MOHAP General Surgery Exam 2026: Eligibility & MCQs

Last updated on 22-Sep-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

MOHAP General Surgery Exam Quick Summary

The MOHAP (UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention) General Surgery exam is for doctors seeking Specialist or Consultant classification across the Northern Emirates. MOHAP treats General Surgery as a surgical specialty, requiring a 2-year attested clinical logbook in addition to its standard postgraduate qualification and experience criteria.

MOHAP UAE General Surgery Specialty Exam

The Ministry of Health & Prevention (MOHAP) administers this specialty exam for doctors seeking Specialist or Consultant classification in General Surgery across the Northern Emirates, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. Delivered as a Prometric computer-based test, it evaluates clinical judgment, perioperative decision-making, and management of surgical emergencies against MOHAP's knowledge, clinical-skills, and ethics standards. Review the general eligibility framework on our MOHAP Specialist Doctors exam page.

Eligibility criteria for the MOHAP General Surgery exam

Based on MOHAP's own published requirements for Specialist/Consultant doctors, candidates are generally expected to meet the following:

Primary medical degree: A recognized MBBS, MD, or equivalent medical degree from a school listed on the Avicenna database or IMED/FAIMER.
Specialization in General Surgery: Tier 1, a Master's degree, PhD, Fellowship, or Membership (or equivalent) of at least 24 months' duration; or Tier 2, a Postgraduate Diploma of at least 12 months, combined with 3 years of experience after the diploma.
Post-specialization clinical experience: A minimum of 3 years of clinical experience after your postgraduate qualification (mandatory for private-sector applicants). No interruption in clinical practice for more than 2 years is allowed, longer gaps require Continuing Medical Education (CME) certificates.
Surgical logbook: Since MOHAP classifies General Surgery as a surgical specialty, a minimum 2-year clinical logbook, attested by the appropriate health authority in your country of origin, is a required supporting document, the same as for Obstetrics & Gynecology.
DataFlow Primary Source Verification: All educational, professional, and licensing documents must be verified through DataFlow, with credentials authenticated through Ministry of Foreign Affairs channels.

MOHAP allows 3 exam attempts; a 4th attempt requires a 1-year waiting period plus 6 months of documented current clinical practice, and failing the 4th attempt results in file cancellation. See the full document checklist on our MOHAP exam document requirements page.

MOHAP General Surgery exam exemption criteria

Possible exam exemption
Consultant Physicians and Specialist Consultants may be exempted from all MOHAP licensing exam components if they hold a recognized board certification: a US American Board of Medical Specialty certification, a UK Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training/CCT or CESR with inclusion on the Specialist Register, a Fellowship of the Royal College (Australia or New Zealand), an RCPSC specialization certificate or CFPC certification (Canada), or a Certificate of Full Registration/Certificate of Specialist Doctor (Ireland). Exemption is evaluated case-by-case, confirm your own eligibility directly with MOHAP and review the full criteria on our MOHAP exam exemption page.

MOHAP General Surgery exam syllabus

The exam draws questions from across the full scope of general surgical practice, including:

  • Fluid and Electrolytes
  • Shock
  • Sepsis and Surgical Infections
  • Endocrine and Breast
  • Upper GI
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Skin and Soft Tissue
  • Hepato-biliary
  • Perioperative Care
  • Trauma and Critical Care
  • Colorectal and Perianal
  • Pancreas and Spleen
  • Professionalism and Ethics
  • Patient Safety

Most questions are presented as clinical scenario-based MCQs testing diagnosis, investigation, and surgical management judgment rather than isolated fact recall.

MOHAP General Surgery study material & questions
Official past papers aren't released publicly, but our Qbank compiles 400+ high-yield recall-based questions with concise explanations and real exam-like simulation.

MOHAP General Surgery exam format

Prometric CBT
Written MCQs, with a possible oral/viva for this surgical specialty
~100-150 MCQs / 2-3 hrs
General MOHAP range (varies by specialty)
60-65%+
General MOHAP passing range

MOHAP's own guidance confirms that after the written exam, "generally there is no Oral/Viva part but it may be asked by the authority for Surgical related specialities", so as a surgical specialty, General Surgery carries a real, case-by-case possibility of an oral component, unlike General Practitioner exams, which have no oral stage at all. A specialty-specific MCQ count and passing score aren't separately published for General Surgery, so treat the ranges above as indicative rather than exact, and confirm your specific exam details directly with MOHAP once your file is opened. See our MOHAP exam pattern guide and written & viva eligibility criteria for more.

Preparation tips for the MOHAP General Surgery exam

Focus on high-yield emergencies
Acute abdomen, trauma resuscitation, and post-op complications are heavily represented, prioritize these over rare presentations.
Practice timed MCQ blocks
Build exam-day pace early with timed practice sets modeled on the general ~100-150 question, 2-3 hour format.
Keep your logbook current
Since General Surgery is treated as a surgical specialty by MOHAP, start compiling and attesting your 2-year clinical logbook well before you plan to apply.
Prepare for a possible viva
Since an oral component is possible for surgical specialties, be ready to verbally justify your clinical decision-making, not just select an answer.

Sample Practice MCQs

Test your knowledge with these original clinical scenario-style questions. Tap a question to reveal the answer.

> A 32-year-old man presents with right lower quadrant pain, low-grade fever, and rebound tenderness at McBurney's point. What is the most appropriate next step?
Answer: Proceed to appendectomy (open or laparoscopic) after basic labs and imaging confirm the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Explanation: Classic presentation of acute appendicitis is primarily a clinical diagnosis. Ultrasound or CT can support the diagnosis in equivocal cases, but a clear clinical picture with peritoneal signs warrants prompt surgical referral to reduce the risk of perforation.
> A 55-year-old woman with a history of gallstones presents with fever, right upper quadrant pain, and a positive Murphy's sign. Ultrasound confirms a thickened gallbladder wall with pericholecystic fluid. What is the diagnosis and initial management?
Answer: Acute cholecystitis, manage with IV fluids, antibiotics, analgesia, and early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ideally within 72 hours of symptom onset).

Explanation: A positive Murphy's sign with ultrasound findings of gallbladder wall thickening and pericholecystic fluid is classic for acute cholecystitis. Early cholecystectomy is now preferred over delayed surgery in suitable candidates, per current surgical guidelines.
> A trauma patient arrives hypotensive after a motor vehicle collision. FAST scan shows free fluid in the abdomen, and the patient remains hemodynamically unstable despite initial fluid resuscitation. What is the next step?
Answer: Immediate exploratory laparotomy.

Explanation: A positive FAST scan with ongoing hemodynamic instability indicates likely intra-abdominal hemorrhage requiring emergency surgical control, there is no role for further imaging (e.g., CT) or observation in an unstable patient with a positive FAST.

MOHAP General Surgery exam application process

  1. Verify you meet the eligibility criteria above, including the 2-year surgical logbook
  2. Create a UAE Pass account: a UAE-wide digital identity used to access government and healthcare licensing portals
  3. Create a MOHAP account via the licensing portal and submit your documents (see the document requirements page)
  4. Initiate your DataFlow Primary Source Verification application
  5. Await your MOHAP eligibility letter confirming you can book the exam
  6. Book and sit your Prometric exam, see our Prometric registration guide
  7. Apply for your MOHAP license after passing

See the full, itemized MOHAP exam fee breakdown for current registration, DataFlow, and Prometric costs, fees can change, so confirm the latest figures directly with MOHAP before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

> Why does MOHAP require a logbook for General Surgery?
MOHAP classifies General Surgery as a surgical specialty, alongside Obstetrics & Gynecology, so applicants must provide a minimum 2-year clinical logbook attested by the appropriate health authority, in addition to the standard qualification and experience requirements.
> Is there an oral/viva component for the MOHAP General Surgery exam?
There's no automatic oral component, but MOHAP's own guidance notes that an oral/viva may be required at the authority's discretion for surgical specialties, which includes General Surgery. Non-surgical specialties, such as Internal Medicine, rarely see this requirement.
> What is the passing score for the MOHAP General Surgery exam?
A General-Surgery-specific passing score isn't separately published by MOHAP. The general MOHAP passing range across specialties is 60-65%, though this can vary by sitting, confirm your specific passing score directly with MOHAP once your application file is opened.
> Can General Surgery doctors be exempted from the MOHAP exam?
Possibly, for Consultant Physicians or Specialist Consultants holding a recognized board certification such as US ABMS, UK CCT/CCST/CESR, an Australian/NZ Fellowship of the Royal College, Canadian RCPSC or CFPC certification, or an Irish Certificate of Full Registration/Specialist Doctor. This is evaluated case-by-case, see our MOHAP exemption criteria page.
> How many attempts are allowed for the MOHAP General Surgery exam?
MOHAP allows 3 exam attempts. A 4th attempt requires a 1-year waiting period plus 6 months of documented current clinical practice, and failing the 4th attempt results in the application file being cancelled.

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Dr. Aishwarya Malhotra
Dr. Aishwarya Malhotra

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