • patient stabilization
  • differential diagnosis
  • treatment planning
  • complications handling
  • ethics and consent
  • specialty-based clinical cases

What happens after passing the oral exam?

Passing oral exam alone does not allow practice. After passing:

  • Result is shown as PASS on TAMM within 5 working days (a PASS is valid for 5 years, subject to the PQR criteria)
  • Candidate searches for employer in Abu Dhabi
  • Employer completes licensing activation
  • Final DOH license is issued

What happens if I fail the oral exam?

The result shows as FAIL on TAMM. Then:

  • you can book the next attempt in TAMM as long as there is a date available within your 6-month exam approval window (select the date, pay the booking fee again and download the exam ticket)
  • attempts are limited: three across all UAE authorities, with possibly one last attempt at a different authority, as set out on our DOH exam retake policy page
  • if the 6-month window closes before you pass, the application closes and a new application is needed

An oral booking cannot be rescheduled. You cancel it (at least 48 hours before) and book a new date, and the booking fee is not refunded. Not attending is not counted as an attempt, but the fee is lost.

Your Comments

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