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DOH HANDBOOK FOR
LICENSING EXAMINATIONS
August 2018
Document Title: DOH Handbook For Licensing Examinations
Document Ref. DOH/HB/HLSE/1.0
Version 1.0
Number:
Effectiveness
Approval Date: 12 August 2018 12 August 2018
Date:
Revision History: 2018
For Further
Healthcare Licensing and Medical Education Division
Advice Contact:
Applies To All Healthcare Providers and Healthcare Professionals
Classification Public
Document
Healthcare Licensing & Medical Education Division
Owner/ Control
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 5
2. PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK ............................................................................................... 5
3. SCOPE OF THE HANDBOOK ................................................................................................... 5
4. GUIDELINES ............................................................................................................................. 5
4.1. Applying for Examination .................................................................................................. 5
4.2. Types of Examinations ....................................................................................................... 5
4.3. General Examination Instructions .................................................................................... 6
4.4. Examination Availability..................................................................................................... 6
4.5. Examination Results ........................................................................................................... 6
4.6. Examination Attempts ....................................................................................................... 6
4.7. Examination Grading ......................................................................................................... 7
4.8. Validity of Exam Results ..................................................................................................... 7
4.9. Examination Fees................................................................................................................ 7
4.10. Examination Reference .................................................................................................. 7
4.11. Misconduct ...................................................................................................................... 7
4.12. Test Administrator/Examinator officer Rule ................................................................ 8
4.13. Enforcement and Sanction ............................................................................................ 8
4.14. Confidentiality and Test Security .................................................................................. 8
4.15. Additional Online References ........................................................................................ 9
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ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS
Approval (Approved): Healthcare Professional approved by Licensing Section for exam.
Authorized Testing Center: Test centers that are authorized by DOH to deliver exams.
Authorities: The Licensing Granting Authorities namely the Department of Health Abu
Dhabi (DOH), UAE Ministry of Health and Dubai Health Authority.
Computer-Based Testing (CBT): is an efficient way to provide a secure reliable environment
that measures the knowledge base of a large volume of applicants, across Active
Testing Centers in order to meet the requirements of a flexible scheduling mandate
aimed at fulfilling licensure requirements.
Certified Test Administrator: an individual who has completed an assessment and is
qualified to supervise exams.
Equating: The process of statistically adjusting the scoring of alternate forms of a test so
that they use the same scoring scale.
Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH): is the regulative body of the Healthcare Sector
in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Healthcare Professional: a person who by education, training, certification and licensure
is qualified to provide healthcare services.
License: a permission granted by the Authority to practice a healthcare profession.
Licensing: a process of granting a legally protected professional title by the Authority.
Multiple Choice Question (MCQ): is an item consisting of a stem, a set number of
distractors and a key answer. The stem is the beginning of the item, that presents
the item as a problem to be solved or it may be an incomplete statement to be
completed. The distractors are incorrect answers and the key answer is the correct
distractor.
Objective Structured Clinical Examination-OSCE: is a multipurpose evaluation tool
designed to test clinical competence and performance through direct observation.
The structure of the examination consist of several stations.
Proctor: a Certified Test Administrators who has been selected and assigned to supervise
exams.
1. INTRODUCTION
The Licensure Examination is essential to ensure that Healthcare Professionals who wish to
practice in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are clinically competent and safe to practice.
The Licensure Assessment and Examination Process is designed to:
Evaluate candidate’s ability to apply scientific-based evidence, knowledge and
critical-thinking skills
Deliver a safe, effective and efficient health care service(s)
Evaluate candidate’s capability to provide quality medical care
Assess candidate’s ability to practice within the recognized international scope
of practice
Assess candidate’s self-awareness of practice limitation
Maintain professional accountability
2. PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK
The purpose of this handbook is to give an overview of the Licensure Assessment and
Examination Process and its rules to assist and guide all Healthcare Providers and
Healthcare Professionals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through the process.
3. SCOPE OF THE HANDBOOK
This Handbook applies to all Healthcare Providers and Healthcare Professionals in the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
4. GUIDELINES
4.1.Applying for Examination
4.1.1. Only approved candidates by the Health Professional Licensing (HPL)
Department of the Department of Health (DOH) as per licensing process are
eligible to book for the DOH Licensing Examination.
4.1.2. Eligible candidates can only book for their approved professional title by the
Credentialing and Licensing Section as per licensing process
4.2.Types of Examinations
Computer-Based Testing (CBT).
Written Assessment (Paper and Pencil).
Structured Oral Assessment Interview.
Practical/Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
4.3.General Examination Instructions
4.3.1. Candidates must arrive at the exam venue/location ONE hour before the
scheduled start of the examination.
4.3.2. Candidates who are 15 minutes late after the scheduled time, will not be
permitted to the exam.
4.3.3. Candidates must present two original forms of identification (IDs) to sit the
exam. One of the IDs must have the candidate’s signature and both must
have a photo. Note: Photocopied or expired documents are NOT accepted.
4.3.4. Accepted identifications may include any of the following, as long as it
contains a photo and a signature:
Passport
Emirates Identity Card
Driving license
Employment/Labour Card
Visa
Other Governmental IDs
4.3.5. Candidates are not permitted to take into the examination room: electronic
devices (such as cameras, cell phones, portable handheld computer devices,
recording devices, watches, calculators, tablets, notepads, pagers, beepers).
objects not specified as personal aids, food and beverages, paper and writing
material.
4.4.Examination Availability
4.4.1. Exams are conducted on a monthly basis (please refer to Exam Schedule
available on DOH website for more information)
4.5.Examination Results
4.5.1. Exam results are reported as ‘PASS’ or ‘FAIL.’ No further details will be
provided.
4.5.2. Exam numeric scores are NOT provided to candidates.
4.6.Examination Attempts
4.6.1. Each applicant is granted a maximum of three (3) attempts to pass the
assessment across any of the Authorities.
4.6.2. Candidates with a FAIL result may re-sit the next available exam according to
the PQR.
4.6.3. After the third failed attempt, the applicant is not allowed to apply for a lower
or equivalent title.
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4.6.4. The applicant must declare the number of assessment attempts he/she has
undertaken across the Authorities.
4.6.5. A list of the failed candidates after three (3) attempts shall be shared among
the Authorities on regular basis.
4.7.Examination Grading
4.7.1. CBT and Written Assessment: The exam score is calculated by the total
number of correct answers over the total number of questions:
Correct answer: One point
Incorrect answer: Zero points
Incomplete answer: Zero points
4.7.2. Oral Assessment/ Practical/OSCE: The exam grading is the average
combination of examiners’ scores based on the candidates’ answers
according to approved structured process.
4.7.3. The oral assessment consists of a minimum of five (5) different
scenarios/questions in areas related to the specialty or as deemed necessary
by the examining panel.
4.7.4. All assessments will be conducted in English language and no translator is
allowed to attend the oral assessment.
4.8.Validity of Exam Results
4.8.1. A 'PASS' score is valid for 5 years conditioned by the PQR. Please refer to
Discontinuity of Practice Section in the PQR.
4.9.Examination Fees
4.9.1. Exam Fees are non-refundable including re-scheduling, cancellation and ‘No
Show’.
4.10. Examination Reference
4.10.1. DOH uses selected international standard-based referenced material.
4.11. Misconduct
4.11.1. DOH has a zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct in any national
or international testing centers and reserves the right to cancel a candidate’s
exam booking or suspend a candidate from taking the exam.
4.11.2. Where a breach of the security, confidentiality and integrity of the
examination content materials or/and the overall examination process is
jeopardized action will be taken.
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4.11.3. Testing Administrators/Examination Officers reserve the right to fill
out an ‘Incident Report Form’ stating the misconduct and may take photos
or videos as an evidence.
4.11.4. Misconduct behaviors may include (but not limited to):
Contacting the examiners before or after the exam.
Falsification of personal identifications.
Taking into the examination room any of the item listed in 4.3.5.
Reading questions loudly and disturbing other candidates.
Refusing to hand in examination papers at the end of the examination.
Removing or attempt to remove erasable note board from the Test Center.
Studying in the test center waiting area.
Leaving the test center floor or building for any reason after the admission
process is completed and before the examination has started.
4.11.5. Failure to comply with Test Administrators /Examination Officers’, or
Proctor’s instructions on misconduct may result in penalties including (but
not limited to) invalidation of examination results and exclusion from future
examinations. The same is applicable to International Testing Centers.
4.12. Test Administrator’s/Examinator’s Role
4.12.1. Provide support limited to issues related to exam administration and
they are not permitted to provide academic assistance to candidates.
4.13. Enforcement and Sanction
4.13.1. Candidates must comply with the terms and requirements of this
Handbook.
4.13.2. DOH may impose sanctions in relation to any breach of requirements
under this Handbook.
4.14. Confidentiality and Test Security
4.14.1. Exam materials remain the sole property of DOH.
4.14.2. Exams questions and/or answers, cannot be shared or discussed with
other applicants. The exam result will be invalidated and candidates may not
be allowed to sit again for an exam if the above rules are not followed.
4.14.3. Candidates are required to adhere to the following requirements:
Maintain the confidentiality of the examination content.
Any reproduction of the examination content through memorization or by
any other means are strictly prohibited by DOH and action will be taken.
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4.14.4. DOH does not provide or endorse any exam preparation courses or
trainings and it is the responsibility of the candidate to seek appropriate
education/training.
4.15. Additional Online References
Finding a Test Center:
https://www7.pearsonvue.com/testtaker/registration/SelectTestCenterProxi
mity/GPNRO/1439785
Before you go to the Test Center: http://www.pearsonvue.com/haad/id.asp
Arrival and taking the examination:
http://www.pearsonvue.com/haad/checkin.asp
What to expect in a PV Test Center: http://home.pearsonvue.com/test-
taker/security.aspx
Professional Qualification Requirement (PQR)
https://www.haad.ae/haad/tabid/976/Default.aspx
