Kuwait Nursing Exam 2026: MOH Prometric Blueprint & Steps
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Kuwait Nursing Exam Quick Summary
Registered nurses who want to work in Kuwait sit the Kuwait Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses, sponsored by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and delivered by Prometric. It has 150 MCQs in 170 minutes with a 10-minute break, the pass mark is 60%, and you have three attempts at least six weeks apart.
This guide covers who can apply, how the MOH licensing route works, the official blueprint and reading list, and how to prepare, with five sample questions from our MOH Kuwait Registered Nurse QBank.
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Who can apply
The MOH Medical Licensing Department licenses nurses in Kuwait. Most foreign nurses come through a job offer from a government hospital or a private facility. Recruiters and employers usually ask for:
- A Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Some employers accept diploma nurses with long specialised experience.
- Two to three years of clinical nursing experience after registration.
- A valid licence from your country and a recent certificate of good standing.
- Primary source verification of your degree, licence and experience.
MOH does not publish a single eligibility list online, so confirm the exact requirements with your employer or recruiter before you book.
How to apply, step by step
Most applicants are recruited by the Ministry of Health for government hospitals, or by a licensed private facility.
Have your degree, licence and experience letters attested and verified at the source.
The MOH licensing department confirms your eligibility through its licensing portal (medlic.moh.gov.kw).
Book the Kuwait Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses at a Prometric centre, choosing Kuwait MOH as the sponsor.
After you pass, MOH classifies you and issues the licence, followed by the residency and medical fitness steps.
Exam format and pass mark
| Item | Details (Prometric blueprint for Kuwait MOH) |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 170 minutes, plus a 10-minute break |
| Pass mark | 60%, which is 90 of 150 |
| Attempts | Three, at least six weeks apart |
| Delivery | Computer-based, at Prometric centres |
The fee is set by the sponsor and shown when you book. MOH notes that the blueprint and attempt rules can change after review, so check the current version before you start.
Official blueprint
The Kuwait MOH blueprint sets the number of questions in each area:
A 6-week study plan
| Weeks | Focus | Daily target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Adult medical-surgical and critical care nursing | 40 MCQs, then read every explanation |
| 3 | Maternal, newborn and child health | 40 MCQs |
| 4 | Fundamentals, drug calculations, mental and community health | 40 MCQs and 10 calculations |
| 5 | Leadership, prioritisation, delegation and patient safety; one full mock | 40 MCQs |
| 6 | Weak areas and a final mock | Book when you score comfortably above the pass mark |
Official reading list
| Area | Books named in the blueprint |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals | Timby, Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts; Kozier and Erb's Fundamentals of Nursing; Bates' Nursing Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking |
| Adult nursing | Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing; Lewis, Medical-Surgical Nursing |
| Child health | Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing |
| Other areas | Standard psychiatric, community, critical care and leadership nursing texts |
Sample Kuwait Registered Nurse MCQs
These five questions come from the free trial of our Kuwait Registered Nurse QBank, across the four areas of the blueprint. Tap a question to see the answer and explanation.
A 55-year-old man is admitted to a medical ward with suspected mitral regurgitation. The nurse wants to listen over the mitral area, which is also where the apical impulse (point of maximal impulse) is normally felt in an adult. Where should the nurse place the stethoscope?A. Second intercostal space, right sternal borderB. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular lineC. Second intercostal space, left sternal borderD. Fourth intercostal space, left lower sternal border
Answer: B. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
Explanation: The mitral area is at the fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line, which is also the apex of the heart and the normal site of the apical impulse (PMI) in adults. It is where S1 is loudest and where mitral murmurs are best heard; a mitral regurgitation murmur is pansystolic and often radiates to the axilla. The apical pulse is counted here for a full minute when accuracy matters.
A school nurse notices that 7 pupils from three classes have been sent home with diarrhoea over 2 days. Usually 1 or 2 pupils a week go home with diarrhoea. She informs the public health team, who start an outbreak investigation. Which step should be completed first?A. Test a hypothesis about the source with a case-control studyB. Draw an epidemic curve of cases by date of onsetC. Write a report with recommendations for the schoolD. Establish that an outbreak exists by comparing cases with the expected number
Answer: D. Establish that an outbreak exists by comparing cases with the expected number
Explanation: After preparing for fieldwork, the first steps of an outbreak investigation are to establish the existence of an outbreak and verify the diagnosis. An outbreak is more cases than expected for that place and time; here 7 cases in 2 days against a baseline of 1 to 2 a week suggests a real increase, but the team must check this against school and clinic records and rule out changes in reporting. They then confirm the diagnosis (clinical features, stool tests), write a case definition, find more cases, describe them by time, place and person (epidemic curve), develop and test hypotheses, put in control measures, and communicate findings.
A 30-year-old woman at 33 weeks' gestation with pre-eclampsia has blood tests taken after she reports malaise and nausea. Which set of results indicates HELLP syndrome?A. Hb 118 g/L, platelets 210 x 109/L, ALT 25 U/L, LDH 210 U/LB. Hb 95 g/L, ferritin 8 µg/L, platelets 260 x 109/L, ALT 20 U/LC. Platelets 140 x 109/L, ALT 32 U/L, raised uric acid, urine protein:creatinine ratio 60 mg/mmolD. Hb 92 g/L with fragmented red cells, LDH 850 U/L, ALT 190 U/L, platelets 68 x 109/L
Answer: D. Hb 92 g/L with fragmented red cells, LDH 850 U/L, ALT 190 U/L, platelets 68 x 109/L
Explanation: HELLP stands for Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets. It is a severe form of pre-eclampsia (and sometimes occurs without high BP). Typical criteria (Tennessee): haemolysis (fragmented red cells on the film, LDH above 600 U/L, falling Hb), AST or ALT above about 70 U/L (twice the upper limit) and platelets below 100 x 109/L.
A nurse at a primary health care centre returns telephone messages after the morning clinic. Which caller should the nurse call back first?A. A 54-year-old man who started lisinopril 3 weeks ago and reports that his lips and tongue are swelling and his voice sounds hoarseB. A 30-year-old woman with a urinary tract infection who has had 2 days of antibiotics and still has mild burningC. A 65-year-old man with type 2 diabetes asking whether he can take his metformin with his evening mealD. A mother asking when her 4-month-old baby's next vaccinations are due
Answer: A. A 54-year-old man who started lisinopril 3 weeks ago and reports that his lips and tongue are swelling and his voice sounds hoarse
Explanation: In telephone triage, the nurse returns calls by urgency of the reported symptoms, using ABC. ACE inhibitor angioedema can occur weeks or months after starting the drug. Swelling of the tongue and a change in voice mean the airway is involved and can obstruct quickly.
A 46-year-old man with epilepsy on a medical ward has difficulty swallowing tablets after a stroke but has passed a swallow screen for thickened liquids. Phenytoin 100 mg orally is prescribed. Pharmacy supplies phenytoin oral suspension 125 mg/5 mL. What volume should the nurse give?A. 6.25 mLB. 4 mLC. 5 mLD. 0.8 mL
Answer: B. 4 mL
Explanation: Use the formula D ÷ H × Q (desired ÷ have × quantity). Desired = 100 mg, have = 125 mg, quantity = 5 mL. 100 ÷ 125 = 0.8; 0.8 × 5 mL = 4 mL. Check by ratio: 125 mg is in 5 mL, so 25 mg is in 1 mL (125 ÷ 5); 100 mg ÷ 25 mg/mL = 4 mL.
Want to try more Kuwait Registered Nurse questions?
Start with 30 free questions from the same QBank, each with a full explanation, then unlock the full bank when you are ready.
Results and attempts
You have three attempts, with at least six weeks between them. Use the gap to work on the areas your score report shows as weak, rather than rebooking straight away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the Kuwait nursing exam?
60%, which is 90 of the 150 questions.
How many questions are in the Kuwait MOH nursing exam?
150 MCQs in 170 minutes, with a 10-minute break.
Is the Kuwait nursing exam a Prometric exam?
Yes. It is sponsored by the Kuwait Ministry of Health and delivered at Prometric centres.
How many attempts are allowed?
Three, with at least six weeks between attempts.
Which area has the most questions?
Adult Nursing, with 60 of the 150 questions.
Do nurses need to pass the KMLE?
No. The KMLE and KDLE are new exams for doctors and dentists. Nurses sit the MOH Registered Nurse exam.
Ready to pass the Kuwait nursing exam?
Practise with exam-style nursing MCQs built around the Kuwait MOH blueprint, with full explanations and timed tests.
The questions on heart failure, arrhythmias and ACS management were detailed and very close to real ward decisions. I especially valued the questions asking for the next best step after...