Short answer: DHA lists many allied professions at more than one level, such as technician and technologist, and gives each level its own exam row. The technologist row often has a pass score five points above the technician row, and clinical scientist rows are listed at 65 percent. Always read the row for your exact title.
01Chapter 1
Is a technician exam different from a technologist exam?
In DHA’s CBT Guideline, yes. Where a profession has more than one level, each level is a separate row with its own code and pass score. That matters for laboratory, anaesthesia, dialysis, ECG, respiratory and several other titles. This guide puts the pairs side by side so you can see the pattern and check your own row. Meddex is independent and is not connected to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Prometric.
02Chapter 2
Key facts and where they come from
All official, read in DHA’s CBT Guideline (cover “Updated - Sep 2026”) on 15 and 16 October 2026.
Each level of a profession has its own code, pass score and content list.
Most of these rows are 150 questions in 3 hours. The operation theatre rows are 100 questions in 2 hours.
The stated time includes registration and process introduction.
Pass scores for the rows below run from 50 to 65 percent.
DHA can change a pass score without updating the guideline.
03Chapter 3
How do the levels compare?
The table lists pairs where the guideline has both levels. It is a selection, not every allied title, so use it to see the pattern and then read your own row. Names are as DHA prints them.
Pass scores by level in DHA’s CBT Guideline (official, read October 2026)
Profession
Lower level
Pass score
Higher level
Pass score
Anesthesia
Technician
55 percent
Technologist
60 percent
Dialysis
Technician
50 percent
Technologist
55 percent
ECG
Technician
50 percent
Technologist
55 percent
Dental laboratory
Aide
50 percent
Technician
55 percent
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Technician
55 percent
Technologist
60 percent
Respiratory
Technician
55 percent
Therapist
60 percent
Radiography
Technician
50 percent
Radiographer
55 percent
Operation Theatre
Technician
50 percent
Technologist
55 percent
Audiology
Assistant
50 percent
Audiologist
55 percent
Occupational therapy
Assistant
50 percent
Occupational Therapist
55 percent
04Chapter 4
What about clinical scientist titles?
The laboratory sciences have a third level. Clinical Biochemistry, Hematology and Medical Microbiology each list a Clinical Scientist row at 65 percent, while the matching technologist rows are 50, 55 and 55 percent. So in these three fields the scientist row asks for ten to fifteen points more than the technologist row. They are all 150 questions in three hours.
The general laboratory titles are the exception to the pattern: Medical Laboratory Technician and Medical Laboratory Technologist are both 50 percent. A pattern in the table is not a rule, which is why you should not infer your own pass score from a neighbour.
05Chapter 5
Where does the pattern not hold?
Physiotherapist and Physiotherapy Technician are both 50 percent. Central Sterile Services Technician and Aide are both 50 percent. If you hold a title that is not in the table, the safe step is to find your code in the guideline and copy the numbers from the row, not from a similar title. Our guide on finding your title shows five steps.
06Chapter 6
What does a higher pass score mean for your preparation?
It means you need to answer a larger share correctly, and nothing more. DHA publishes no pass rates, no difficulty ratings and no weights, so we cannot say the higher exam has harder questions. A sensible response is to aim comfortably above your own row’s pass score in practice, and to cover every content heading on your list, since weights are not published. See how to turn headings into a plan.
07Chapter 7
What practice content is there?
Meddex has no question banks for these allied titles as of the date of this page. See the allied health hub for what the shared questions cover, and the full table of titles for every row.
08Chapter 8
What we do not know
Frequently asked questions
DHA does not publish difficulty or pass rates. In most pairs the technologist row has a pass score five points higher, so you need to answer more correctly.
The guideline lists 65 percent for Clinical Biochemistry, Hematology and Medical Microbiology clinical scientist rows, each with 150 questions in three hours.
Yes, DHA lists both at 50 percent with 150 questions in three hours, but they are separate rows with separate codes.
This article is general educational guidance, not official advice. Exam rules, fees and timelines are set by the Dubai Health Authority and the test provider and can change, so always confirm the latest details on their official channels. Review of Meddex content by named, licensed clinicians is not complete yet. See how we write and check our content.
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