Consultant & specialist oral assessment: DHA, DOH, SCFHS, OMSB
Most consultants, DOH specialists and many allied titles face a panel, not a computer exam. Pick your title below: 57 scenario packs with model answers, then how DHA, DOH, SCFHS and OMSB run the oral and how panels mark you. Sitting a written exam instead? See every GCC regulator's exam guide.
- 57
- Oral packs
- 5+
- Scenarios per sitting
- 2+
- Panellists
- From AED 329
- Per pack
Find your oral assessment pack
Every pack has panel-style scenarios with model answers in knowledge, management and ethics, the follow-up probes panels ask and the pitfalls that fail candidates.
Physician specialties
Specialist and consultant panels: the DOH oral, the DHA consultant oral, the SCFHS consultant interview and the OMSB viva.
Anatomic Pathology
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Clinical Pathology
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Critical Care Medicine
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Diagnostic Radiology
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Emergency Medicine
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Forensic Medicine
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Haematology & Oncology
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Medical Microbiology
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Orthopedic Surgery
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Pediatric Surgery
AED 699Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Specialist & consultant
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
DOH Abu Dhabi titles assessed by oral
Nursing, dental and allied titles that DOH sets an oral instead of, or as well as, a computer-based test (Licensing Procedural Manual 2024).
DOH privileging panel
20 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
DOH oral
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Complementary medicine titles
TCM, chiropractic, osteopathy, naturopathy and the supervised massage therapist titles have no published written exam anywhere in the GCC. DHA assesses them by oral panel.
DHA oral panel
14 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
Ayurveda Massage Therapist
AED 329DHA oral panel
10 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
DHA oral panel
10 scenarios with model answers, probes and pitfalls.
How the consultant oral is run, by authority
Formats come from each authority's assessment manual and candidate guidance. Where an authority does not publish a detail, we say so.
| Authority | Format | Length | Panel and result |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHA - Dubai | Not less than five clinical scenarios in your specialty | Roughly 20-30 minutes | At least two panellists, one pass or fail decision |
| DOH - Abu Dhabi | 5-6 case scenarios, including an ethical case | 45-60 minutes | Held on Microsoft Teams |
| SCFHS - Saudi Arabia | Structured consultant interview built on clinical cases | Two sessions of roughly 30 minutes | Senior consultants in your specialty |
| OMSB - Oman | Viva on specialty cases, taken after the written exam | Not published | Required of every candidate |
The Unified PQR sets a minimum of five scenarios, in English, with no translator. DHA assesses 13 Consultant titles by a 100-question written exam instead (70% pass mark, DHA CBT Guideline, Sep 2026) - see DHA pass marks.
How to answer a panel scenario
Panels mark reasoning, not recitation. Structure every answer the same way and you cover all three graded domains.
- 1
Say what it is and why it is dangerous.
Open with the working diagnosis, the one or two alternatives you must exclude, and what will harm the patient first.
- 2
Show the knowledge that changes the decision.
Name the finding, test or trial result your plan rests on. Panels mark reasoning, not recitation.
- 3
Manage in time order.
What you do in the next ten minutes, the next hour and the next day, who you escalate to, and what would make you change course.
- 4
Close on ethics and communication.
Consent or capacity, the family conversation, disclosure if something went wrong, and what you document. Every authority examines this domain.
Not sure whether your title needs an oral assessment?
It depends on your specialty, grade and qualifications - several routes are exempt. We confirm yours before you prepare.
Guides for consultants and specialists
DOH Oral Assessment for Specialists: Format, Preparation & What to Expect (2026)
The DOH oral assessment is the exam step for the specialist, consultant and other titles that DOH assesses by oral rather than by computer-based test. This guide covers the format, panel structure, scoring, and proven preparation strategies for 2026.
Read the guide GCCGCC License for UK, US & Australian-Trained Doctors: Tier 1 Exam Waivers Explained (2026)
Senior doctors trained in Tier 1 countries can skip licensing exams when licensing in the GCC. Learn exactly which qualifications qualify for DHA, DOH, SCFHS and QCHP exam waivers in 2026.
Read the guide LicensingPrometric Exam Exemptions in the GCC: Complete Authority-by-Authority Guide (2026)
Find out which qualifications qualify for Prometric exam exemptions in each GCC country - DHA, DOH, SCFHS, QCHP, NHRA, and more.
Read the guide Saudi ArabiaSenior Consultant Relocating to Saudi Arabia: Salary, Family & SCFHS Guide (2026)
The definitive relocation guide for senior consultants moving to Saudi Arabia - covering SCFHS Senior Consultant classification, total compensation packages worth SAR 1.5M+ annually, family visa processes, international schools, compound living, and contract negotiation leverage points.
Read the guide OmanOMSB Oman Specialist Licensing - Complete Guide for Healthcare Professionals (2026)
A comprehensive guide to OMSB specialist licensing in Oman - covering the application process, credential verification, Prometric exam, classification levels, salary ranges, transplant programme demand, and Oman's exceptional quality of life for Western-trained specialists.
Read the guide Saudi ArabiaSCFHS Visiting Consultant & VISITORS Platform: Complete Guide (2026)
How senior specialists earn $500-$1,000 per day doing short-term consulting work in Saudi Arabia through the SCFHS VISITORS platform - without relocating.
Read the guideConsultant oral assessment FAQs
Do DHA consultants sit a written exam or an oral assessment?
How is the DHA consultant oral assessment run?
How is the DOH oral assessment different?
Do specialists sit an oral assessment too?
How many attempts do I get at the consultant assessment?
What do the panels mark?
Last reviewed September 2026. Confirm your own format on your eligibility notice before you prepare.
Walk into the panel prepared
Tell us your specialty and target authority. We confirm whether you sit a written exam, an oral or neither, and how to prepare for it.