Selecting the appropriate licensing or language test can be a daunting task for healthcare professionals who aspire to a fulfilling career overseas. The Occupational English Test (OET), Prometric, and the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (now DOH) exam are the three most popular tests taken by nurses, and other allied health professionals in 2025. The purpose of each of these tests varies, and the best one for you will rely on your target nation, career objectives, and personal qualities.
Every year, we at Tijus Academy help thousands of healthcare professionals navigate the complex world of test preparation and select the best course for success. We’ll explain the distinctions between the 2025 OET, Prometric, and HAAD exams in this blog post to assist you in selecting the test that will be most beneficial to your future.
What is OET
The Occupational English Test (OET) is a worldwide test of English language proficiency designed especially for healthcare workers to evaluate a candidate’s capacity for efficient communication in a medical environment. In order to make sure they can interact with patients and coworkers in an English-speaking nation with confidence, it assesses their speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities using scenarios that are pertinent to occupations like medicine, nursing, and pharmacy.
Who is it for?
The OET is intended for medical professionals like doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Therapists, Dental professionals, nutritionists, optometrists, radiologists, speech pathologists, and veterinarians
What does it evaluate?
All four language skills are evaluated by the OET within the framework of the healthcare industry:
- Listening: Comprehending patient interviews, presentations, monologues, and dialogues.
- Reading: Understanding both lengthy passages pertaining to a particular profession and brief texts on general healthcare topics.
- Writing: Finishing official letters, including advice letters, discharge summaries, and referral letters.
- Speaking: Taking part in an interlocutor role-play that is recorded and evaluated for clinical communication abilities.
What makes it significant?
Many medical professionals who want to register and work in English-speaking nations like the USA, UK, Australia, and New Zealand must pass the OET. It confirms that applicants have the health-specific communication abilities required for productive clinical engagement.
What is the prometric
The US-based international testing company Prometric administers standardized computer-based tests known as Prometric exams to evaluate the knowledge and abilities of medical professionals, who wish to practice overseas. It is a required licensing exam to ensure competency and compliance with the standards of the healthcare bodies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Multiple-choice questions addressing particular clinical and professional topics for a range of medical specialities make up the exam.
Who is it for
Healthcare professionals: Physicians, nurses, dentists, chemists, and other allied health professionals are the main candidates for the exam.
International practice: It’s especially important for people who wish to work in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf countries.
What it tests
Knowledge of theory and practice: The exam evaluates both theoretical understanding and critical patient care practical skills.
Clinical judgement: It assesses a professional’s capacity for critical analysis and judgement.
Content that is specific to a variety of healthcare specialities, such as nursing, medicine, and pharmacy, is included in the exam.
Why it matters
Assures proficiency: A professional who passes the Prometric exam is demonstrating that they meet the healthcare requirements of the nation in which they want to practice.
Makes international careers easier: In many global healthcare systems, it is an essential requirement for lawful practice.
What is HAAD
Healthcare workers who wish to work in Abu Dhabi, and United Arab Emirates, must pass the HAAD exam, which is now called the DOH exam. The Department of Health (DOH), formerly known as the HAAD, administers it to evaluate the knowledge and abilities of medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and chemists, to make sure they adhere to international standards for practice in the emirate. Getting a professional license to work in the healthcare industry in Abu Dhabi requires passing the computer-delivered, multiple-choice test.
Exam Objective
Professional Licensing: The main goal is to issue professional licenses, which are necessary for all medical professionals to legally practice in Abu Dhabi.
Assurance of Quality: It guarantees that all licensed healthcare providers possess the bare minimum of skills and knowledge required for patient safety and high-quality treatment.
Who Must Take It?
To work in Abu Dhabi, both foreign and local medical professionals such as physicians, nurses, chemists, radiographers, and lab technicians must pass the HAAD (DOH) exam.
Which Exam Should You Take in 2025?
Your decision is influenced by your preferred location, language skills, and career objectives:
- Choose OET if you aim for the UK, Ireland, or other English-speaking countries, and want to showcase both medical and communication skills.
- Choose Prometric if you want to build a career in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or Oman, where professional knowledge is the main requirement.
- Choose HAAD if your dream is Abu Dhabi (UAE), as this exam is mandatory for licensing there.
Concluding remarks
The key to selecting between OET, Prometric, and HAAD in 2025 is aligning the exam with your intended career path. OET is the best choice for nurses planning to work in the UK or Ireland, and Tiju’s Academy is recognized as the best OET coaching centre in Kerala. If your goal is the Middle East, proper Prometric exam preparation and HAAD exam training are essential, and we proudly offer the best Prometric coaching and best HAAD coachin in Kerala.
Whatever exam you choose, remember that success comes from proper preparation. With Tiju’s Academy by your side, you’re not just preparing for a test — you’re preparing for a brighter, global nursing career.
