• Aug 31, 2026
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If you are in India and wondering if you can give DHA exam in your home country, then you have come to the right blog. And yes, you can take the DHA exam in India. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) exam runs at Prometric test centers across the country, so you don't need to fly to Dubai to sit for it. Doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals all use these same centers to qualify for a Dubai medical license. This guide covers three things: where the centers are, how to book your slot, and what to expect on exam day.

Is the DHA Exam Available in India? Quick Facts

The exam works the same way whether you sit for it in Mumbai or Dubai. These are things that do not change no matter where you are:

  • The examination will be of the Computer Based Test (CBT) type through Prometric.
  • There is a limit of 3 attempts per year and unlimited attempts for life.
  • The format of the exam consists of 100-150 multiple choice questions, depending on the profession.
  • The duration of the session is 150-170 minutes.
  • Passing score: 60 to 65 percent, and there is no negative marking, so guessing costs you nothing.
  • Exam dates: There is no fixed annual calendar. Slots open year-round, and availability depends on seats at your chosen center.
This last point trips up a lot of candidates. You do not wait for an announced exam window like you would for a university entrance test. You book whenever you are ready and a seat is open.

DHA Exam Centers in India

The DHA exam centers in India sit inside Prometric's existing test network, so you are not looking for a special DHA-only building. You are booking a DHA session at a regular Prometric location.

City Coverage Area Booking Note
Mumbai Maharashtra High demand; book 1-2 months ahead
Delhi NCR Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida Busiest center for North India
Bangalore Karnataka Moderate demand
Chennai Tamil Nadu Good availability
Hyderabad Telangana Good availability
Kochi / Thiruvananthapuram Kerala High volume from nursing and allied health candidates
Ahmedabad Gujarat Fewer slots; plan early
Kolkata West Bengal Limited slots

A few things worth knowing before you pick one:

  • You don't select your center until after your DataFlow eligibility comes through. Trying to lock one in earlier just wastes time.
  • The Prometric scheduling portal shows real-time seat availability, so treat it as your source of truth, not this list.
  • If your home city isn't on this table, check nearby metros first. Prometric adds and removes smaller centers based on demand, so Jaipur, Pune or Patna candidates often end up traveling to the nearest major hub anyway.
  • Big cities fill up fast around common application cycles. If you can, avoid booking during January, April, July or October unless you've already secured a slot weeks in advance.

Step-by-Step DHA Exam Booking Process

Booking isn't a single click. It's a chain of steps, and skipping ahead in your head won't skip them in reality. Here's the full sequence.

1

Create a Sheryan account. This is DHA's official credentialing portal, and it issues your DHA Unique ID, the number you'll use for everything that follows.

2

Submit your documents for DataFlow Primary Source Verification (PSV). DataFlow directly verifies your credentials with your university, licensing board and prior employers. This process typically takes 30-45 working days and should be initiated in advance.

3

Please wait for eligibility approval. DHA reviews your verified file and confirms whether you can move to the exam stage.

4

Log into Prometric. Visit the website prometric.com and type in “DHA” in the search bar. Select your healthcare category from the list.

5

Choose your center, date, and time. Pick from whatever slots show as open for your category and location.

6

Pay the exam fee online. Payment is by credit or debit card, and fees vary by profession.

6

Save your confirmation. Download the email or PDF Prometric sends you. You'll need it physically or digitally at the center.

Here's what the exam fee looks like by profession:

Profession Approx. Exam Fee (USD)
Nurses / Allied Health 180-240
General Practitioners / Dentists 260-280
Specialists 280-300

The exam fee is only part of the bill. Once you add DataFlow verification and the Sheryan application charge, the full process typically runs between Rs.25,000 and Rs.75,000 depending on your profession and how many documents need checking. If you want a full cost breakdown, that deserves its own page rather than a rushed paragraph here.

Exam Day: What to Bring and What to Expect

Exam day rules at Prometric centers are strict, and one missed detail can cost you your slot and your money. Treat this section like a checklist, not background reading.

Bring these two things, no substitutes:

  • Your original, unexpired passport. A photocopy or a photo on your phone will not work, and Aadhaar or a driving license is not accepted as valid ID at DHA sessions.
  • Your exam confirmation email or PDF from Prometric, printed or saved on your phone.

What happens once you're inside:

  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time. Show up late, and the center will turn you away, no refund included.
  • You cannot bring personal items into the testing room. Your phone, bag, and watch go into a locker at the front desk.
  • The room is proctored and monitored the entire time you're testing.
  • Results usually post to your Sheryan portal within three to seven working days.

If things don't go your way:

  • You get up to three attempts per year, so one bad day doesn't end your path to a Dubai license.
  • Need to reschedule? Do it through Prometric at least five days before your exam date or you risk losing your fee.

FAQs

Yes. The exam runs at Prometric centers throughout India, and your result carries the same weight as one taken in Dubai.

The major centers are in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kolkata. The availability of exam seats are subject to change depending on demand.

Book one to two months ahead if you're targeting Mumbai or Delhi, since these fill up fastest. Smaller cities usually need less lead time.

Only your original, unexpired passport. Prometric centers in India do not accept Aadhaar cards or driving licenses as valid identification for this exam.

Yes, through the Prometric portal, but you must do it at least five days before your scheduled date to avoid losing your fee.

You can attempt this exam 3 times a year. And you can make unlimited attempts throughout your life.