Dubai has become a hub for medical professionals. However, like every country, you need to give an exam. The DHA Exam is the hurdle you need to clear first. It is run by the Dubai Health Authority and administered through Prometric. No doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist, or allied health professional can legally practice in Dubai without passing it.
This guide covers who qualifies, what the exam looks like, what it costs, and how to get licensed - in the exact order you need it. Read on to know about the Dubai Health Authority test.
What is the DHA Exam for Indians?
The DHA Prometric exam is a computer-based test. This exam will test your competency and clinical knowledge. Pass it, and you can move forward with getting a Dubai medical license. Fail it, and you cannot practice. Those Indians who want to work in Dubai as healthcare specialists, have to take this exam.
Prometric runs the exam across more than 8,000 test centers in over 160 countries. You can take it from your home country. You do not need to travel to the UAE just to sit the test.
The exam applies to a wide range of professionals - general practitioners, dentists, registered nurses, pharmacists, midwives, and allied health professionals. Each profession has its own syllabus, question count, and passing score.
The result is simple: Pass or Fail. There is no negative marking. Scores are scaled, so the passing threshold is not a fixed raw number across every exam version. The DHA uses this system to account for slight differences in difficulty between test versions.
Who can give the DHA Exam? (For Indian Healthcare Professionals)
To qualify for the DHA exam, you need four things: an accredited professional degree, an active home-country license, a Good Standing Certificate (GSC) issued within the last six months, and enough post-qualification clinical experience.
The minimum experience is two years for most professions. For specialist physicians, it is three or more years depending on your country tier.
| Profession |
Minimum Qualification |
Experience Required |
Internship Required |
| General Practitioner |
MBBS / MBChB |
2-3 years post-internship |
12-month rotating internship |
| Specialist Physician |
MBBS + residency or clinical Master's |
3+ years post-specialty |
Specialty credentials required |
| Dentist |
BDS or equivalent |
2 years post-graduation |
12-month clinical internship |
| Registered Nurse |
BSN (min. 3-year program) |
2 years post-registration |
Active nursing council registration |
| Pharmacist |
B.Pharm or equivalent |
2 years post-graduation |
Active pharmacy license |
| Allied Health / Lab Tech |
Relevant Bachelor's or Diploma |
2 years post-qualification |
Home-country registration |
Rule 1:First, if you cannot prove you completed a 12-month rotating internship, the DHA Unified PQR (Professional Qualification Requirements) requires two extra years of clinical experience instead.
Rule 2: The DHA does not accept honorary degrees, correspondence courses, distance learning programs, or hybrid certificates under any circumstances.
What Documents will be needed for DHA application?
All documents go through the Sheryan portal. Every file must be a PDF or JPEG at a minimum of 300 DPI. Documents not in English or Arabic need a certified translation before you upload them.
| Requirement |
Standard |
Risk If Not Met |
| Scan Resolution |
Min. 300 DPI (PDF or JPEG) |
Instant rejection |
| Translation |
Certified English or Arabic |
Processing delays of months |
| Passport Validity |
Min. 8 months remaining |
Portal transaction lockout |
| Good Standing Certificate |
Under 6 months from date of issue |
Rejection mid-process |
| English Proficiency (if needed) |
IELTS 5.0 / OET Grade C / TOEFL 500 / Cambridge 169 |
Application blocked |
Two Warnings Most Guides Do Not Mention
GSC Timing: Your Good Standing Certificate must stay valid throughout the entire credentialing review - not just at the point of submission. GSCs expire exactly six months after issue. If you request one before all your other documents are ready, it may expire mid-process. You would then have to pay for a new one.
Sheryan Portal Requirements: The portal only works on Google Chrome and Firefox. JavaScript must be enabled. Any draft left inactive for more than six months is automatically deleted. The system sends a warning email only 15 days before deletion. If you miss that email, your entire application is gone.
How Do You Apply for the DHA Exam Step by Step?
The DHA licensing process has five stages. They follow a fixed order. Skipping or rushing any step can cost you money or add months to your timeline.
Step 1: Fill out the Free Self Assessment on Sheryan.
The Sheryan portal contains an automated free Self-Assessment Tool. It gathers your education, work record and registration information in your home country. This is done to determine your eligibility for the Unified PQR.
If the result is "Eligible," the portal unlocks the next step. If it says "Not Eligible," you can request a manual review from a DHA licensing officer for AED 220.
This step is free. Use it first. Do not pay for DataFlow verification until you confirm you are eligible.
Step 2: Primary Source Verification (PSV) Through DataFlow
DataFlow is an independent verification company. It reaches your university, medical council and previous employers directly. Through this they verify your degree, license and employment status. This is called Primary Source Verification (PSV).
The base fee is:
- AED 1,235 for doctors and dentists
- AED 935 for nurses and allied health professionals
This covers one degree, one license, and one employment certificate. Each additional document costs AED 300. Verification takes 15 to 45 days on average. Applications from South Asia and Africa may take up to 60 days.
Critical point: DataFlow fees are completely non-refundable. If your credentials are rejected after payment, you lose that money. This is exactly why the free Self-Assessment in Step 1 must come first.
Once DataFlow finishes, they issue a report with a unique case number. You must manually link this number to your Sheryan profile. The DHA will not generate an exam eligibility ID without it.
Step 3: Prepare the Prometric CBT
You will receive CBT Eligibility ID created by Sheryan. Use it to book your exam at prometric.com/dha. Choose your profession, select a test center, and pay the exam fee. This fee is also non-refundable.
The DHA does allow you to schedule the Prometric exam while DataFlow is still processing - this can save weeks. But if DataFlow later finds a problem with your credentials, you lose both fees.
Step 4: Apply for the DHA Eligibility Letter
After passing the exam, log into Sheryan and use the "Get Registered" service. Your full application - exam result, GSC, and transcripts - goes to the DHA credentialing committee for a final review.
If approved, you receive a DHA Eligibility Letter. It is valid for one year. It confirms you meet all licensing standards. It does not yet allow you to practice.
Step 5: Activate Your License Via a Licensed Facility
You need to have your license activated in a DHA licensed healthcare facility. The Medical Director logs in to the corporate Sheryan account, uploads your malpractice policy and your employment visa, and pays for the activation. Upon approval by DHA, you will receive a copy of your eLicense - which is the document to formally authorize your clinical practice in Dubai.
What is the DHA Exam Pattern and Passing Score?
The DHA Prometric exam is a multiple-choice test. Every question has one correct answer. There is no negative marking. Answer every question, even when you are guessing - blank answers cost you more than wrong ones.
Results are reported as Pass or Fail. The DHA exam passing score uses scaled scoring, so the exact threshold varies slightly depending on your test version's difficulty level.
| Profession |
Questions |
Duration |
Passing Score |
Recommended Mock Score |
| General Practitioner |
150 MCQs |
165 mins |
60% |
70-75% |
| Registered Nurse |
150 MCQs |
165 mins |
60% |
70-75% |
| General Dentist |
150 MCQs |
180 mins |
60% |
70-75% |
| General Pharmacist |
120 MCQs |
165 mins |
60% |
70-75% |
| Clinical Pharmacist |
150 MCQs |
165 mins |
70% |
75-80% |
| Laboratory Technician |
100 MCQs |
150 mins |
55% |
65-70% |
| Radiographer |
150 MCQs |
180 mins |
55% |
65-70% |
| Cardiology Specialist |
150 MCQs |
165 mins |
75% |
80-85% |
| General Surgery Specialist |
100 MCQs |
150 mins |
65% |
75-80% |
| Pediatrics Specialist |
100 MCQs |
160 mins |
70% |
80-85% |
Study to hit the recommended mock score column, not the official passing score. Because of scaled scoring, a 10 to 15 percentage point buffer protects you from variation on exam day.
You are allowed a maximum of three attempts per year across all UAE regulatory authorities. Fail three times, and you must complete 40 additional hours of clinical training and submit upgraded qualifications before you can rebook.
DHA Exam Syllabus
There are different career options in healthcare sector in Dubai. Accordingly, for each there is different syllabus for the DHA Exam. Below you will find details of the same for different careers.
DHA Exam Syllabus for Nurses
The DHA nursing exam covers five clinical domains. Each domain carries a fixed percentage of the total exam. Study in proportion to those weights.
| Domain |
Weighting |
| Fundamentals of Nursing |
25% |
| Unit Management and Leadership |
22% |
| Adult Nursing |
20% |
| Paediatric Nursing |
18% |
| Maternal Health |
15% |
Fundamentals and management together make up 47% of the exam. Give these two areas the most preparation time.
DHA Exam Syllabus for General Practitioners
| Area |
DHA Exam Syllabus Topics |
| Clinical domains |
12 core clinical domains |
| Chronic diseases |
Hypertension, diabetes, respiratory care |
| Acute care |
Acute emergencies and urgent clinical cases |
| Child health |
Paediatrics |
| Women's health |
Obstetrics, gynaecology, and related primary care topics |
| Family medicine |
Common patient care, diagnosis, and follow-up |
| Public health |
Epidemiology and preventive care |
| Local regulations |
UAE local health regulations |
| Key exam focus |
Clinical decision-making across all 12 areas |
DHA Exam Syllabus for Pharmacists
| Topic |
Weightage |
| Pharmaceutical Care and Disease Management |
35% |
| Pharmacy Calculations and Compounding |
15% |
| UAE Pharmacy Law and Ethics |
10% |
| Over-the-Counter Medications |
10% |
| Pharmacokinetics |
5% |
| Toxicology |
5% |
| Paediatrics |
5% |
| Geriatrics |
5% |
| Pregnancy and Lactation |
5% |
DHA Exam Syllabus for Laboratory Technicians
| Area |
DHA Exam Syllabus Topics |
| Laboratory safety |
Safety and Quality Control |
| Microbiology |
Bacteriology and Virology |
| Immune system testing |
Immunology |
| Parasite testing |
Parasitology |
| Blood testing |
Hematology |
| Transfusion science |
Blood Bank |
| Chemical pathology |
Biochemistry |
What is the DHA Licensing process cost?
It will almost cost around AED 1,435 to 2,855. The exact amount depends on your profession and how many documents require verification.
| Fee Stage |
Doctor / Specialist |
Nurse |
Pharmacist |
| Self-Assessment |
Free |
Free |
Free |
| Manual Review (if needed) |
AED 220 |
AED 220 |
AED 220 |
| DataFlow PSV (Base Package) |
AED 1,235 |
AED 935 |
AED 935 |
| Extra Document Verification |
AED 300 per document |
AED 300 per document |
AED 300 per document |
| Prometric Exam Fee |
AED 900-1,200 |
AED 300-400 |
AED 1,000-1,200 |
| Sheryan Registration |
AED 200 |
AED 200 |
AED 200 |
| Direct Candidate Total |
AED 2,335-2,855 |
AED 1,435-1,755 |
AED 2,135-2,555 |
| Annual License Activation (Employer-Covered) |
AED 3,000 |
AED 1,000 |
AED 1,000 |
Once you are hired, the employer typically covers the annual license activation fee, malpractice liability insurance ($150-$400 USD), and visa and Emirates ID processing ($500-$800 USD).
Outside of portal fees, budget for document attestation from your home-country ministry and the UAE Embassy. That runs between $150 and $400 USD depending on your country of origin.
Who is Exempt from the DHA Prometric Exam?
Some professionals do not need to sit the CBT. If you hold a recognized board certification from a Tier 1 country, the DHA exam exemption applies to you. You still need DataFlow verification and Sheryan registration - but the computer-based test is waived.
| Country |
Credential |
Level Granted |
| USA (Specialists) |
ABMS Board Certification |
Specialist / Consultant |
| UK (Specialists) |
Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) |
Specialist / Consultant |
| Canada (Specialists) |
FRCPC / FRCSC (Royal College) |
Specialist / Consultant |
| Australia / NZ |
Fellowship - FRACS, FRACP |
Specialist / Consultant |
| USA (GPs) |
USMLE Part III |
General Practitioner |
| UK (GPs) |
PLAB 1 + PLAB 2 |
General Practitioner |
| Canada (GPs) |
LMCC |
General Practitioner |
| Australia (GPs) |
AMC (both parts) |
General Practitioner |
For professionals from intermediate-tier countries - including India, Pakistan, Brazil, Russia, and Turkey - the CBT is also waived. However, you must attend an oral examination in Dubai instead. A panel of two or three senior consultants evaluates you on clinical scenario questions. This path typically extends the total licensing timeline to five to nine months, because scheduling depends on panel availability and requires processing of non-English paperwork.
The exemption is not automatic. Every case is reviewed individually.
How Does a Clinical Practice Gap Affect DHA Eligibility?
If you have been out of clinical practice for more than two years, your DHA license application gets more complex. You must complete remedial training before you can take or retake the exam.
The requirements increase with the length of your gap:
| Gap Duration |
CME Credits Required |
Supervised Training |
Exam Required? |
| 2 to less than 3 years |
20 credits |
4 months |
Skill verification only |
| 3 to less than 4 years |
40 credits |
6 months |
Yes |
| 4 to less than 5 years |
60 credits |
8 months |
Yes |
| Over 5 years |
Ineligible |
Ineligible |
Not applicable |
The supervised training must take place in a DHA-approved Approved Practice Setting (APS). Not every facility qualifies. The gap is measured from your last documented clinical employment date to the date of your license application - not the exam date.
UAE nationals are allowed up to 10 years before permanent ineligibility. International applicants have no such allowance. A gap over five years means permanent ineligibility, with no exceptions recognized.
Surgeons with gaps over three years have one additional requirement: a stamped surgical logbook covering the last two years of active clinical work.
How can MOKSH Academy help you pass the DHA Exam and get you a license in Dubai?
Doctors and Nurses or other healthcare professionals wishing to work in Dubai must go through the DHA Exam process. Having passed the exam is not enough. The correct documentation is also required, together with DataFlow verification, DHA registration and license activation with an employer registered with DHA.
MOKSH Academy personally takes you through the whole Dubai Health Authority licensing process in one light path.
What Our DHA Exam Preparation Covers
Our training platform is designed for Indian healthcare professionals, specifically who require focused and exam-ready assistance. You get:
- Online DHA exam training with multiple choice questions according to the actual exam pattern.
- Expert Mentor-led live classes & events.
- Conditions of mock tests similar to the exam.
- Performance review and personal feedback
- Exam strategies- time management and accuracy
This aids preparation for the exam style, enhances clinical decision making and boosts confidence prior to examination.
Our End-to-End DHA Licensing Support
We are here for you right from the initial check till the placement. This includes:
- DHA eligibility check
- DataFlow Primary Source Verification
- DHA exam preparation
- Prometric exam guidance
- DHA registration support
- DHA activation of your license with an approved employer in Dubai.
Why Choose MOKSH Academy?
At MOKSH Academy, more than just coaching is delivered. We are providing DHA licensing consultation, career direction, and placement assistance in Dubai. We assist you to build a CV, prepare for interviews, connect with employers, offer relocation support and support your onboarding. This doesn't mean you simply receive a license. You get closer to a real career in healthcare in Dubai.
FAQs
Yes. Prometricoperates more than 8,000 test centers in over 160 countries. You can book and complete the exam in your home country. Travel to Dubai is only required when you have an active job offer and are ready to activate your license.
A maximum of three attempts per year across all UAE regulatory authorities. If you fail all three, you must complete 40 additional hours of clinical training and submit upgraded qualifications before you can rebook.
Most candidates finish in three to six months. DataFlow verification is the main bottleneck, taking anywhere from 15 to 60 days depending on your country of origin. Candidates who need an oral examination in Dubai should plan for five to nine months in total.
Yes. From the date of issuance, the DHA Eligibility Letter has a validity of one year. If you do not secure a job and activate your license within that window, you must reapply through the full process.
Yes, within strict limits. General practitioners, nurses, and dentists may hold one part-time license. Non-surgical specialists may hold two. Surgical specialists and consultants may hold up to four. Each arrangement requires approval from the Medical Director of your primary facility.
