Specialist Endocrinology Prometric & Licensing Exam 2026: Complete Syllabus, Passing Marks and Study Guide (DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SCFHS, Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA, Kuwait MOH)

If you are an Endocrinology-trained physician planning to practise as a Specialist Endocrinologist in the Middle East, your licensing pathway will depend on the country, the recognition tier of your postgraduate qualification and the health authority you are applying to. Several regulators use a dedicated Endocrinology examination, but the exam structure, passing standard and exemption rules are not identical.

This guide covers the major Middle East health authorities and explains the eligibility requirements, exam format, syllabus, reference books and licensing pathways relevant to Specialist Endocrinology candidates.

1. What is the Specialist Endocrinology Exam?

The Specialist Endocrinology licensing or classification examination assesses whether a physician with recognised endocrine training has the specialist knowledge, diagnostic reasoning and treatment-planning ability required for endocrine and metabolic practice. The scope includes diabetes mellitus, obesity, dyslipidemia, thyroid disease, hypothalamic-pituitary disorders, adrenal disease, parathyroid and metabolic bone disease, reproductive endocrinology, pediatric endocrine principles, patient safety and professional practice.

Question type: Where a computer-based Endocrinology examination is required, questions are predominantly single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, usually based on clinical scenarios, laboratory interpretation and evidence-based management decisions. The exact blueprint varies by authority.

Language: English. Prometric licensing examinations covered by this guide are conducted in English.

Delivery: Mainly computer-based testing through Prometric or another authority-approved platform. Some applicants may be exempt from the specialty examination based on the recognition category of their postgraduate qualification.

Result: Reporting varies by authority. DHA, MOHAP and DOH use the UAE Specialist Endocrinology specification; SCFHS publishes Registrar and Senior Registrar pass thresholds; Qatar DHP publishes a percentage pass standard; and Bahrain uses its general medical-practitioner licensure examination when an exam is assigned.

Attempts: Authority-specific. The UAE Unified PQR grants three examination attempts across the UAE Authorities, with limited additional-attempt provisions. Qatar's current qualifying-examination page permits five consecutive attempts for listed specialist exams. Bahrain permits four initial licensure-exam attempts within three years.

2. Middle East Health Authorities and Regulatory Pathways for Specialist Endocrinology

Each regulator has its own specialist-classification route, and an Endocrinology licence or title issued by one authority is not automatically valid in another jurisdiction. The table below summarises the principal pathway across the authorities covered by this guide.

3. Specialist Endocrinology Passing Marks and Exam Format

Specialist Endocrinology examination specifications differ across Middle East regulators. Across DHA, MOHAP and DOH, the same UAE specification applies: 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 65% pass mark. SCFHS and Qatar publish separate Endocrinology examination standards.

*Qatar note: the current DHP qualifying-examination webpage lists Endocrinology as 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 65% pass mark, while the published Endocrinology blueprint lists the same 150-MCQ examination as 3.5 hours. Candidates should follow the duration shown on their current eligibility and booking confirmation. The current DHP webpage permits five consecutive attempts for listed specialist qualifying examinations.

4. Eligibility Criteria for Specialist Endocrinology Candidates

The exact requirements differ by regulator and depend heavily on how the Endocrinology qualification is classified. In the UAE PQR, Endocrinology is listed as a subspecialty of Internal Medicine, so the route may involve a recognised subspecialty certificate or recognised Internal Medicine specialization followed by approved clinical training or fellowship in Endocrinology.

Primary medical qualification: A recognised MBBS, MBChB, MBBCh, MD or equivalent primary medical degree from an accredited institution, with internship where required by the regulator.

Specialty qualification: A recognised Endocrinology / Endocrinology and Metabolism subspecialty certificate, board qualification or fellowship is required. Under the UAE PQR, a recognised Internal Medicine specialization followed by one to two years of recognised clinical Endocrinology training/fellowship may also form a subspecialty route.

UAE experience requirement: Endocrinology follows the UAE clinical subspecialty evaluation criteria rather than one universal experience rule. Non-UAE nationals must first fulfil the experience requirements of the main Internal Medicine specialty before applying for the subspecialty title. Additional post-subspecialty experience depends on whether the Endocrinology credential is a listed subspecialty certificate or a clinical fellowship and on the qualification tier.

Saudi classification: SCFHS lists Endocrinology as a dedicated classification examination. The current blueprint uses Registrar and Senior Registrar passing thresholds; the final professional title depends on the recognised postgraduate qualification, training and SCFHS classification decision.

Qatar qualification categories: Qatar DHP uses physician specialty categories. Category 1 requires one year of post-qualification experience and no qualifying exam; Category 2 requires two years and no exam; Category 3 requires at least three years of structured postgraduate specialty training, three years of post-qualification experience and the DHP qualifying examination.

Professional licence and Good Standing: A valid professional registration/licence and a recent Certificate of Good Standing are commonly required. Documentation must support the specialty title and scope claimed in the application.

Primary Source Verification: The primary medical degree, Internal Medicine and/or Endocrinology specialty qualifications, professional licence and claimed experience may require primary-source verification such as DataFlow or another regulator-approved provider.

Training documentation: Regulators may request Internal Medicine residency evidence, Endocrinology fellowship or board certificates, programme duration, rotations, transcripts and post-qualification experience letters to confirm the requested specialist scope.

Clinical scope and privileges: Specialist Endocrinology licensing covers endocrine and metabolic medical practice, but advanced procedures or facility-specific services may still require separate clinical privileges, training evidence or institutional credentialing.

Examination exemption is not uniform. UAE authorities apply PQR-based exemption rules, Qatar exempts Category 1 and Category 2 physician specialty qualifications from the qualifying exam, and other regulators apply their own recognition and assessment policies. Candidates should not book an examination until the regulator confirms that an exam is required for their specific qualification and title.

5. Specialist Endocrinology Syllabus and Core Study Areas Across Middle East Health Authorities

The 11 study areas below are directly supported by the UAE Specialist Endocrinology examination guideline and align almost exactly with the current SCFHS and Qatar Endocrinology blueprints. SCFHS assigns 20% to Diabetes Mellitus, 15% to Thyroid Disorders, 10% each to Hypothalamic/Pituitary and Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone disease, 8% each to Adrenal and Reproductive Endocrinology, 7% each to Obesity and Dyslipidemia, and 5% each to Pediatric Endocrinology, Patient Safety and Professionalism/Ethics. Qatar uses nearly the same distribution. This makes the core content highly transferable across the major Gulf examinations.

Topic 1: Diabetes Mellitus

Diagnosis and classification of diabetes; type 1 and type 2 diabetes; atypical and secondary diabetes; glycemic targets; lifestyle therapy; insulin and non-insulin pharmacotherapy; continuous glucose monitoring and diabetes technology; acute complications including DKA, HHS and hypoglycemia; chronic microvascular and macrovascular complications; diabetes in pregnancy; and perioperative or inpatient glycemic management.

Topic 2: Obesity

Assessment of adiposity and obesity-related complications, lifestyle and behavioral treatment, anti-obesity pharmacotherapy, indications and principles of metabolic/bariatric surgery, obesity-associated endocrine disorders, weight-centric management of diabetes and cardiovascular risk, and long-term monitoring.

Topic 3: Dyslipidemia

Primary and secondary dyslipidemias, cardiovascular risk assessment, familial hypercholesterolemia, severe hypertriglyceridemia, statin and non-statin therapy, treatment targets, adverse-effect management, secondary-cause evaluation and lipid management in diabetes, chronic kidney disease and other high-risk states.

Topic 4: Thyroid Disorders

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, Graves disease, thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, goiter, thyroid-function test interpretation, pregnancy-related thyroid disease, thyroid emergencies, differentiated and medullary thyroid cancer principles, imaging and biopsy selection, and evidence-based use of antithyroid drugs, radioiodine and surgery.

Topic 5: Hypothalamus and Pituitary Disorders

Pituitary adenomas and incidentalomas, hyperprolactinemia, acromegaly, Cushing disease, hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus and disorders of water balance, hypothalamic disease, pituitary imaging and dynamic testing, perioperative endocrine care and long-term hormone replacement.

Topic 6: Adrenal Disorders

Primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency, adrenal crisis, Cushing syndrome, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma, adrenal incidentaloma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, endocrine hypertension, biochemical testing, imaging and perioperative management.

Topic 7: Parathyroid and Metabolic Bone Diseases

Primary, secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia, vitamin D disorders, osteoporosis, fragility fracture risk, osteomalacia and other metabolic bone disease, interpretation of calcium-phosphate-PTH physiology and use of antiresorptive and anabolic bone therapies.

Topic 8: Reproductive Endocrinology

Hypogonadism in men and women, amenorrhea, polycystic ovary syndrome, menopause, hyperandrogenism, gynecomastia, delayed or precocious puberty interfaces, infertility-related endocrine evaluation, gonadal hormone testing and appropriate hormone replacement or referral.

Topic 9: Pediatric Endocrinology

Growth assessment, short and tall stature, growth hormone disorders, delayed and precocious puberty, pediatric thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, disorders of sex development, childhood obesity and recognition of pediatric endocrine conditions requiring specialist pediatric referral.

Topic 10: Patient Safety

Insulin and high-alert medication safety, prevention and management of severe hypoglycemia, sick-day planning, adrenal-crisis prevention, perioperative steroid management, medication reconciliation, safe interpretation of endocrine tests, pregnancy medication safety, patient education, communication and prevention of avoidable endocrine harm.

Topic 11: Professionalism and Ethics

Informed consent, shared decision-making, confidentiality, long-term chronic-disease communication, conflicts of interest, evidence-based prescribing, responsible use of weight-loss and hormone therapies, appropriate referral, professional boundaries, documentation and ethical management of vulnerable or high-risk patients.

Cross-Authority Focus: UAE, SCFHS and Qatar Use Nearly the Same Endocrinology Blueprint

The UAE guideline, SCFHS blueprint and Qatar Endocrinology blueprint are unusually well aligned. Diabetes is the dominant domain at about 20%, followed by Thyroid Disorders at about 15%; pituitary and parathyroid/metabolic bone disease are next, with adrenal, reproductive, obesity and lipid disorders forming the middle tier. Pediatric Endocrinology, Patient Safety and Professionalism/Ethics remain smaller but explicit domains. Final revision should therefore mirror the weighting of the authority actually assigned to the candidate, but one core study framework covers most of the content.

6. Recommended Reference Books

The UAE Specialist Endocrinology guideline lists core endocrine textbooks together with professional-practice resources, and the current SCFHS Endocrinology blueprint additionally lists UpToDate. Because endocrine therapeutics and guideline thresholds change frequently, candidates should use the latest available editions and current evidence-based guidelines:

Oxford Textbook of Endocrinology and Diabetes by Wass, Stewart and colleagues, latest available edition. Comprehensive reference across adult endocrine and metabolic disease.

Williams Textbook of Endocrinology by Melmed, Auchus, Goldfine, Koenig, Rosen and colleagues, latest available edition. Major reference for endocrine physiology, diagnosis and management.

Greenspan's Basic & Clinical Endocrinology by Gardner and Shoback, latest available edition. High-value clinical reference for endocrine diagnosis and treatment.

UpToDate. Listed in the current SCFHS Endocrinology blueprint and useful for contemporary management updates, drug selection and evolving guideline recommendations.

Professionalism and Ethics, Handbook for Residents, SCFHS, latest edition. Reference for ethical decision-making and professional conduct.

Essentials of Patient Safety, SCFHS, latest edition. Reference for medication safety, systems-based care and prevention of avoidable harm.

Beyond textbook study, exam-day preparation benefits from high-quality MCQ practice. The Specialist Endocrinology MCQ bank on prometricguide.com is designed around the 11-domain cross-authority framework above and includes 2500 plus questions with detailed explanations covering diabetes, thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, metabolic bone, reproductive and pediatric endocrinology, patient safety and professional practice.

7. Two Ways We Can Help You Get Licensed

Prometric Guide supports Specialist Endocrinology exam preparation across the Middle East, while our sister company Alzantra International supports the UAE licensing process.

For Exam Preparation: Prometric Guide (All Middle East Authorities)

Whether you are targeting DHA, MOHAP, DOH Abu Dhabi, SCFHS Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA Bahrain or Kuwait MOH, our Specialist Endocrinology MCQ bank provides one broad preparation base covering the core specialist knowledge shared across these licensing destinations:

2500 plus Specialist Endocrinology MCQs mapped to the 11-domain cross-authority framework.

Detailed explanations with references to Williams, Oxford, Greenspan, UpToDate and current diabetes, thyroid, adrenal and metabolic-bone guidance.

Free introductory mock tests and topic-wise practice sets.

High-yield coverage of diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, parathyroid/metabolic bone, reproductive and pediatric Endocrinology, patient safety and ethics.

Access on any device, unlimited attempts.

Explore the full Specialist Endocrinology exam preparation package on prometricguide.com.

For UAE Licensing Paperwork: Alzantra International (DHA, MOHAP, DOH)

For UAE licensing, Alzantra International supports Endocrinology candidates targeting Dubai, the Northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi with documentation and licensing coordination.

DataFlow / primary-source verification of the medical degree, Internal Medicine and Endocrinology qualifications, professional licence and experience.

DHA Sheryan Specialist Endocrinology application and assessment coordination for Dubai.

MOHAP specialist evaluation and licensing application for the Northern Emirates.

DOH Abu Dhabi Specialist Endocrinology application through TAMM.

Medical degree, Internal Medicine training, Endocrinology subspecialty qualification/fellowship, experience and supporting-document preparation guidance.

Eligibility submission, tracking and follow-up.

CBT or additional assessment coordination where required.

Specialist licence activation and UAE facility-credentialing support.

Contact Alzantra International at www.alzantra.ae or [email protected] for UAE licensing support. For SCFHS/Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA Bahrain and Kuwait MOH, use the relevant regulator's official pathway.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for Specialist Endocrinology?

For DHA, MOHAP and DOH, Specialist Endocrinology is 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 65% pass mark. SCFHS publishes 65% for Registrar and 70% for Senior Registrar. Qatar DHP publishes 65% for the Endocrinology qualifying exam. NHRA Bahrain publishes 60% for Bahrain licensure examinations when an examination is assigned.

Which postgraduate qualifications can lead to the Specialist Endocrinology title?

A recognised primary medical degree plus an accepted Endocrinology subspecialty qualification, board certificate or fellowship is the usual route. In the UAE, Endocrinology is listed under Internal Medicine subspecialties, and a recognised Internal Medicine specialization followed by one to two years of recognised Endocrinology clinical training/fellowship may also form a route. Final eligibility depends on the exact qualification and regulator.

How many questions are in the Specialist Endocrinology exam?

DHA, MOHAP and DOH use the same UAE specification: 150 MCQs in 3 hours. SCFHS uses 200 MCQs in 4 hours. Qatar DHP lists 150 MCQs; its current webpage states 3 hours, while the published Endocrinology blueprint states 3.5 hours. Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait should be followed according to the assessment actually assigned.

Which reference books should I use?

The core published sources are the Oxford Textbook of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, Greenspan's Basic & Clinical Endocrinology, SCFHS Professionalism and Ethics and Essentials of Patient Safety. The current SCFHS blueprint also lists UpToDate. Use the latest editions and current disease-specific guidelines because endocrine treatment recommendations change frequently.

Can I complete the exam from my home country?

Often yes when the assigned assessment is delivered through an international test network such as Prometric or Pearson VUE. Availability depends on the authority, eligibility period, examination provider and test centres shown during scheduling.

How is the SCFHS Endocrinology classification exam different?

SCFHS lists Endocrinology as a dedicated classification exam with 200 MCQs over 4 hours. Diabetes Mellitus carries 20%, Thyroid Disorders 15%, Hypothalamus/Pituitary and Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone disease 10% each, Adrenal and Reproductive Endocrinology 8% each, Obesity and Dyslipidemia 7% each, and Pediatric Endocrinology, Patient Safety and Professionalism/Ethics 5% each. The passing score is 65% for Registrar and 70% for Senior Registrar.

How many attempts do I get?

Attempt rules vary by authority. UAE examinations follow the Unified PQR framework of three attempts across the UAE Authorities, with limited provisions for additional attempts. Qatar's current qualifying-examination page permits five consecutive attempts for listed specialist exams. Bahrain allows four initial licensure-exam attempts within three years before retraining rules apply.

Does every Middle East authority use the same Specialist Endocrinology exam?

No. DHA, MOHAP and DOH use the same UAE specification; SCFHS uses a 200-question classification exam; Qatar uses its own 150-question Endocrinology examination when required; Bahrain may assign the general medical-practitioner licensure exam; and no current standalone Endocrinology Occupational Classification exam was verified on Oman's public OMSB list.

Is Endocrinology a main specialty or an Internal Medicine subspecialty in the UAE?

Under the current UAE PQR, Endocrinology is listed as a subspecialty under Internal Medicine. This matters because the applicant's Internal Medicine qualification, Endocrinology subspecialty training and the recognition tier of those credentials can affect eligibility and experience requirements.

What is the best MCQ bank for Specialist Endocrinology exam preparation?

The Specialist Endocrinology MCQ bank on prometricguide.com includes 2500 plus questions aligned to the 11-domain cross-authority framework, with detailed explanations covering the major endocrine disorders, metabolic emergencies, patient safety and professional practice.

9. Final Thoughts

Specialist Endocrinology is a recognised physician subspecialty across the major Middle East health authorities, but the route to the title and examination requirement is not uniform. The UAE authorities use a common 150-question specification, SCFHS uses a separate 200-question classification exam, Qatar uses its own Endocrinology qualifying examination when required, and other regulators may use broader physician-licensure or authority-specific assessment pathways.

Prepare around the full endocrine and metabolic scope: diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, thyroid disease, pituitary and hypothalamic disorders, adrenal disease, parathyroid and metabolic bone disease, reproductive and pediatric Endocrinology, patient safety and professionalism. Give greatest depth to diabetes and thyroid disease because they carry the highest published weighting in both the SCFHS and Qatar blueprints, and use current guidelines for therapeutic thresholds and drug selection.

Prometric Guide supports Specialist Endocrinology candidates preparing across the major Middle East health authorities.