How many times can I take the Prometric exam?

It depends on the regulator. The UAE allows three attempts counted across DHA, DOH and MOHAP. Kuwait allows 3, at least 6 weeks apart, and Bahrain allows 4 within 3 years. Saudi Arabia and Qatar sources conflict, and we say so below.

Free · no sign-up

Try 20 practice questions now

Original questions across the DHA exam for nurses topic areas, with an explanation after every answer and your estimated readiness at the end.

Start the free check

Attempts and waiting periods by regulator

There is no one Prometric rule. Each regulator sets its own attempt count and waiting period. Before you spend a fee on a first sitting, find out how ready you are with the free 20-question check: no sign-up.

Regulator	Attempts	Waiting period	Status
DHA (Dubai)	3, counted across all UAE authorities	None. No time restriction between dates, subject to availability	DHA manual, but its licensing manual says something different (see below)
DOH (Abu Dhabi)	3 across authorities	An old HAAD standard said 3 months after a failed written exam. Not confirmed as current	Snippet of the DOH manual
MOHAP (UAE)	3	Not confirmed	Snippets of MOHAP service pages and a July 2025 user guide
SCFHS (Saudi Arabia)	Three different rules in three sources (see below)	Not confirmed	Conflict
Qatar DHP	Unlimited on the current page, or 5 under a 2018 policy	None found	Conflict
OMSB (Oman)	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	Only an outdated Prometric FAQ, which said three per calendar year
Kuwait MOH	3	At least 6 weeks between attempts	Prometric-hosted blueprint. It says attempts can change
NHRA (Bahrain)	4 consecutive attempts within a maximum of 3 years from the first	Not confirmed	NHRA 2022 document. An older nursing version cited six

The table shows what we read on 9 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the regulator before you plan around a number.

DHA: three attempts, and one conflict

The DHA assessment manual says three attempts are counted across all UAE authorities, with no waiting time. A cancellation or no-show does not count as a failed attempt. After three failures you cannot reapply to DHA for two years. A fourth attempt is possible in set cases: one final attempt with a different authority, or a fourth with DHA if no UAE failures are declared elsewhere. You get a new set of three after an additional recognised qualification, or two years of licensed clinical experience since your last attempt.

Here is the conflict. DHA's Licensing Manual (v1.3, section 7.18) says an applicant may apply for two additional attempts. That differs from three in total, and we did not read its full context. Check with DHA before you rely on either rule. DHA can also cut your attempts to one or two if a panel finds a major gap, and that wording refers to oral panels.

Saudi Arabia: three sources, three rules

The SCFHS applicant guides say you may sit up to four times a year, starting from your first attempt to obtain a pass score. After a pass you may sit two more times to improve your mark. The Mumaris+ page says failing the first attempt grants two additional attempts, and exam chances can be repeated one year after the first attempt if you fail. A 2022 Prometric FAQ says a candidate has only three attempts to pass a licensing exam.

The Mumaris+ page is the most recent of the three. Do not assume. Ask SCFHS or read your permit. Two rules are clear in the guides: you cannot sit twice in the same test window, and arriving more than 30 minutes late, or not attending, counts as an attempt.

Qatar: unlimited or five?

The current DHP Qualifying Examination page says applicants may attempt the exam an unlimited number of times. The 2018 policy (Circular 17-2018) allowed a maximum of five attempts per scope, plus one more with justification. The page is newer, and we saw no circular that replaced the 2018 policy. We found no waiting period. Treat unlimited as the current rule but confirm with DHP, because each sitting costs a fee. See Prometric exam fees.

How to protect your attempts

Do not sit the first time to "see what it is like". In the UAE, a failure is shared across authorities.
Cancel early instead of not attending. At DHA, a cancellation is not a failed attempt, and in Qatar the charge is small if you cancel early.
Take a timed practice run first. Our Prometric mock test and DHA mock test use original questions, and the readiness score is an estimate.

Start with the free 20-question check to find your weak sections.

Common questions

How many times can I take the Prometric exam?

It depends on the regulator. UAE: 3 across DHA, DOH and MOHAP. Kuwait: 3, at least 6 weeks apart. Bahrain: 4 within 3 years. Saudi and Qatar sources conflict.

How many attempts do I get for the DHA exam?

Three, counted across all UAE authorities, with no waiting time. After three failures you are blocked from reapplying to DHA for two years. DHA's licensing manual mentions two additional attempts, which conflicts.

Is there a waiting period between Prometric attempts?

DHA has none. Kuwait requires at least 6 weeks. For SCFHS, Qatar, DOH and MOHAP we found no confirmed waiting period.

How many times can I take the Saudi Prometric exam?

The sources disagree: up to four times a year, or two additional attempts after a first fail, or three attempts in total. Check with SCFHS.

Does Qatar allow unlimited attempts?

The current DHP page says unlimited. A 2018 policy said five. We saw no replacement circular, so confirm with DHP.

Does a cancelled exam count as an attempt?

At DHA, cancelling or not attending is not counted as a failed attempt. At SCFHS, being absent or more than 30 minutes late counts as an attempt.

Related guides

Sources

Practise every day until it feels routine

One pass opens every Gulf regulator and profession, from US$9 for 7 days, with no automatic renewal.

See passes