Countries > Oman for Nurses > OMSB Nursing
Oman for Nurses
The Omani Examination for Nurses (OEN) is the national licensing exam for registered nurses who want to practise in Oman. It is set by the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) and delivered through Pearson VUE test centres worldwide. Passing the exam, combined with credential verification through DataFlow, is the key requirement to obtain your professional classification and practise as a Registered Nurse in Oman.
Pathway Snapshot
Register with OMSB, complete DataFlow Primary Source Verification of your nursing degree and credentials, create a Pearson VUE account, book and pass the OEN, and obtain your OMSB classification. The Ministry of Health issues the final practice licence after employment.
Complete Journey: Nursing Degree → DataFlow PSV → OMSB Registration → Pearson VUE Scheduling → OEN (Pearson VUE) → OMSB Classification → MOH Practice Licence → Nursing Practice in Oman.
You must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an equivalent nursing degree from a recognised institution. OMSB's official examination booklet specifies a Bachelor's degree as the standard requirement. Diploma-holders may access a separate OEN Diploma examination; however, the main licensing pathway described on this page is for BSN-level nurses.
OMSB does not publish a specific post-qualification experience requirement for exam eligibility in the official booklet. Internationally trained nurses should confirm their exact eligibility directly with OMSB before applying. No universal English language test score is mandated by OMSB for examination registration. However, the exam is administered in English, and individual employers in Oman commonly require IELTS Academic or OET scores. Confirm directly with your prospective employer.
Primary Source Verification (PSV) is mandatory and handled through the DataFlow Group, which has been OMSB's official PSV partner since 2012. You will submit your nursing degree, academic transcripts, home-country nursing licence, experience letters, and a Certificate of Good Standing. DataFlow contacts your issuing institutions directly. Fees vary by document package — confirm the current price on the DataFlow website before paying. Start this step as early as possible.
The OMSB portal is your central platform for all classification and examination services. Create an account, submit your documents, and apply for occupational classification. Once your documents are verified, OMSB issues your eligibility. You then create a Pearson VUE account and schedule your exam. The official OMSB booklet provides the full registration pathway. The process is sequential — you cannot book the exam until your OMSB registration is complete.
The OEN tests clinical knowledge, critical thinking, and safe nursing practice using internationally recognised nursing standards. OMSB publishes an official examination booklet containing the exam format, content domains, and reference textbook list.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Questions |
100 multiple-choice questions, single best answer of four options (confirmed in the official OMSB booklet). Some candidate-reported sources claim 150 questions — treat these as unverified. |
Format |
Computer-based test (CBT), Pearson VUE |
Duration |
2 hours 30 minutes (confirmed in the official OMSB booklet). Candidate-reported sources commonly cite 3 hours — confirm the exact duration when booking through Pearson VUE. |
Passing Standard |
OMSB does not publish an official pass mark. Results are reported as Pass/Fail only. Candidate estimates commonly cite 60%, but treat this as unverified. Always aim well above any estimated range in practice. |
Attempts |
Pearson VUE's official OMSB page states there is currently no maximum number of exam attempts. Candidates must adhere to OMSB policies. Candidate-reported sources commonly describe a limit of 3 attempts — this is not confirmed by OMSB. Confirm the current policy directly with OMSB before relying on any specific retake limit. |
Testing Centres |
Pearson VUE centres worldwide, plus the OMSB National Test Centre in Oman |
Officially published by OMSB in the OEN examination booklet — weightings may vary by ±5% per sitting:
| Domain | Official Weighting |
|---|---|
Principles of Care (Standards of care, legal and ethical practice, leadership and management) | 20% |
Adult Health Nursing (Medical, surgical, critical care) | 30% |
Community Health & Gerontological Nursing | 15% |
Maternal Health Nursing | 10% |
Child Health Nursing | 10% |
Mental Health Nursing | 10% |
Evidence-Based Practice, Research and Epidemiology | 5% |
The exam is built on the nursing process framework and tests critical thinking, clinical judgement, and safe practice. OMSB's reference textbook list includes Brunner & Suddarth's Medical-Surgical Nursing, Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, Pillitteri's Maternal and Child Health Nursing, Kozier & Erb's Fundamentals of Nursing, Townsend's Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, and Eliopoulos's Gerontological Nursing.
OMSB does not publish a separate Oman-specific regulatory or ethics weighting in the blueprint. The Principles of Care domain (20%) covers legal and ethical practice, which may include Oman-specific context. Specialist nursing classification (ICU, Emergency, Midwifery, etc.) is credential-based — there are no separate specialist written exams. Midwifery may have its own separate examination; confirm directly with OMSB if you are seeking midwifery classification.
What we offer
A comprehensive Oman nursing question bank, built on a shared Gulf clinical core with dedicated Oman-specific content for all seven OMSB blueprint domains. Includes Mental Health Nursing and Community Health & Gerontology — domains not covered in standard Gulf-core banks. Detailed rationales, clinical-scenario practice, and local ethics content are included.
Notify me when Oman Nursing Prep is available →Pearson VUE's official OMSB FAQ page states there is currently no maximum number of exam attempts. Candidates may retake the examination in accordance with OMSB policies. Candidate-reported sources commonly describe a limit of 3 attempts, but this is not confirmed by OMSB. No official mandatory waiting period between attempts has been published. Always confirm the current retake policy directly with OMSB before scheduling a retake.
Passing the OEN allows OMSB to complete your professional classification. The Ministry of Health (MOH) issues the actual practice licence after you secure employment. Your employer will then complete the final steps for your residency visa and work permit.
Specialist titles (ICU, Emergency, etc.) are obtained through separate credential evaluation based on postgraduate qualifications and verified clinical experience — there is no additional written exam. All professional nurses take the same OEN for their initial classification. Nursing registration and professional conduct in Oman are also governed by the Oman Nursing and Midwifery Council (ONMC).
All fees are approximate and based on 2026 data. Always confirm exact amounts on the official portals before payment.
| Item | Approx. Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
DataFlow PSV |
~$300–$350 USD | Varies by document package; confirm on dataflowgroup.com |
Pearson VUE Exam Fee |
$200 USD | Official fee published in the OMSB examination booklet; confirm on Pearson VUE when booking |
OMSB Registration / Classification Fee |
~$50–$130 USD (20–50 OMR) | Confirm on the OMSB portal |
MOH Practice Licence |
Arranged by employer | Paid by hiring facility; separate from exam and PSV fees |
Note on Fees: All fees are set by OMSB, DataFlow, and Pearson VUE and are subject to change. The official exam fee of $200 USD is published in the OMSB OEN examination booklet. OMSB does not publish an official pass mark or retake limit for the nursing exam. Figures shown are approximate and based on 2026 data. Always confirm exact fees, eligibility criteria, and the current retake policy on the official OMSB and Pearson VUE websites before payment or booking.