DOH Abu Dhabi Pearson Vue Nursing Licensing Exam

What is the DOH RN License in the UAE?

DOH is the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi; previously called HAAD (Health Authority of Abu Dhabi). The DOH is the licensing body for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, 2 cities in the UAE.

Passing the DOH (HAAD) exam is the first step to working as a nurse in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Once you pass the DOH nursing exam, it gives you a chance to apply for job vacancies in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain ONLY and not anywhere else in the UAE.

Once you pass the DOH exam and find work, you will be granted the DOH RN license by the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi.

DOH (HAAD) license exam requirements for nurses

Abu Dhabi DOH Exam Eligibility for Nurses

Registering as a nurse and working in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain is open to all foreign nurses with the following:

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years full-time course duration.
• A minimum of current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
• Degree in Nursing (minimum two-year course duration) if you are a Registered Nurse in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia
• A minimum of current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification

Nurses who hold a Diploma of Nursing for at less than 18 months can apply for the Assistant Nurse Title.

Nurses with a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing but are qualified as ‘Assistant Nurse’ may apply for title upgrade, provided that their experience as an assistant nurse has not exceeded 5 years.

UAE National graduates of UAE universities and non-UAE universities require the course/degree and university to be accredited by the Ministry of Education (MOE/NQA).

DOH license exam for a nurse

CBTs (Computer-Based Testing) are managed by “Pearson VUE company through their worldwide network in different countries.

• Nurses are required to pass the DOH, Abu Dhabi Health Authority’s computer-based exam to obtain a professional license to work in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain.
• The exams will be conducted in English language and no translator is allowed to attend the oral assessment.
• Oral assessment for Specialist nurses consists of a minimum of five (5) different scenarios/questions in areas related to the speciality.
• A total of three (3) attempts are provided to pass the exam across the 3 UAE Health Authorities.
• If a nurse fails the exam on three attempts, the nurse can reapply if an additional Recognised Certificate/qualification is obtained. After 3 failed attempts, nurses are not allowed to apply for a lower or equivalent title.
• The applicant may be granted 1 last attempt in a different Authority after failing three (3) attempts with another Authority.
• UAE nationals and Children of Emirati women are exempted from the exams.

Exam Results

Pass or fail only, which can be accessed from the applicant’s TAMM account within 48 hours. The applicant’s score will not be shared.

Break or Gap in practice

Nurses who have a break in clinical practice of more than two (2) years and are opting to be licensed in the UAE must follow the CME/CPD requirements below.

All nurses (Apart from UAE nationals), after completion of CME/CPD credits and clinical training program, are required to pass the Authorities licensure assessment to obtain the license to practice.