LAST UPDATED: Nov 13, 7 AM
The healthcare sector in Cameroon is evolving rapidly, with the introduction of reforms aimed at raising the standard of medical training to meet both national and international requirements.
A key part of this transformation is the MINSANTE Aptitude Test, a mandatory examination for healthcare professionals seeking licensure to practice.
Whether you’re a nurse, midwife, laboratory technician, pharmacist, or any other medical professional, passing this test is now an essential step toward certification.
Recently, the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon released a communique detailing new procedures and dates for the upcoming 2024 National Special Aptitude Test.
This blog post will walk you through everything you need to know about the test, why it matters, and how you can prepare.
What is the MINSANTE Aptitude Test?
The MINSANTE Aptitude Test is a national exam organized by the Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTE) for individuals who hold diplomas in healthcare-related fields.
These include:
- Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS)
- Higher National Diploma (HND)
- Higher Professional Diploma (HPD)
- Diplôme Supérieur d’Études Professionnelles (DSEP)
- Bachelor’s degree (Licence) issued by the Ministry of Higher Education or a state-recognized university.
This test evaluates a candidate’s readiness to practice as a healthcare professional, focusing on critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical skills.
By passing this exam, you gain the license to practice as a medical professional in Cameroon and abroad, ensuring that you meet global standards for healthcare practitioners.
It is designed to assess your knowledge, skills, and decision-making abilities—traits that are essential in delivering safe and effective medical care.
The recent communique, dated 8th October 2024, announced that the aptitude test will take place as both written and practical exams.
The primary goal is to register successful candidates into the Order of Medico-Sanitary Personnel, officially licensing them to practice in their chosen field.
Why is the MINSANTE Aptitude Test Important?
This test isn’t just a requirement; it’s a benchmark of quality.
Medical professionals who pass the MINSANTE Aptitude Test can demonstrate their readiness to take on the responsibilities that come with working in the medical field, both in Cameroon and internationally.
Without passing this test, healthcare professionals will not be able to obtain the necessary license to practice, limiting their career prospects both locally and abroad.
In short, passing the test means you are certified to provide medical care, while failing to pass could delay your entry into the workforce or require further training.
In addition, the test is now part of the government’s efforts to standardize healthcare training and ensure that all professionals meet the same high standards of practice.
Key Dates and Registration
For the 2024/2025 academic year, the government has made some significant readjustments to medical training.
Students who are already in training can continue their education under the existing modalities, but they will still need to take the Aptitude Test in November 2024.
This decision affects a wide range of medical professionals, from nurses and midwives to laboratory technicians and pharmacists.
The Ministry of Public Health has provided the following important dates for the 2024 National Special Aptitude Test:
- Application deadline: Physical application files must be submitted to Regional Delegations of Public Health by November 8, 2024
- Written exams: November 16, 2024
- Practical exams: It is yet to be announced. Only individuals who pass the written exams will proceed to the practical session.
Note that these are the revised dates.
Importance of Preparing for Test
Preparing for the MINSANTE Aptitude Test is critical to ensuring that you pass on your first attempt.
The exam is not just a review of basic medical knowledge.
It requires you to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world medical situations.
Understanding the test format, practicing relevant questions, and familiarizing yourself with clinical scenarios will help you significantly improve your chances of success.
The Ministry of Public Health has released details about both the written and practical exams, which will test a variety of skills that are necessary for medical professionals.
It is highly recommended that candidates seek out the official press releases and study them carefully.
Additionally, this test will be held annually, which means that future healthcare professionals will continue to face this requirement.
However, students who fail the exam on their first try will not be left without options.
What Happens If You Don’t Pass the exam?
If you are unsuccessful in passing the MINSANTE Aptitude Test, don’t worry—you will have the opportunity to undergo additional training.
The Ministry of Public Health has put measures in place to help unsuccessful candidates strengthen their skills through supplementary education.
After completing this extra training, candidates will be required to sit for a certification exam, which will also be organized by MINSANTE.
The goal is to ensure that every healthcare professional in Cameroon meets the high standards required for safe and effective practice.
Passing the exam will allow you to join the Association of Nurses, Midwives, Lab Technicians, and other related professional groups, granting you the official license to practice.
Requirements for the Special Aptitude Test
Below are the updated registration requirements:
1.Registration Form: A form stamped at 1,500 CFA francs, which must be completed and downloaded from https://examen-national-special-minsante.cm.
2. Certified Birth Certificate: One (1) certified photocopy of your Birth Certificate, signed by a competent civil authority, dated less than three (03) months ago.
3. Payment Receipt: A receipt for the sum of 20,000 CFA francs issued by the Regional Delegate of Public Health from the location where you file your application.
4. Certified Copy of Required Diploma: One (1) certified photocopy of the diploma required for the test. The diploma should be issued either by the Ministry of Higher Education or by the supervising State University.
5. Certificate of Original Diploma Presentation: A certificate proving the presentation of the original diploma, issued by a competent administrative authority.
6. Certified Transcripts: Certified copies of transcripts for your entire curriculum, issued by the institution where you received your training.
7. Criminal Record Extract: One (1) extract from your criminal record, bulletin No. 3, dated less than three (03) months ago.
8. Medical Certificate: A medical certificate signed by a doctor practicing in a public health facility, certifying that you are fit to practice your profession. The certificate should be submitted in a sealed envelope.
9. Passport Photos: Two (2) 4X4 passport-sized photos in color, with a white background.
10. Stamped A4 Envelope: One (1) A4 envelope stamped at 500 CFA francs, bearing the candidate’s address.
Important Notes:
- Incomplete files, files submitted after the deadline, or files containing documents signed in a police station or by a non-competent authority will be rejected without exception.
Ensure that all your documents meet these requirements and are submitted within the designated timeframe to avoid disqualification.
Updated timetable and modalities for the exam
a) Written exams
| DATE | TYPE OF EXAMINATION | TIME | DURATION | PASS MARK | ELIMINATION SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/11/2024 | Professional exam 1 | 08:00-11:00 | 3 hours | 35% | 05/20 |
| General culture (Law, ethics, and professional conduct) | 11:30-13:30 | 2 hours | 30% | 05/20 | |
| Professional exam 2 | 14:30-17:30 | 3 hours | 35% | 05/20 |
b) Practical exams
The Regional Delegates of Public Health will identify the different sites for practical exams.
The Role of Licensure and Professional Recognition
It’s important to note that passing the MINSANTE Aptitude Test grants you a license to practice, but it does not automatically guarantee employment.
The license simply confirms that you are qualified to work as a medical professional in Cameroon or abroad.
Graduates will still need to apply for jobs in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings.
The license, however, will be your passport to these opportunities.
It is the official recognition that you have met the professional standards required to provide medical care, whether you’re a nurse, midwife, or technician.
Once licensed, you’ll be allowed to practice anywhere in Cameroon and, in many cases, internationally.
The Future of Healthcare Training in Cameroon
With the reforms set for the 2024/2025 academic year, medical education in Cameroon is moving toward a more structured and standardized system.
This ensures that healthcare professionals are well-prepared to handle the complexities of modern healthcare.
The government’s commitment to raising the bar for healthcare training will help improve the quality of medical services across the country.
As a future medical professional, it’s important to stay informed about these changes, prepare for the upcoming Aptitude Test, and continue your journey toward becoming a licensed healthcare provider.
74 Comments
When are the results of the Aptitude test coming out ?
Do I need to be a citizen to write or can I write the exam with my resident permit?
Thanks so much for the detailed info about the National Aptitude test, I did apply with HND while currently doing BNS, will my BNS still matters after the exams??
Secondly, the exam is scheduled for tomorrow and I registered under the Yaounde center, but till now I have no either where and when the exam is to be written in Yaounde.
You should receive the information by sms from INFOSMS.
Check your phone please.
Please how can I subscribe , so I am notified when you post anything ? Thanks
Thank you..
A newsletter form is located around the footer of the homepage of our site.
You need to enter your email address in the box and click subscribe.
Hello Camerland,
Thanks so much for this post, it’s been of great help to acquire knowledge and updates on news related to the government.
It’s a good thing to have the exam hope the same energy will be portrayed when it comes to salaries. Long live Cameroon.
Thanks again
Hello Naomi..
Thank you for the tip.
how is the exams nature sir what are we to read and wc specific areas is one to focus on??
Please after using my HND certificate to write the aptitude test, will I still have to write another test after my degree program?
Are you currently working with your HND Diploma?
Please those that are already licensed and had long registered in the nursing council are they still expected to write this aptitude test?
Please note, there are no exceptions.
This exam overrides any licensure obtained in the past.
Please what about those who are already in the Nursing council who did HND/Bsc are they still required to write? Haven’t been able to get clearificattions on this. Will be grateful to get a quick response since the deadline for registeration is close.
Please note, there are no exceptions.
This exam overrides any licensure obtained in the past.
I just completed school
So I have just the transcript
Please how do I go about with requirement 4 and 5?
Please contact your school or go to the ministry in Yaounde.
They can help you.
Please if you miss the aptitude test this year can you write next year
Yes. It will be an annual exam!
Please find out with your hospital about the effect of not writing the exam this year.
Hello greetings, please what are the various combination courses for Both professional paper 1 and 2 for medical Laboratory technician, it will greatly help us to prepare for the exams. Thank you
Sorry!!
The details have not been made public yet.
Hello thank you so much for the detailed information however I have a question I have a degree in nursing so does that mean I need just my degree transcript?…not including the HND transcripts right?
You will have to provide your first year to fourth year transcript.
Please what about those who are already out of Cameroon with HND and BNS in Nursing and have not started practicing. What are we going to do about this test ?since it involves practical part also
If you ever want to practice, you will need to take the exam.
The exam is organized annually.
Please am a trained medical sales representative from a private Institution. Am I eligible for the exam?
Hi, I studied as a medical sales representative in a private institution in Douala. Can I write the exam?
Please can those who graduated from the faculty of science in Microbiology and parasitology with a minor in medical laboratory technology write the test?
Are you practicing as a lab technician?
Yes
You will need to write the exam..
What about those who graduated from the state university with a BSc in nursing, Are they also supposed to write the aptitude exam? Please I need help urgently.
Yes please
Where will the exam be written in Douala ?
It will be communicated in the days ahead.
What about those who graduated from the state university with a BSc in nursing, Are they also supposed to write the aptitude exam?
You will have to write the exam
Please I wish to ask if the aptitude written test will be multiple choice questions or easy writing
Sorry!!
We have limited info about that.
Those of us who wrote the Nursing Assistant concour and went in for training and then later on went for the HND/Degree certificates are we also going to write this exams?
If someone included her husband’s name on the registration form as it is on her national identity card whereas all her certificates are not having her husband’s name, is it a problem?
You will have to write please.
You will need to write it please.
Pls I wish to ask for us who wants to enroll for the first year. Are we supposed to write the test? Because I want to enroll into the nursing program am so confused and I need someone to guide me please
Hello!
You will need to write it at the end of your training.
It will be held every year.
I hope that you are planning to enroll in a state university.
No sir private institute
If you are planning to start school this academic year, the program is temporary suspended by the Government.
Private schools are not allowed to take in new students for health sciences until further notice.
What about BSC??
Thank you
Glad you found it helpful
Thank you so much for the update
Please help me out.
Am a Nurse _ midwife, holder of BSc in Nursing and midwifery, from the Faculty of Health science, University of Bamenda. we entered the faculty after succeeding in a competitive entrance .
Am currently working as a midwife ( contract worker, category 9)under the state
Please is the aptitude test structured for nurse_ midwives also if not, how do I go about it? Do I go in for nursing or midwifery?
Please what if one missed the opportunity to sit in for the exams this year, can one still be eligible to register next year?
Please what are the consequences ( in my own case) if I fail to go in for the exams this year.
Thank you
If yes, you will need to write the aptitude test..
Which academic year is eligible for this test??
Reading through no specific year is allocated
I had my degree in 2019
Am I supposed to write?
Yes you would need to write it please.
Thank you so much
I didn’t write HND nor HPD exams
I did a direct 4 years degree program in Nursing/ midwifery in the university of Bamenda, faculty of health sciences.
What about those who had HND 2024, they have just the HND result slip. Does it mean that they cannot sit for the test since they don’t yet have the original certificate of HND?
Your slip is acceptable. Please get to your school for guidance.
How do I take the exams,I am in the USA please
The exam is only written in person and not online.
1) Am I to fill and print the registration form online after wish I will then put the 1500 stamp on it? And if possible can I see how the registration form looks like?
2) where and how to do the medical certificate.
Go to the official website and download the registration form please.
Everything has been explained in the article above.
You will need to create an account on the website before accessing the form.
The MINSANTE Special Aptitude Test is open to health personnel who hold diplomas such as the Higher National Diploma (HND), Higher Professional Diploma (HPD), or equivalent health-related qualifications.
It applies to both current graduates and those who have already completed their training.
Thanks for the information
Please what the requirements for the submission of the document
Thank you Simeonne! Please check the updated article now.
What are the requirements and how do I apply for the test
Hello! Please check the updated article now.
Thank you
Glad it was of help to you
What are the required documents and where are the documents submitted?
Hello! Please check the updated article now.
Thank you very much.
I was not aware of such a test.
Please what are the documents required to apply for the exam?
Thank you Lucy!!
We just updated the article.
Kindly check
What are the requirements and how do I apply for the test