Last updated on 28-Oct-2026, by Dr. Muhammad

MOHAP Exam Eligibility Criteria for Dentists 2026: Check Your Own Case

Most dentists who write to us already know the headline rule: BDS, internship, two years. What they want to know is whether their case fits. Three years in Saudi Arabia, a break after having a baby, an MDS but little experience since, a hygienist diploma. This page works through those cases one by one, based on MOHAP's Health Professional Evaluation conditions and the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) that MOHAP applies.

For the full criteria table and the list of exams that exempt dentists (ORE, NBDE, NDEB and others), read MOHAP dentist eligibility criteria and registration. For documents, the exam itself and retakes, the MOHAP Dental Eligibility Criteria guide covers it.

What are the MOHAP exam eligibility criteria for dentists?

For the General Dentist title, you need all six of these at the time you apply:

• A BDS, DDS or DMD from a recognised dental school
• A 12-month internship, completed and certified
• 2 years of licensed clinical experience after the internship, if you graduated outside the UAE
• No interruption in practice of more than 2 years
• A Good Standing Certificate from your current regulator, dated within 6 months
• A positive DataFlow verification of your degree, internship, licences and experience

Specialist and consultant dentists need a recognised postgraduate qualification placed in a PQR tier, with the experience that tier requires; the tiers by specialty are on MOHAP qualification and experience requirements for dentists. Then, unless an exemption applies, you pass the Prometric exam: 60% pass mark, maximum 3 attempts.

Which case are you? MOHAP dentist eligibility by situation

These are the situations we see most often in reader questions. Find the row closest to yours:

I have 3 years clinical gap, what to do?

MOHAP does not accept an interruption in practice of more than 2 years. That does not end your plans, but it changes the order of things. The PQR sets a return route for dentists (the same bands as physicians): you earn CME credits relevant to dentistry and complete a period of supervised training in a programme or facility the regulator accepts, then apply.

So a 3-year gap falls in the 80 credits and 6 months band. Two more points matter. After a gap, a non-UAE national must pass the licensing exam even if they hold an exemption qualification such as the ORE. And the older advice you may read, that MOHAP will simply downgrade your title or accept a letter explaining the gap, does not match the PQR. A short letter explaining the break is still sensible, but it does not replace the credits and training.

If you can, the simplest fix is often to return to licensed practice at home for a while, so that your most recent practice is current, then apply. Confirm your plan with MOHAP before you pay for a training programme. The rules for all professions are on MOHAP clinical gap policy.

What experience counts for a dentist?

MOHAP counts experience from the date your professional licence was issued, and only paid clinical work under that licence. Your internship is counted separately and never as part of the 2 years. MOHAP also states that training does not replace clinical experience. An MDS residency gives you a qualification, not General Dentist experience, unless you also held a licensed, paid post. Each experience letter should be on letterhead, with your title, exact dates and full time status, signed by HR or the clinical director. The cross-profession rules are on MOHAP two years clinical experience requirement.

Dentists can also see the exam overview on MOH UAE General Dentist exam, and every MOH UAE QBank is listed on our MOH UAE exams page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Comments

Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.