Radiographer License in the GCC 2026: RAD5152 Exam Guide
The RAD5152 Prometric paper for radiographers, the 55 percent pass mark, what radiation protection questions really test, and the licensing route in every Gulf state.
Radiography is one of the few professions where a Gulf regulator will test your safety judgement as hard as your technique. The licensing paper is RAD5152, it runs through Prometric or Pearson VUE, and the pass mark sits at 55 percent. This guide explains what the paper covers, what stalls radiographer applications, and what the route looks like in each country.
Who sits RAD5152
RAD5152 covers the Radiographer professional title, meaning the practitioner who performs imaging examinations independently. The related titles are separate. A radiography technician sits a different code with a narrower scope, and diagnostic radiology as a physician specialty is an entirely different route with its own consultant and specialist grades. Choosing the wrong title is expensive, because the regulator closes the file rather than moving you across.
The paper in numbers
- Exam code: RAD5152
- Questions: 150 multiple choice
- Duration: 3 hours
- Pass score: 55 percent
- Delivery: Prometric or Pearson VUE test centre
What the exam covers
- Patient management. Identification, consent, positioning, immobilisation and communication with patients who cannot cooperate. Paediatric and trauma scenarios appear often.
- Radiation protection. ALARA in practice, shielding, dose limits, pregnancy questioning and justification of the examination. This section carries the heaviest consequences in real practice and the questions reflect that.
- X-ray and CT. Exposure factors, artefacts, image quality and protocol selection. Expect to be given a described image fault and asked what caused it.
- Health and safety. Infection control in imaging, contrast reactions, equipment checks and incident reporting.
- Ultrasound and MRI. Safety zones, screening for implants and contraindications more than image interpretation.
The RAD5152 practice bank is built on the same five areas, with an explanation on every answer.
Where radiographers lose marks
Two habits cost most candidates. The first is answering safety questions from what their department does rather than from the standard, and departments vary. The second is skimming the stem. Radiography questions frequently hide the decisive detail in the patient history, for example a pacemaker, a pregnancy, or a previous contrast reaction, and the answer changes entirely once you notice it.
Which regulator licenses you
Dubai licenses through the DHA, Abu Dhabi through the DOH, the Northern Emirates through MOHAP. Elsewhere the routes are SCFHS in Saudi Arabia, QCHP in Qatar, NHRA in Bahrain and OMSB in Oman. Compare the countries themselves on the country pages.
Documents and verification
Imaging qualifications are often awarded by colleges attached to hospitals rather than by universities, and that is exactly where verification slows down. Confirm before you submit that the awarding body still exists under the same name and can be reached at an official address. Everything else follows the standard checklist in the DataFlow verification guide.
Plan on thirty to sixty days for verification, one to three weeks for eligibility review, and a further wait for a test centre seat. Three to four months from decision to exam day is a realistic timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Does RAD5152 cover CT and MRI, or do I need separate licences?
The paper includes CT, ultrasound and MRI safety content within the radiographer scope. Whether you may operate a specific modality in a specific facility depends on the privileges your employer grants after licensing, not on the exam alone.
I work as a radiography technician. Can I apply as a radiographer?
Only if your qualification supports the higher title. The regulator decides this from your degree and experience, not from your current job title. Run an eligibility check before applying so you do not lose a cycle.
How much of the paper is radiation protection?
It is one of five coverage areas, and in practice it is the area candidates underestimate most. Treat it as a scoring opportunity rather than background reading.
Next steps
Confirm the right title with a free eligibility check, start the RAD5152 practice bank while verification runs, and join the talent pool if you want your file in front of imaging departments that are hiring. Every code across every profession is listed in the exam codes directory.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with a written explanation on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.