DOH / HAAD Pediatric Emergency Exam 2026: Format, Eligibility and Books
DOH Pediatric Emergency Exam Quick Summary
Pediatric Emergency Medicine is a separate Specialist or Consultant title in Abu Dhabi, not the same as general Pediatrics. It is not one of the 8 DOH specialties that sit the computer-based test, so DOH normally assesses it by an oral exam of 45 to 60 minutes, and your TAMM approval states the exact assessment. Prepare on acute care: resuscitation, shock, trauma, airway, toxicology and the sick infant.
Pediatricians who have spent years in an emergency department often ask the same thing: do I apply to the Department of Health Abu Dhabi as a pediatrician, or as a pediatric emergency physician, and what exam comes with each? The answer changes what you study. General Pediatrics is a 100 MCQ test covering the whole specialty. Pediatric Emergency Medicine is a subspecialty title with a different assessment and a narrower, more acute focus. This page covers the subspecialty. For the general Pediatrics title, see our DOH Pediatric specialist eligibility and exam page.
Is the DOH Pediatric Emergency exam different from the Pediatrics exam?
Yes, in two ways: the format and the content.
| Point | Pediatrics (Specialist or Consultant) | Pediatric Emergency Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Computer-based test, 100 MCQs in 2 hours at Pearson VUE | Oral assessment, 45 to 60 minutes, in English (as stated in your TAMM approval) |
| Content | All of general pediatrics, newborn to adolescent | Resuscitation, shock, trauma, airway, toxicology, acute presentations |
| Qualification | Recognised postgraduate qualification in Pediatrics | Recognised training or board certification in the subspecialty, judged under the PQR |
| Result | PASS or FAIL in TAMM | PASS or FAIL in TAMM |
Under the DOH Licensing Procedural Manual, a doctor sits either the CBT or the oral for a given title, never both. Only 8 specialties use the CBT (Anesthesia, Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, ENT, General Surgery and Obs and Gyn). Pediatric Emergency Medicine is not on that list, which is why it is usually an oral. How the oral runs, and how to practise for it, is on our DOH Abu Dhabi oral exam guide.
Who is eligible for the Pediatric Emergency title in Abu Dhabi?
DOH decides the title from your qualifications under the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), not from your job title abroad. In practice:
- A Pediatrics qualification plus a recognised Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship or board certification is the usual route to the subspecialty title.
- Years of work in a pediatric emergency department, without formal subspecialty training, usually lead to the general Pediatrics title instead. That is still a good route to emergency department jobs.
- Consultant needs more post-qualification experience than Specialist; the years depend on your qualification tier.
If you are unsure, submit your application in TAMM with every certificate and training letter, and DOH will confirm the title. The general rules for doctors are in DOH licence for doctors, and exemption routes are in DOH exam exemption criteria.
What topics should I prepare for the Pediatric Emergency oral?
The examiners want to hear how you would run the first hour with a sick child. Expect cases that start with “a child is brought in…” and then build, with follow-up questions on drugs, doses and when to call for help.
Communication carries real weight in an oral. Practise explaining a plan to anxious parents and handing over to a colleague in a few clear sentences. The DHA covers the adult side of this field on its own DHA emergency medicine exam page, which is useful if you are weighing Dubai as well.
Which books are recommended for the Pediatric Emergency exam?
Alongside other resources, candidates usually work from:
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics (background reading for each topic)
- PALS guidelines (American Heart Association)
- APLS manual (Advanced Paediatric Life Support)
- Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine (pediatric sections)
- Arab Board or MRCPCH Part 2 style questions for case practice
Read the resuscitation algorithms until you can say them out loud without notes. In an oral, a candidate who knows the algorithm but hesitates looks less safe than one who states it clearly and moves on. For the general pediatrics base, the DHA Pediatrics QBank and MOH UAE Pediatrics QBank give case practice in the same clinical style.
How do I apply and book the exam?
You apply in TAMM with UAE PASS, then DOH sends you for DataFlow verification of your degrees, licences and experience. After approval you pay the assessment fee in TAMM and book your slot within the 6-month approval window. Rebooking is also done in TAMM. CBT titles then pick a Pearson VUE slot, as explained in our DOH Pearson VUE exam schedule guide. Results are PASS or FAIL, and there is no waiting period between attempts within that window; attempts count across DOH, DHA and MOHAP (see DOH exam retake policy). Step by step booking is in how to book the DOH exam via TAMM, and the costs are in DOH exam process and cost. Other DOH specialties are listed on the DOH exam page.
DOH Pediatric Emergency sample practice MCQs
Two acute care cases of the kind examiners like to build on. Tap a question to see the answer.
Question 1: Toxicology (an ingested coin-like object)
A 2-year-old boy is brought in 1 hour after his mother saw him put a small round object from a TV remote control in his mouth. He drooled and coughed briefly but is now comfortable, swallowing and breathing normally. A chest X-ray shows a round radio-opaque object at the level of the upper oesophagus with a double-ring (halo) outline on the AP view. What is the most appropriate management?
A) Discharge and ask the parents to check the stools for 1 week
B) Observe and repeat the X-ray in 24 hours to see if it has passed
C) Give honey by mouth while arranging emergency endoscopic removal
D) Induce vomiting with ipecac
Correct answer: C) Give honey by mouth while arranging emergency endoscopic removal
The double-ring outline identifies a button battery. In the oesophagus it causes a current-driven alkaline burn within about 2 hours, which can lead to perforation, tracheo-oesophageal fistula or a fatal aorto-oesophageal fistula, so it must be removed endoscopically as an emergency even if the child looks well. In children over 1 year with ingestion in the last 12 hours, giving honey on the way to theatre coats the battery and reduces injury. Waiting for it to pass is wrong for an oesophageal battery, and inducing vomiting is unsafe and no longer used.
Question 2: Cardiology (fast heart rate in an infant)
A 3-month-old girl has fed poorly and been fussy for 12 hours. She is alert and pink, capillary refill is 2 seconds and blood pressure is normal for age. Heart rate is 280 per minute and regular. The ECG shows a narrow complex tachycardia with no visible P waves and no beat-to-beat variation. Applying ice water to her face has not changed the rhythm, and IV access is in place. What is the next step?
A) IV verapamil
B) Rapid IV adenosine 0.1 mg/kg followed immediately by a saline flush
C) Synchronised cardioversion at 0.5 to 1 J/kg
D) IV amiodarone infusion over 1 hour
Correct answer: B) Rapid IV adenosine 0.1 mg/kg followed immediately by a saline flush
A fixed rate around 280 with no P waves and no variation is supraventricular tachycardia, not sinus tachycardia. She is haemodynamically stable, so after a failed vagal manoeuvre the next step is adenosine 0.1 mg/kg (maximum first dose 6 mg) as a rapid push close to the heart with a fast flush, increasing to 0.2 mg/kg if needed. Synchronised cardioversion is for the child with poor perfusion or hypotension. Verapamil is contraindicated in infants because it can cause cardiovascular collapse, and amiodarone is a later option on expert advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DOH Pediatric Emergency exam a written MCQ test?
Usually not. DOH uses the computer-based test for only 8 specialties, and Pediatric Emergency Medicine is not one of them, so it is normally an oral assessment of 45 to 60 minutes in English. The assessment type for your title is stated in your TAMM approval.
Can I get the Pediatric Emergency title with only experience in an emergency department?
DOH grants titles from recognised qualifications under the PQR, so experience alone is rarely enough for a subspecialty title. Without a recognised Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship or board, most applicants are assessed for general Pediatrics, which still allows work in pediatric emergency departments.
Do I sit both the CBT and the oral?
No. Under the DOH Licensing Procedural Manual, a doctor sits either the CBT or the oral for a title, never both. Which one applies depends on the title DOH approves you for.
Which books are best for the Pediatric Emergency exam?
Most candidates use the PALS guidelines and APLS manual for resuscitation, the pediatric chapters of Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine, and Nelson for background. Case-based questions from MRCPCH Part 2 or Arab Board style material help with clinical reasoning.
How are the results given and can I retake it?
Results are PASS or FAIL in TAMM. You can rebook within your 6-month approval window with no waiting period, but attempts are counted across DOH, DHA and MOHAP, so prepare properly before each one.
Your Comments
Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.
Abdul Rasheed (Karachi): eligible for Consultant Pediatric Emergency with KSA experience?
"Whether I am eligible for the Post of consultant in pediatric emergency or not in DOH /HAAD. After post-graduation all of my experience is in pediatric emergency in KSA."
Abdul Rasheed
Medical Qualification: MBBS 1995, MRCPCH 2011
City Country: Karachi
Dipti (India): how to register and how much experience is needed
"How to apply and register for HAAD/DOH exams and how many years of experience is required for DOH exams?"
Dipti
Medical Qualification: MDS - Periodontology
City Country: India
Dr. Jinia Saha (Kolkata, India): procedure, structure and syllabus of the Pediatric exam
"Please let me know the procedure, structure and syllabus for the Pediatric DOH examination."
Dr. Jinia Saha
Medical Qualification: MD Pediatrics
City Country: Kolkata, India
Abdul Razaque (Karachi, Pakistan): just cleared FCPS, what is DOH and am I eligible?
"I have recently cleared my fcps want to work there but dnt know about doh and eligibility and segnificance of DOH plz guide me."
Abdul Razaque
Medical Qualification: FCPS
City Country: Karachi Pakistan
Akina (India): study material for the histopathology exam
"Please let me know where do I get material for DOH exam. Interested in a job in histopathology."
Akina
Medical Qualification: MD Pathology
City, Country: India
Bimal Sah (Kathmandu, Nepal): process and requirements for a urologist
"I have more than 9 years experience in my field, and i want to apply for DOH what is the process and requirements, Thanks."
Bimal Sah
Medical Qualification: MS (UROLOGY)
City Country: Kathmandu, Nepal
Tehmina (Australia): GP in Australia, how to work as a GP in the UAE
"I have been practicing as GP in Australia sicne last one year, i want to move to UAE and work as a GP there. What is the procedure pls."
Tehmina
Medical Qualification:mbbs
City Country: australia
Dr. Parveen (Hail, KSA): Obs and Gyn resident, apply as GP or specialist?
"I am resident in Obs & Gyn field for last five years in KSA. While applying for DOH exam, should i apply as GP or specialist, kindly anyone clearify pls. "
Dr. Parveen
Medical Qualification:MBBS +MRCOG 1
City Country: hail, KSA
dR. Kevin (Mumbai, India): Oral Surgery syllabus and exam schedule
"I am dentist. Want to apply for DOH. Wish to know about Oral Surgery syllabus and exam schedule."
dR. Kevin
Medical Qualification:M.D.S
City Country: Mumbai,India
DR Ali Jan (Kashmir, India): how to apply as a specialist
"How can i apply for specialist in DOH exam. What is the registration procedure and other formalities."
DR Ali Jan
Medical Qualification: MBBS, MS
City Country: Kashmir, india
Build your pediatrics base for Abu Dhabi
Clinical pediatrics MCQs with explanations, including emergencies and resuscitation, with subject-wise practice and timed mocks.
Enroll in DOH Pediatrics QBank