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UAE for Dentists — Department of Health Abu Dhabi
DOH — General Dentist Licensing Exam (Abu Dhabi)
The Department of Health (DOH) licenses internationally trained general dentists through a computer-based testing (CBT) assessment delivered by Pearson VUE. The exam is a single 150-MCQ paper. All applications are processed through the TAMM portal, with credential approval required before a Pearson VUE scheduling permit is issued.
Pathway Snapshot
The DOH General Dentist pathway is: TAMM application → DOH credential approval → Pearson VUE CBT → licensing. The exam is delivered at Pearson VUE test centres.
Complete Journey: Dental Graduation → DOH Credential Approval (TAMM) → Pearson VUE CBT → Professional Licence → Practise in Abu Dhabi.
Eligibility
A recognised primary dental qualification (BDS/DMD/DDS or equivalent) from an accredited institution, plus a completed 12-month internship. For the documented General Dentist pathway, a minimum of 2 years of experience after internship is required for internationally trained non-UAE graduates. If the candidate cannot document the internship, 4 years of experience may be required. Exemptions may apply for UAE nationals and graduates of UAE universities.
There is currently no universal IELTS/OET score requirement identified for the DOH General Dentist CBT. All examinations are conducted in English.
Credential Verification
DOH requires primary-source verification of your dental degree, internship, professional experience, licence/registration, and Good Standing Certificate. Processing is completed through the TAMM portal. Approved candidates receive a Pearson VUE scheduling permit valid for 6 months.
DOH General Dentist CBT Details
Purpose: assesses clinical dental knowledge across general dentistry domains. The DOH does not publish official percentage weightings for General Dentist domains. Third-party commercial sites report approximate distributions (e.g., restorative 25%, oral medicine/surgery 20%, periodontics 15%, endodontics 15%, pediatric 10%, orthodontics 10%, basic sciences 5%), but these figures are not confirmed by a current official DOH source and should not be treated as authoritative.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
|
Title |
Dentist — General Dentist |
|
Questions |
150 MCQs |
|
Format |
Single best answer |
|
Duration |
3 hours |
|
Vendor |
Pearson VUE |
|
Language |
English |
|
Result |
CBT results within 24 hours; Oral/OSCE results within 5 working days |
|
Pass score |
65% — widely reported by current commercial dental preparation sources, but official DOH confirmation has not been located. Treat as candidate-reported. |
What we offer
Full DOH General Dentist question bank mapped to the DOH subject areas, flashcards, self-assessments, trained AI companion, mentorship, a dental library, study groups, and more, all offered together.
Start DOH General Dentist CBT Prep →Retake Rules
The UAE-wide PQR limits candidates to 3 attempts to pass across all UAE health authorities, with a possible fourth and final attempt under specified conditions. The DOH circular states that an applicant must not have failed more than 3 times for the same title across UAE health authorities. Candidates must declare all previous attempts with other UAE authorities. Do not assume each authority offers independent attempts.
How to Book Your Exam
TAMM Application → DOH Credential Approval → Pearson VUE Scheduling. Submit your application and documents through the TAMM portal. DOH reviews your credentials and issues approval. Approved candidates are redirected to Pearson VUE to select a test centre, date, and time. CBT results are released within 24 hours and sent automatically to DOH.
After the Exam
Passing the DOH CBT leads to the licensing step. Candidates must complete the professional licence process as directed by DOH before they can practise in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain.
Fees
Fees are set by DOH and Pearson VUE and are subject to periodic revision. The figures below are from the official DOH fee schedule published in Circular 151/2024. These are separate steps, not a single exam fee. Always confirm exact payable amounts on the TAMM portal before payment.
All figures are approximate and based on 2026 public information. Always confirm exact fees on the official portals before payment.
| Item | Approx. Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Assessment-related payment |
AED 1,260 | As per Circular 151/2024 |
Scheduling/application component |
AED 100 | As per Circular 151/2024 |
Licensing component |
AED 590 | As per Circular 151/2024 |
New-licence fee |
AED 3,250 | As per Circular 151/2024 |