SMLE Exam Guide

What is the SMLE exam?

The SMLE full form is Saudi Medical Licensure Examination, commonly called the Saudi Medical Licensing Exam. This guide covers the exam format, eligibility, registration, fees and preparation.

Passing the SMLE is one step towards practising medicine in Saudi Arabia. Professional classification—the assessment of your qualifications—and professional registration have separate requirements, as do job applications. Other health professions follow different licensing pathways.

• General Practitioner in Saudi Arabia: preparation and careers
• Check SMLE eligibility criteria
• How to apply for the Saudi medical licensing exam

SMLE exam pattern, format and duration

1. Section 1100 questions · 120 minutes
2. Scheduled break30 minutes between sections
3. Section 2100 questions · 120 minutes

SMLE exam syllabus and 2026 blueprint

Medicine

30%

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

25%

Pediatrics

25%

Surgery

20%

The official blueprint divides the examination into four clinical domains. Plan your revision around these weights, then cover diagnosis, investigation, management, prevention, ethics and patient safety within each domain.

SMLE exam eligibility and requirements

• Saudi university/college studentsThe rules explicitly allow students in their final year to apply
• Graduates of overseas universitiesCompleted recognised medical degree required; internship alone is insufficient
• InternsEligibility depends on qualification and SCFHS approval

SCFHS must approve your eligibility before you can book. Being a final-year student or intern is not enough on its own for every applicant; the qualification requirements above still apply. Approval to sit the exam is separate from professional classification or registration.

Documents required for SMLE registration

Tick the documents you have ready. Use the list requested in your SCFHS application to identify which documents you need.

• Valid identificationPassport or the identity document specified for your application
• Qualification or student evidenceYour medical qualification and transcript, or the student or internship evidence requested in your application
• Internship and registrationInternship certificate and professional registration documents when relevant
• Experience or good standingEvidence of experience or good standing, if requested for professional classification

• 2026 SMLE guide — page 3
• Assessment executive rules — Article 5, printed page 9
• Check your application readiness

SMLE exam registration: how to apply

1. 1

   Choose the right SCFHS service

   • Use Mumaris+, the SCFHS services portal, to find the application that matches your qualification and stage of training
   • Gather the documents listed in that application
2. 2

   Verify your documents when requested

   • DataFlow verification checks documents with the institutions that issued them
   • Pay for the verification package requested for your application
3. 3

   Wait for approval and your permit

   • Keep your application reference so you can follow its progress
   • Read your scheduling permit for booking instructions and the dates when you are eligible to take the exam
4. 4

   Book your appointment with Prometric

   • Choose a test centre and an available appointment
   • Select a date within the eligibility period shown on your permit

SMLE exam fees, total costs and dates

How to Prepare for the SMLE

Follow these five steps, then use your mock results to plan the next round of revision.

1. 1

   Find weak spots

   • Start with a diagnostic question set
   • Record topics that need revision
2. 2

   Cover all four domains

   • Allocate time using the blueprint
   • Revise beyond your strongest specialty
3. 3

   Review every answer

   • Read explanations, including correct guesses
   • Keep and revisit an error log
4. 4

   Practise your pacing

   • Build up to 100-question blocks
   • Work within 120 minutes
5. 5

   Take a full-length mock

   • Review missed clinical decisions
   • Use the review to plan final revision

Use mock scores to identify weak areas and plan your revision.

• Explore SMLE practice questions and explanations
• Try Grand Mock

Test-Day Tips

• Bring valid identificationUse the document specified on your permit
• Check your arrival timeAllow time for identity and security checks
• Pace each section100 questions in 120 minutes
• Follow break and centre rulesCheck return procedures and personal-belongings rules

Use the instructions on your scheduling permit for arrival time, identification and current test-centre rules.

SMLE passing score and score interpretation

SMLE results and retakes

Before booking another attempt

Before paying for a retake or a score-improvement attempt, review the attempts available in your SCFHS account. The sources differ: as reviewed on 30 September 2026, the 2026 guide describes four annual attempts to pass, while the live SCFHS page describes two additional attempts after a failed first attempt.

• Read the results timeline guide
• SMLE attempts and retake policy