DHA Nursing Exam: Format, Duration, Passing Score, Attempts, and Syllabus

In part one of this series on the DHA Nursing Exam, we explained what the exam is, why it matters, and who is required to take it. In part two, we will cover the exam format, duration, passing score, number of attempts allowed, and the full syllabus.

Quick snapshot

• Exam name: DHA Nursing Licensing Assessment (CBT / Prometric).
  
• Typical format for Registered Nurse: 150 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions.
  
• Duration: ~165–180 minutes (about 3 hours).
  
• Pass score: DHA’s CBT guideline lists a 50% pass threshold for the Registered Nurse exam (check your specialty’s Mode-of-Exam for exact pass marks).
  
• Delivery partner: Prometric (book using the DHA eligibility/CBT ID via Sheryan).
  

1. What the exam tests?

The DHA nursing Prometric CBT assesses whether you can practise safely as a nurse in Dubai by testing applied clinical knowledge, prioritization, medication safety (including calculations), infection control, and basic public-health principles. It is a competency gate: pass the CBT and DHA will move you to eligibility/registration steps (final license still requires employer activation). The exam is discipline-focused: DHA publishes a “Mode of Exam”/blueprint for nursing that lists domain areas and reference texts — use it as your syllabus map.

2. Format, question types, and on-screen behavior

• Question type: Single-best-answer multiple-choice (one correct answer). Some items present short clinical vignettes requiring prioritization or dose calculation.
  
• No negative marking: Points are awarded only for correct responses; guessing is better than leaving blanks.
  
• On-screen tools: Prometric provides an on-screen calculator when needed and standard navigation (flag, review, timed clock). Personal devices or calculators are not allowed.
  

3. Duration and pacing strategy

Expect about 165 minutes for 150 questions (roughly 1.1 minutes per question). Time pressure is the common failing point.

Practical pacing plan:

• First pass: 90–100 minutes — answer all straightforward items quickly.
  
• Second pass: 40–50 minutes — tackle medium-difficulty vignettes.
  
• Final pass: 15–20 minutes — medication calculations and flagged questions.
  Aim to finish with 15–20 minutes for review and calculations.
  

Official timings and question counts are published in DHA’s CBT guideline and the nursing Mode-of-Exam; confirm exact timing on your eligibility notice.

4. Syllabus

DHA provides a blueprint; for nurses the high-weight domains typically are:

• Fundamentals of nursing practice (assessment, documentation, vital signs, nursing process).
  
• Adult medical-surgical nursing and critical-care basics (ACLS/ventilator basics referenced).
  
• Pharmacology and medication safety (calculations, routes, interactions).
  
• Maternal/newborn nursing.
  
• Pediatrics and growth-development issues.
  
• Mental-health nursing and behavioural emergencies.
  
• Community/public-health nursing, infection prevention and control.
  
• Ethics, legal aspects, delegation, and patient safety (prioritization, triage).
  

How to use this: map your study hours to domain weight — allocate the most time to med-surg + pharmacology + prioritization. The DHA Mode-of-Exam document lists recommended reference books — start there.

5. Passing score

The authoritative CBT guideline lists the Registered Nurse pass score as 50% (confirm the exact percentage for your title in the Mode-of-Exam PDF; other professions or specialty titles may have different thresholds). In practice, many prep providers recommend aiming for 70%+ in practice tests to provide a safety margin. Always verify the pass-mark shown in your Sheryan eligibility notice.

6. Attempts, and retakes

• Usual attempts: DHA operational practice commonly allows up to three attempts per eligibility period (check your eligibility message for exact limits).
  
• If you fail: You may rebook once you receive the official result; if attempts are exhausted, DHA’s PQR outlines remediation paths (additional training, applying for a different category, or re-eligibility conditions). Keep exam attempt records and note any mandated waiting periods found in your Sheryan messages.
  

7. Language, accommodations and exemptions

• Language: The exam is delivered in English; check Sheryan if other language options exist for your title.
  
• Accommodations: Candidates with documented disabilities can request test accommodations (extra time, modified seating) via Prometric and must provide supporting medical documentation ahead of booking. Contact DHA/Prometric early to arrange this.
  
• Exemptions: DHA PQR lists narrow exemption categories (certain international qualifications or recognized licensures). Do not assume exemption — it must be granted explicitly during your DHA evaluation.
  

8. Results timing and next steps after passing

Prometric commonly provides test-center confirmation; DHA updates your Sheryan record with Pass/Fail status. Results are typically available within a few working days; DHA’s portal guidance lists a standard publication window (often within 5 working days). After a pass you receive eligibility/registration confirmation — you still need an employer to activate the professional license to begin practice.

9. How hard is it?

Difficulty depends on preparation quality. Candidates who:

• have regular clinical experience,
  
• practice timed 150-question mocks, and
  
• master medication calculations and prioritization,
  usually pass on first or second attempt.
  

Common failure causes: weak med-math, poor time management, and insufficient practice with vignette-style questions. Treat the exam as applied clinical reasoning under time pressure — not trivia. 

10. Study plan (8 weeks)

Week 1–2: blueprint review, core theory (fundamentals + med-surg).
Week 3–5: pharmacology + med-calc drills + maternal/pediatrics.
Week 6: timed 150-question mocks (3 per week), error log.
Week 7: weak-area drills and prioritization scenarios.
Week 8: 5 full timed mocks, exam-day simulation, rest 48 hrs before test.

Resources: DHA Mode-of-Exam list, established nursing question banks (timed), trusted textbooks for med-surg and pharmacology, official DHA CBT guideline. 

11. Practical exam-day checklist

• Print Prometric confirmation and DHA eligibility/CBT ID.
  
• Bring original passport (ID) — no photocopies accepted for ID verification.
  
• Arrive 45–60 minutes early.
  
• No personal electronics or notes allowed.
  
• Use on-screen calculator when needed; practice with it in mocks if available.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a precise understanding of how the DHA Nursing Exam works — how long it is, what it tests, how it’s scored, and what DHA expects from candidates. This clarity allows you to shift from general awareness to focused preparation. The next phase is to apply this knowledge: learning how to register correctly, avoid common administrative mistakes, schedule your exam through Prometric, and handle exam-day procedures smoothly. Article 3 explains every practical step so you can move through the process without delays or confusion.