Pharmacist exam questions
Therapeutics, calculations, compounding, law and pharmacovigilance.
DHA PHO5481Pass 60%4 papers · 549 Qs
What is riding on this exam
~AED 880
Exam fee, per attempt
Published by DHA. Paid again on every re-sit.
3
Attempts - in total
The cap is three across all UAE authorities, not three each.
60%
Pass mark
Pass or fail only. Your score is never released.
One failed attempt costs you the fee again, plus months of delay on your licence, your visa and your start date. This bank costs about a 4th of one exam fee.
Try two questions from this bank
Real questions from the bank - pick an answer to see the rationale and reference.
Q1Pharmaceutical Calculations & Compounding
A chemotherapy agent is ordered at 50 mg/m² for a patient with a body surface area of 1.6 m². What is the calculated dose?
Choose an answer to see the rationale.
Q2Pharmaceutical Calculations & Compounding
A TPN order requires 50 g of dextrose. Using a 70% dextrose stock solution, what volume is needed?
Choose an answer to see the rationale.
Not sure where you stand? Sit 25 of these questions free, timed at real exam pace, and see which domains you are weakest in.
Take the free mock exam →Liked those? The full bank has 549 questions at this standard - every one with a rationale and a reference.
Get the full bank - AED 249What's inside
- ✓4 full-length papers (~150 Q each)
- ✓549 questions, no overlap between papers
- ✓Four options, one unambiguous best answer
- ✓A full rationale on every question
- ✓A real guideline or textbook reference
- ✓Every sub-topic in the published blueprint
Exam route by authority
| Authority | Delivered by | Specialist title |
|---|---|---|
| DHA - Dubai | Prometric | Computer-based MCQ |
| DOH - Abu Dhabi | Pearson VUE | Computer-based MCQ |
| MOHAP - Northern Emirates | Prometric | Computer-based MCQ |
| SCFHS - Saudi Arabia | Prometric / Pearson | Computer-based MCQ |
| QCHP - Qatar | Prometric | Computer-based MCQ |
| NHRA - Bahrain | Prometric | Computer-based MCQ |
| OMSB - Oman | Prometric | MCQ then oral viva |
Assessment mode depends on your licence title as well as your profession. Confirm your own route on your Sheryan / TAMM eligibility notice.
What the Pharmacist exam covers
The published blueprint for this exam breaks into 13 domains and 183 testable sub-topics. Our bank covers every one of them - here is the full map, so you can see exactly what you are expected to know.
Clinical Therapeutics & Disease-State Management~30% (DHA lists 'Pharmaceutical Care & Disease State Management' at 35%; SCFHS Clinical Sciences 35%)22 topics
- Hypertension: JNC/ACC-AHA staging, first-line agents (thiazides, ACEi, ARB, CCB), compelling indications, resistant HTN, hypertensive emergency
- Dyslipidemia: statin intensity, LDL/ASCVD risk, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, fibrates, statin myopathy monitoring
- Ischemic heart disease, acute coronary syndrome, antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor), nitrates
- Heart failure (HFrEF/HFpEF): ACEi/ARNI, beta-blockers, MRAs, SGLT2i, diuretics, digoxin
- Arrhythmias and anticoagulation: atrial fibrillation, warfarin (INR, interactions, reversal), DOACs, heparin/LMWH, VTE treatment and prophylaxis
- Diabetes mellitus type 1 & 2: ADA targets/HbA1c, metformin, sulfonylureas, DPP-4i, GLP-1 RA, SGLT2i, insulin regimens, hypoglycemia, DKA/HHS
- +16 more in the bank
Pharmacology, Drug Classes, ADRs & Drug Interactions~12% (est.; core of SCFHS Pharmaceutical Sciences 35%)15 topics
- Mechanisms of action across major drug categories including biologics
- Pharmacodynamics: receptor theory, agonists/antagonists, dose-response, potency vs efficacy, therapeutic index
- Autonomic pharmacology: cholinergic, anticholinergic, adrenergic and antiadrenergic agents
- Cardiovascular, renal and diuretic pharmacology
- CNS pharmacology: sedatives, anesthetics, antiepileptics, antidepressants, antipsychotics
- Endocrine pharmacology: insulin, oral hypoglycemics, thyroid, corticosteroids, sex hormones
- +9 more in the bank
Pharmaceutical Calculations & Compounding~12% (DHA 'Pharmacy Calculation & Compounding' 15%; SCFHS Sterile/Nonsterile Compounding)15 topics
- Systems of measurement, metric conversions, and household equivalents
- Concentration expressions: percentage strength (w/w, w/v, v/v), ratio strength, ppm
- Dilution and concentration, alligation medial and alligation alternate
- Dosage and dose calculations by body weight and body surface area (BSA)
- Pediatric dose calculations (Clark's, Young's rules) and mg/kg dosing
- IV flow rate, drip rate (gtt/min), and infusion time calculations
- +9 more in the bank
Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics~8% (est.; SCFHS Pharmaceutics 2.4 & Pharmacokinetics 2.5)15 topics
- Dosage form design: solid, liquid, semisolid, controlled/modified release, patches, implants
- Biopharmaceutical principles of drug delivery and release from dosage forms
- Physicochemical properties affecting drug entities and dosage forms (solubility, partition coefficient, pKa)
- Materials, excipients and methods used in dosage-form preparation
- Drug and dosage-form stability: chemical degradation kinetics and physical instability
- Principles of biotechnology-derived products and their application
- +9 more in the bank
Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacognosy & Dietary Supplements~6% (est.; SCFHS Medicinal Chemistry 2.1 & Pharmacognosy 2.3)11 topics
- Physicochemical properties of drugs in relation to ADME
- Chemical basis for drug action and fundamental pharmacophores by disease
- Structure-activity relationships and drug-receptor interactions
- Chemical pathways of drug metabolism (phase I and phase II)
- Application of SAR to drug-therapy decisions
- Crude drugs, semi-purified and purified natural products
- +5 more in the bank
Basic Biomedical Sciences~6% (SCFHS Basic Biomedical Sciences 10%)13 topics
- Physiology: function of major body systems and homeostasis at organ/system level
- Biochemistry of biomacromolecules: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids
- Intermediary and energy metabolism and nutritional molecules
- Enzymology, coenzymes and enzyme kinetics
- Cell chemistry and signal transduction pathways
- DNA/RNA science, protein synthesis and molecular genetics
- +7 more in the bank
Nonprescription (OTC) & Self-Care / Counter Medication~6% (DHA 'Counter Medication' 10%)12 topics
- Triage and identifying when to refer to a physician vs self-treat
- Analgesics and antipyretics OTC (paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen dosing and limits)
- Cough, cold and allergy products; decongestants and antihistamines
- Gastrointestinal OTC: antacids, laxatives, antidiarrheals, antiemetics
- Dermatologic OTC: antifungals, hydrocortisone, acne, wound care
- Ophthalmic and otic OTC products
- +6 more in the bank
Special Populations~5% (DHA lists Pregnancy/Lactation 5%, Pediatrics 5%, Geriatrics 5%)12 topics
- Pregnancy: drug safety categories, teratogens, and managing chronic conditions in pregnancy
- Lactation: drug transfer into breast milk and compatible/incompatible medications
- Neonatal and pediatric pharmacotherapy: weight-based dosing and developmental pharmacokinetics
- Pediatric formulation and palatability considerations
- Geriatric pharmacotherapy: physiologic changes affecting PK/PD
- Beers Criteria and potentially inappropriate medications in the elderly
- +6 more in the bank
Toxicology & Poisoning Management~5% (DHA Toxicology 5%; SCFHS acute/chronic toxicity)12 topics
- Acute and chronic drug and chemical overdose principles
- Common poisonings and specific antidotes (paracetamol/N-acetylcysteine, opioids/naloxone, benzodiazepines/flumazenil)
- Anticoagulant reversal (vitamin K, protamine, idarucizumab, andexanet)
- Organophosphate poisoning (atropine, pralidoxime) and cholinergic toxidromes
- Heavy-metal poisoning and chelation therapy (lead, iron/deferoxamine, mercury, arsenic)
- Methanol/ethylene glycol (fomepizole, ethanol) and toxic alcohols
- +6 more in the bank
Patient Assessment, Counseling, Drug Information & Evidence-Based Practice~5% (est.; SCFHS Clinical 4.1, 4.5 & Professional Communication 3.8)14 topics
- Obtaining a comprehensive patient and medication history
- Performing and interpreting patient physical assessment findings
- Interpreting clinical laboratory values and diagnostic tests
- Identifying and prioritizing drug-related problems
- Medication therapy management (MTM) and medication reconciliation
- Patient counseling technique on all pharmaceutical agents, storage and administration
- +8 more in the bank
Pharmacy Law, Ethics & Regulatory Affairs~6% (DHA Law & Ethics 10%; SCFHS 3.5 & 3.7)14 topics
- Legal and regulatory principles applied to dispensing and professional services
- Controlled substances and narcotics regulations, scheduling and record-keeping
- Prescription-only vs nonprescription vs controlled medication classification
- Authority and role of health authorities (DHA, DOH, MOHAP, SCFHS/SFDA, QCHP, NHRA, OMSB)
- Pharmacy licensing, registration and DataFlow verification requirements
- Prescription requirements, validity and dispensing rules in the GCC
- +8 more in the bank
Public Health, Pharmacoeconomics, Pharmacoepidemiology & Biostatistics~5% (est.; SCFHS Social/Behavioral/Administrative 3.1-3.3, 3.6)14 topics
- Organization of health-care delivery systems in the GCC
- Social, political and economic factors influencing health-care delivery
- Public health and wellness: chronic-disease prevention, health promotion, infectious-disease control
- Demographics and environmental factors leading to disease
- Role of immunizations in disease prevention and health promotion
- Pharmacoepidemiology: data sources and study designs to estimate benefit/risk in populations
- +8 more in the bank
Pharmacy Practice Management, Medication Safety & Dispensing Systems~5% (DHA Medication Safety 5%; SCFHS 3.4 & 3.10)14 topics
- Management principles: planning, organizing, directing and controlling pharmacy resources
- Inventory management, procurement, storage and cold-chain requirements
- Marketing, pricing, distribution and promotion of pharmacy products/services
- Accounting, budgeting and financial management
- Systems for safe and effective preparation and dispensing across practice settings
- Pharmacy informatics, automation and information-management technology
- +8 more in the bank
Before you book your exam
Pharmacist licensing in the GCC
Requirements, timelines and salary by country
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Check the format and pass mark for your authority
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Frequently asked questions
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