MOHAP Pharmacist Exam 2026: Pass Mark, Steps & Attempts
Medical exams / MOH UAE / MOHAP Pharmacist exam guide
MOHAP Pharmacist Exam Quick Summary
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) licenses pharmacists for Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Its evaluation exam is delivered by Prometric, results are pass or fail, and the minimum passing score is 60%. You apply with UAE PASS, need a positive DataFlow report, and have three attempts in each category.
This guide explains who can sit the MOHAP pharmacist exam, who is exempt, how the evaluation service works, the attempt rules and how to prepare, with five sample questions from our MOH UAE Pharmacist QBank.
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Who can sit the MOHAP pharmacist exam
MOHAP uses the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) shared by all UAE health authorities. For the Pharmacist title you need:
- A pharmacy degree (BPharm, MPharm or PharmD) recognised in the UAE. A diploma does not qualify for the Pharmacist title.
- The experience the PQR sets for your degree, counted from the date your licence was issued.
- A licence covering the years you worked, and a good conduct or good standing certificate.
- No break in practice of more than two years.
- Documents in Arabic or English, or with a legal translation.
Who is exempt
- UAE nationals, under the PQR.
- Professionals licensed in a country on the PQR's exemption list, or holding an accepted international exam result, in good standing. An exemption is lost after a long gap in practice.
- Professionals transferring from DHA or DOH with a licence for the same title that is valid or expired no more than six months ago.
MOHAP accepts exemption documents in place of the exam when you apply. Verification is still required.
How to apply, step by step
Confirm your title, degree and experience against the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR).
Apply for the health professional evaluation service on the MOHAP website or app.
Upload your documents, and any exemption papers, then pay the evaluation fee. MOHAP reviews the application within about five working days.
Pay DataFlow through the link MOHAP sends. The verification report must come back positive.
Book your Prometric exam with the eligibility details you receive, then download your evaluation certificate after you pass.
Exam format and pass mark
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Prometric, computer-based |
| Questions | Single best answer MCQs. MOHAP does not publish the number; candidates usually report 100 to 150 questions over two to three hours |
| Pass mark | 60% minimum passing score |
| Result | Pass or fail only |
MOHAP does not release questions or recommend references, so your preparation should follow the standard Gulf pharmacist syllabus.
What the exam covers
MOHAP does not publish a blueprint. The weights below are our guide, based on how Gulf pharmacist exams are usually built:
An 8-week study plan
| Weeks | Focus | Daily target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Clinical pharmacotherapy: cardiovascular, endocrine, infections, respiratory, CNS | 40 to 50 MCQs, then read every explanation |
| 4 to 5 | Pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and calculations | 40 MCQs and 10 calculations |
| 6 | Law, ethics, management, medication safety and OTC counselling | 40 MCQs |
| 7 | Two full timed mocks | Review each mock the next day |
| 8 | Weak areas and a final mock | Book when you score well above the pass mark |
Recommended books
MOHAP does not publish a reading list. These standard references cover the syllabus well:
| Book | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| The APhA Complete Review for Pharmacy | Covers the whole syllabus in exam order; the most used single review. |
| Comprehensive Pharmacy Review (Shargel) | Good second explanation, with practice questions after each chapter. |
| Applied Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics (Shargel) | For kinetics questions and dosing calculations. |
| Pharmaceutical Calculations (Ansel) | Calculation practice, which candidates often underestimate. |
| Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach (DiPiro) | Reference for clinical management questions. |
Sample MOHAP Pharmacist MCQs
These five questions come from the free trial of our MOHAP Pharmacist QBank, covering science, therapeutics and practice. Tap a question to see the answer and explanation.
A 29-year-old woman presents 24 hours after the onset of fever, myalgia and cough during an influenza A outbreak. She is otherwise healthy, not pregnant, and the team plans a single-dose oral antiviral, baloxavir marboxil. Which viral target does this drug inhibit?A. Neuraminidase on the virion surfaceB. The M2 ion channelC. Haemagglutinin binding to sialic acid receptorsD. The cap-dependent endonuclease of the polymerase acidic protein
Answer: D. The cap-dependent endonuclease of the polymerase acidic protein
Explanation: Baloxavir marboxil is a prodrug of baloxavir, which inhibits the cap-dependent endonuclease activity of the polymerase acidic (PA) protein in the influenza RNA polymerase complex. The virus snatches 5' caps from host messenger RNA to prime its own transcription; blocking this endonuclease stops viral mRNA synthesis and therefore replication. It is given as a single oral dose within 48 hours of symptom onset and shortens illness much like oseltamivir, with faster viral shedding reduction.
A 78-year-old man with heart failure and atrial fibrillation is prescribed digoxin tablets 250 micrograms once daily. His estimated digoxin clearance is 5 L/hour because of reduced renal function. The oral bioavailability of the tablets is 0.7. What average steady-state plasma digoxin concentration should the pharmacist predict?A. 0.7 nanograms/mLB. 1.0 nanograms/mLC. 2.1 nanograms/mLD. 1.5 nanograms/mL
Answer: D. 1.5 nanograms/mL
Explanation: At steady state the AUC over one dosing interval equals the AUC from zero to infinity after a single dose: AUC(tau) = F x Dose / CL = 0.7 x 250 micrograms / 5 L/h = 175 / 5 = 35 microgram.h/L. The average steady-state concentration is that AUC divided by the dosing interval: Css,avg = F x Dose / (CL x tau) = 35 / 24 = 1.46 microgram/L, which equals about 1.5 nanograms/mL (about 1.9 nmol/L). In heart failure the target is about 0.5 to 0.9 nanograms/mL, because higher levels add toxicity without benefit, so this regimen is too high for him.
A national antimicrobial resistance action plan sets a target that most human antibiotic consumption should come from the WHO AWaRe Access group. A hospital antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist is reviewing the formulary. Which antibiotic belongs to the Access group?A. CiprofloxacinB. AmoxicillinC. CeftriaxoneD. Linezolid
Answer: B. Amoxicillin
Explanation: The WHO AWaRe classification groups antibiotics by their resistance potential and role. Access antibiotics are first- or second-choice options for common infections, with lower resistance potential, and should be widely available: e.g. amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, doxycycline, nitrofurantoin, cefalexin, gentamicin. Watch antibiotics have higher resistance potential and are priority stewardship targets: e.g. ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, meropenem, vancomycin.
A 63-year-old man with cirrhosis is admitted with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. IV cefotaxime has been started. His creatinine is 150 µmol/L (1.7 mg/dL) and bilirubin 70 µmol/L. His estimated dry weight is 70 kg. The team asks for the volume of human albumin 20% to give on day 1 and on day 3 to reduce the risk of renal failure. Which is correct?A. 350 mL on day 1 and 525 mL on day 3B. 105 mL on day 1 and 70 mL on day 3C. 525 mL on day 1 and 350 mL on day 3D. 1050 mL on day 1 and 700 mL on day 3
Answer: C. 525 mL on day 1 and 350 mL on day 3
Explanation: About 30% of patients with SBP develop renal failure, a major cause of death. IV albumin plus antibiotics reduces renal failure and mortality in patients with creatinine >1 mg/dL (88 µmol/L), urea (BUN) >30 mg/dL or bilirubin >4 mg/dL (68 µmol/L); he meets two criteria. The dose is 1.5 g/kg within 6 hours of diagnosis (day 1) and 1 g/kg on day 3.Day 1: 1.5 g/kg × 70 kg = 105 g.
A 34-year-old woman has taken sertraline 100 mg daily for depression for a year. She has migraine without aura, and her doctor now prescribes sumatriptan 50 mg tablets, one at onset, maximum 300 mg in 24 hours. She read online that the combination is 'dangerous' and asks the pharmacist whether she should take it. What is the most appropriate response?A. Refuse to dispense sumatriptan, as the combination is contraindicatedB. Advise her to stop sertraline on days she takes sumatriptanC. Dispense both, and counsel her on the symptoms of serotonin syndrome to reportD. Recommend ergotamine instead of sumatriptan because it is not serotonergic
Answer: C. Dispense both, and counsel her on the symptoms of serotonin syndrome to report
Explanation: A 2006 regulatory warning flagged possible serotonin syndrome with triptans plus SSRIs or SNRIs. Triptans are 5-HT1B/1D agonists, whereas serotonin syndrome is driven mainly by 5-HT2A (and 5-HT1A) stimulation, and later reviews (including the American Headache Society position paper) found the risk to be very low. The combination is widely used and is not contraindicated.
Want to try more MOHAP Pharmacist questions?
Start with 30 free questions from the same QBank, each with a full explanation, then unlock the full bank when you are ready.
Fees
MOHAP shows the evaluation, DataFlow and licensing fees inside its online service when you apply, and they change from time to time. You pay the evaluation fee to MOHAP, the verification fee to DataFlow, and the exam fee when you book with Prometric. All exam fees are non-refundable.
Results and attempts
Prometric reports a pass or fail result. After you pass, you download the evaluation certificate and a licensed facility completes the licence.
MOHAP allows a maximum of three attempts in each category. If you fail all three, you can apply through DHA or DOH instead, within the shared PQR limit on attempts across UAE authorities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the MOHAP pharmacist exam?
MOHAP states a 60% minimum passing score, and results are reported as pass or fail.
How many attempts are allowed?
Three in each category. After three failures you can apply through DHA or DOH instead.
Does MOHAP recommend books?
No. MOHAP does not publish questions or recommended references, so use a standard Gulf pharmacist review and a question bank.
Can I transfer a DHA or DOH licence to MOHAP without the exam?
Yes, if the licence is for the same title and is valid or expired no more than six months ago.
Can a diploma holder sit the pharmacist exam?
No. The Pharmacist title needs a pharmacy degree; diploma holders are assessed for the technician title.
How long does MOHAP take to review my application?
About five working days for the initial review, before DataFlow verification starts.
Further reading
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