MLT GlobeGulf Lab Licensing Exams (DHA, DOH, MOH, SCFHS, QCHP): A Step-by-Step Guide
MLT Globe · 2026-10-02
Many medical laboratory professionals from Pakistan, India, Egypt, the Philippines and other countries build their careers in the Gulf. Each country, and sometimes each emirate, has its own health regulator. The steps below are what most candidates go through.
Who regulates what
- DHA – Dubai Health Authority (Dubai).
- DOH – Department of Health, Abu Dhabi.
- MOH / MOHAP – UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (the northern emirates).
- SCFHS – Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (Saudi Arabia).
- QCHP – Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners, now the Department of Healthcare Professions at Qatar's Ministry of Public Health.
The usual licensing steps
- Create an account on the regulator's online portal and choose your professional title (for example, laboratory technologist or technician). The title depends on your degree and years of experience.
- Eligibility assessment: upload your degree, transcripts, registration with your home council, experience letters, passport and photo.
- Primary source verification (PSV): an agency contacts your university and employers directly to confirm your documents. Start early – this is often the slowest step.
- Computer-based licensing exam: multiple-choice questions taken at an approved test centre. The number of questions, time, pass mark and number of attempts differ by regulator and title.
- Licence issue or activation: after passing, the licence is usually activated when an employer in that country hires you.
Requirements, fees and exam rules change from time to time, so always check the regulator's official website before you apply.
What the exams usually test
The Gulf exams are mostly practical and focus on day-to-day laboratory work:
- Hematology and coagulation, blood banking and transfusion safety
- Clinical chemistry, including reference ranges and interferences
- Microbiology: culture media, identification, staining and susceptibility testing
- Urinalysis, body fluids, parasitology and serology
- Quality control (Levey-Jennings charts, Westgard rules), safety and specimen handling
- Simple laboratory calculations: dilutions, molarity, unit conversions
How to prepare in 6 weeks
- Week 1: revise the basics of every subject – one subject per day.
- Weeks 2–4: 100–150 MCQs a day, mixed subjects, and read every explanation.
- Week 5: timed mock tests; practise calculations and QC questions.
- Week 6: revise only your mistakes and high-yield tables (order of draw, reference ranges, media and stains).
Practise with the dedicated sets for DHA, DOH, MOH, SCFHS and QCHP, and review the order of draw and lab tests pages.
MLT Globe is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with any health authority or examination provider.
📱 Practise with a timer, track your score and earn certificates in the free MLT Globe app – Google Play or practise online.
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