Saudi Medical Licensure Examination
(SMLE)
Applicant Guide
Note : Read this guide before submitting an application to test. At the time of
application, you will be required to acknowledge that you have read and understood
this guide and the policies and procedures contained within.
,General Rules
Saudi Medical Licensure Examination
Congratulations to those who are a year away from MBBS/MD graduation and the ones
who have already graduated! We share the excitement and pride you feel at this moment
of your life. Your future career is bright and holds many opportunities. We wish you all
the success in your future endeavors and dreams.
At this stage, you must take the Saudi Medical Licensure Examination (SMLE) if you
want to practice in Saudi Arabia or get admitted to a postgraduate training program at the
Saudi Commission for Heath Specialties (SCFHS).
What is the SMLE?
The SMLE is an exam that assesses your readiness to practice and/or proceed to
postgraduate training. It consists of 300 MCQs which may include up to 20 pilot
questions. It is a six-hour MCQ examination with scheduled breaks. It is divided into
three sections of 100 questions each with time allocation of 120 minutes for each part.
There are two scheduled breaks between section one-two and section two-three with a
pool total time of 45 minutes to be divided between these two breaks based on candidate
preference. These MCQs have four options from which the candidate will choose one
best answer.
The examination shall contain recall questions that test knowledge and questions with
scenarios that test other skills (interpretation, analysis, decision making, reasoning and
problem solving).
Note : (See Appendix A: for Important exam Instructions).
|Page2
Jan 2019
,What is a test blueprint, and what is its purpose?
A test blueprint is a document that reflects the content of the SMLE. The blueprint is the
plan used for “building” the SMLE. The blueprint was established by the SMLE steering
committee which consists of representatives from Saudi Medical College Deans. The
purpose of the blueprint is to ensure including questions related to what you are expected
to know before entry into supervised clinical practice.
Note:(See Appendix B: for test blueprint).
Application and Eligibility
How to apply for the SMLE?
To apply for the SMLE, you must have a recognized primary degree (MBBS or
equivalent) from an accredited health science program or commenced training in the
internship year or student who is one year away from graduation.
|Page3
Jan 2019
, Applying for the SMLE
When applying for the examination, you must apply through the e-application and
include the required attachments. Once your application is processed, a scheduling permit
with your eligibility period will be issued. You will receive an email with instructions for
accessing your permit.
After obtaining the scheduling permit, you may visit the specified website to schedule a
test date. Scheduling may not be available more than three months in advance.
From the beginning of February 2019, the SMLE will be offered in 11 testing windows in
Saudi Arabia and internationally as per the link. No testing windows will be available in
January 2020.
Important Notes:
- Saudi university/college students can sit for SMLE-SDLE-SNLE-SPLE during the final
year of undergraduate studies.
- For application to postgraduate training the last day to test is 28 Dec 2019.
- There are 16 cities nationwide that deliver the tests during test windows with 404
seats/day.
- Scheduling the allowed test attempts during the year is the sole responsibility of the
candidate.
- SCFHS is not responsible for delaying the test attempts till the end of the year and not
finding a test spot.
- Candidates can test in any SCFHS approved Prometric testing center locally and
internationally as locations appear upon scheduling.
- A candidate is not allowed to sit for the test twice in the same testing window. In this
instance, the result of the first dated test will be announced and the second will be
considered an attempt and result invalid.
- All candidates must review the applicant guide before taking the test.
|Page4
Jan 2019
(SMLE)
Applicant Guide
Note : Read this guide before submitting an application to test. At the time of
application, you will be required to acknowledge that you have read and understood
this guide and the policies and procedures contained within.
,General Rules
Saudi Medical Licensure Examination
Congratulations to those who are a year away from MBBS/MD graduation and the ones
who have already graduated! We share the excitement and pride you feel at this moment
of your life. Your future career is bright and holds many opportunities. We wish you all
the success in your future endeavors and dreams.
At this stage, you must take the Saudi Medical Licensure Examination (SMLE) if you
want to practice in Saudi Arabia or get admitted to a postgraduate training program at the
Saudi Commission for Heath Specialties (SCFHS).
What is the SMLE?
The SMLE is an exam that assesses your readiness to practice and/or proceed to
postgraduate training. It consists of 300 MCQs which may include up to 20 pilot
questions. It is a six-hour MCQ examination with scheduled breaks. It is divided into
three sections of 100 questions each with time allocation of 120 minutes for each part.
There are two scheduled breaks between section one-two and section two-three with a
pool total time of 45 minutes to be divided between these two breaks based on candidate
preference. These MCQs have four options from which the candidate will choose one
best answer.
The examination shall contain recall questions that test knowledge and questions with
scenarios that test other skills (interpretation, analysis, decision making, reasoning and
problem solving).
Note : (See Appendix A: for Important exam Instructions).
|Page2
Jan 2019
,What is a test blueprint, and what is its purpose?
A test blueprint is a document that reflects the content of the SMLE. The blueprint is the
plan used for “building” the SMLE. The blueprint was established by the SMLE steering
committee which consists of representatives from Saudi Medical College Deans. The
purpose of the blueprint is to ensure including questions related to what you are expected
to know before entry into supervised clinical practice.
Note:(See Appendix B: for test blueprint).
Application and Eligibility
How to apply for the SMLE?
To apply for the SMLE, you must have a recognized primary degree (MBBS or
equivalent) from an accredited health science program or commenced training in the
internship year or student who is one year away from graduation.
|Page3
Jan 2019
, Applying for the SMLE
When applying for the examination, you must apply through the e-application and
include the required attachments. Once your application is processed, a scheduling permit
with your eligibility period will be issued. You will receive an email with instructions for
accessing your permit.
After obtaining the scheduling permit, you may visit the specified website to schedule a
test date. Scheduling may not be available more than three months in advance.
From the beginning of February 2019, the SMLE will be offered in 11 testing windows in
Saudi Arabia and internationally as per the link. No testing windows will be available in
January 2020.
Important Notes:
- Saudi university/college students can sit for SMLE-SDLE-SNLE-SPLE during the final
year of undergraduate studies.
- For application to postgraduate training the last day to test is 28 Dec 2019.
- There are 16 cities nationwide that deliver the tests during test windows with 404
seats/day.
- Scheduling the allowed test attempts during the year is the sole responsibility of the
candidate.
- SCFHS is not responsible for delaying the test attempts till the end of the year and not
finding a test spot.
- Candidates can test in any SCFHS approved Prometric testing center locally and
internationally as locations appear upon scheduling.
- A candidate is not allowed to sit for the test twice in the same testing window. In this
instance, the result of the first dated test will be announced and the second will be
considered an attempt and result invalid.
- All candidates must review the applicant guide before taking the test.
|Page4
Jan 2019
