Do You Need the Prometric Exam? Checker
Find out if your title needs a Prometric exam — and the pass mark.
Will you need to sit a Prometric / computer-based licensing exam — and what's the pass mark? Select your authority and profession for the current requirements, format and exemptions.
In short
As a nurse applying to DHA, you should plan to sit the Prometric licensing exam unless you hold a recognised exemption qualification.
Exam rules change and several pass marks aren't officially published — the figures above are the best current public information, marked by confidence. The flat “60%” often quoted for SCFHS is inaccurate (it uses scaled 800-point scoring). Always confirm on the official provider site for your profession.
Not sure if you're exempt?
Some qualifications (USMLE, PLAB, NCLEX-RN and more) can waive the exam. We'll check your exact case for free.
The Gulf licensing exam, explained
Almost every clinician applying to a Gulf regulator must pass a profession-specific assessment — usually delivered by Prometric — before the licence is granted. The exam is tied to your title/cadre: a GP, a Specialist and a nurse each sit different papers. Pass marks and attempt limits differ by authority, and a few high-level qualifications can exempt you entirely.
You can prepare for the exam while your DataFlow verification runs — see how that fits into your overall licensing timeline. For structured prep, explore our exam preparation service.
Frequently asked questions
Most healthcare professionals applying for a DHA licence — nurses, GPs, pharmacists, dentists and allied health — must pass the DHA computer-based (Prometric) assessment for their profession and title. Some senior Specialist/Consultant applicants may be assessed by qualification review instead, case-by-case.
SCFHS exams use scaled 800-point scoring, not a flat percentage. The SMLE (doctors) pass is around 560/800 (~70%) and the SNLE (nurses) around 500/800 (~62.5%). The '60%' figure widely repeated online is inaccurate. You get 3 attempts per calendar year.
Qatar's QCHP/DHP pass marks are officially tiered: 60% for GPs, dentists and pharmacists; 50% for most nursing and allied health; 65% for specialty physicians and dentists; 55% for Sports Medicine. The exam is 150 MCQs over 3 hours, with up to 5 attempts and a result valid for 3 years.
Sometimes. Qualifications like USMLE (incl. Step 3), PLAB, MRCGP, the Arab Board, NCLEX-RN and similar can exempt you at certain authorities. Note that from 1 January 2026 Qatar grants no exemption without a DataFlow report. We can check your exact eligibility.
It varies: SCFHS allows 3 attempts per calendar year, QCHP allows 5 consecutive attempts, and the UAE authorities allow retakes after a waiting period. Repeated failures can trigger a mandatory study plan, so proper preparation the first time matters.
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