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Jiya Tyagi7 Jul, 2025
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DHA Exam 2025: Dubai Health Authority (DHA) plays an important role in regulating and licensing healthcare professionals who want to work in Dubai. To confirm the skills and qualifications of foreign professionals, DHA conducts a standardised test known as the DHA Exam.
DHA Exam 2025 is mandatory for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other health professionals looking to practice in Dubai. It helps that professionals meet UAE’s high standards of medical knowledge and patient care. Clearing the DHA exam grants candidates DHA license, which is important for employment in any Dubai-based healthcare facility. Check the section below for all updated information about DHA Exam 2025:
DHA Exam is a licensing examination conducted under the authority of the Dubai Health Authority to determine the knowledge and clinical skills of healthcare professionals. The exam is administered by Prometric, a globally recognized testing provider.
Passing this exam allows candidates to apply for DHA professional license, which is mandatory for legal employment in Dubai’s healthcare sector.
Healthcare professionals from various specializations must take the DHA exam if they are looking to work in Dubai's medical sector. This exam makes sure that only qualified and competent individuals are granted the license to practice. Check the points below for who needs to take the DHA exam:
General practitioners
Specialist doctors
Nurses and midwives
Dentists and dental hygienists
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
Physiotherapists
Lab technologists
Radiographers
Medical imaging technicians
Allied health professionals
Clearing the DHA Exam offers a wide range of professional benefits in Dubai's strong healthcare sector. It not only provides legal authorization to practice but also positions candidates for better pay, advanced medical infrastructure, and opportunities for career progression. Below are the top reasons why passing the DHA exam:
Get licensed to work in hospitals, clinics, and medical centers in Dubai
Attractive salary packages and tax-free income
International exposure and high-end infrastructure
Recognition across the UAE and GCC countries
Possibility of license conversion (DHA to MOH/DOH)
DHA Exam is generally held four times a year in January, April, July, and October. Applications for the first exam slot typically open in January. However, these dates are not fixed and may change at the choice of the authorities. Therefore, applicants are required to regularly visit the official DHA website for the latest updates. For specific information regarding test scheduling and locations, candidates can also refer to the Prometric website.
To apply for DHA Exam 2025, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements based on their professional category. These requirements ensure that applicants have the necessary educational background, clinical experience, and professional credentials to practice safely and competently in the Dubai healthcare system. Below are DHA Exam 2025 eligibility criteria:
|
DHA Exam 2025 Eligiblity Criteria |
|
|---|---|
|
Requirement Type |
Details |
|
Academic Qualification |
Recognized degree/diploma in the relevant healthcare field; attested documents required |
|
Work Experience |
Doctors: 2 years post-internship, Nurses & Allied Health: 2 years clinical practice |
|
Professional License |
Valid and active license to practice in the home country |
|
Good Standing Certificate |
Issued within the last 6 months by the medical council or regulatory authority |
|
Language Proficiency |
IELTS or TOEFL required in some cases (as per DHA guidelines) |
To apply for DHA Exam 2025, candidates must prepare and submit a set of important documents. hese documents help validate a candidate's identity, academic credentials, work experience, and current professional status. All documents must be scanned clearly and submitted in the formats accepted by DHA and the DataFlow Group. Below are documents required for DHA Exam Application:
Passport-size photograph (white background)
Passport copy (valid for 6 months)
Academic certificates (degree/diploma)
Transcript of records
Internship certificate (if applicable)
Valid professional license
Good Standing Certificate
Work experience certificates (last 2 years minimum)
Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate (for nurses/doctors)
Updated CV/Resume
Registering for the DHA Exam involves a well-defined multi-stage process. From creating a candidate's profile on the official DHA Sheryan portal to booking the exam slot through Prometric, each step must be completed carefully. Below is a step-by-step DHA exam registration process:
Step 1: Visit the DHA Sheryan Portal and register yourself.
Step 2: Use the Self-Assessment Tool available on the Sheryan portal to check the eligibility.
Step 3: Once eligible, fulfill the service requirements and submit the online application along with the necessary documents to DataFlow for verification.
Step 4: Choose a preferred exam date and center from the available options.
Step 5: Pay the DHA exam fee.
After successfully applying, candidates will receive a DHA Unique ID, which can be used to track their application status. The average processing time for DHA registration is typically 5-10 working days. Based on the application review, DHA may also request an oral assessment if necessary.
Before applying for the DHA (Dubai Health Authority) exam, it's important to understand the cost involved. The total expense includes application fees, exam fees, and license fees. These charges vary depending on the healthcare profession. Below is a table showing the estimated DHA exam fees:
| DHA Exam Fees 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DHA Exam Category |
Application Fees (INR) |
Exam Fees (INR) |
License Fees (INR) |
Total Estimated Cost (INR) |
|
General Practitioners |
INR 23,000 – INR 25,300 |
INR 23,000 – INR 27,600 |
INR 23,000 – INR 25,300 |
INR 69,000 – INR 78,200 |
|
Dentists |
INR 23,000 – INR 25,300 |
INR 27,600 |
INR 23,000 – INR 25,300 |
INR 73,600 – INR 78,200 |
|
Pharmacists |
INR 23,000 – INR 25,300 |
INR 23,000 – INR 27,600 |
INR 18,400 – INR 20,700 |
INR 64,400 – INR 73,600 |
|
Nurses |
INR 18,400 – INR 23,000 |
INR 18,400 – INR 20,700 |
INR 13,800 – INR 16,100 |
INR 50,600 – INR 59,800 |
|
Allied Health Professionals |
INR 16,100 – INR 20,700 |
INR 16,100 – INR 20,700 |
INR 13,800 – INR 16,100 |
INR 46,000 – INR 57,500 |
Understanding the exam pattern is important to prepare for the DHA Exam 2025 effectively. Each healthcare profession has a different format in terms of the number of questions, duration, and passing criteria. The exam is conducted in a computer-based format and follows a multiple-choice question (MCQ) style, designed to evaluate the candidate's important knowledge and decision-making skills.
|
DHA Exam Pattern 2025 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Profession |
Questions |
Duration |
Passing Marks |
|
General Practitioner |
150 MCQs |
165 mins |
60–70% |
|
Nurse |
150 MCQs |
90 mins |
60% |
|
Dentist |
150 MCQs |
150 mins |
65% |
|
Pharmacist |
120 MCQs |
90 mins |
60% |
|
Lab Technicians |
100 MCQs |
150 mins |
55% |
DHA Exam syllabus varies depending on the healthcare profession and is designed to test the core knowledge, important skills, and ethical understanding of candidates. A detailed syllabus helps applicants focus on subject-specific topics important for success in the exam. It is recommended to follow the official DHA Exam Syllabus 2025:
For Doctors (General Practitioners)
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Surgery
Emergency Care
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ethics and Medical Law
For Nurses
Fundamentals of Nursing
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Pediatric and Maternity Care
Pharmacology
Infection Control
For Pharmacists
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacology
Drug Interactions
Drug Dispensation
Prescription Analysis
For Dentists
Operative Dentistry
Oral Surgery
Endodontics
Dental Anatomy
Prosthodontics
Preparing effectively for DHA Exam 2025 is important to ensure success in one attempt. As the exam is specific to the profession and assesses clinical knowledge through multiple-choice questions, developing a strategic study plan, engaging in regular practice, and becoming familiar with the exam format are important. Below are some key preparation strategies:
1. Study DHA Syllabus
Begin preparation based on DHA blueprint
Focus on high-weightage topics
2. Practice MCQs
Solve multiple-choice questions in Prometric format
Time yourself during practice tests
3. Refer to Reliable Books
Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine
Kaplan Medical
Mosby’s Review for Nurses
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics for pharmacists
4. Enroll in Online Courses
Websites like PrometricGuru, GulfMedicalMCQ, and MediExam offer targeted courses
Understanding how candidates' performance is evaluated is an important aspect of DHA Exam preparation. The exam is scored on a pass/fail basis, and detailed scores are not shared with candidates. Knowing the timeline for result declaration and the number of allowed attempts can help candidates plan their next steps confidently.
Result Declaration: Within 5-10 working days via email and the Sheryan portal
Pass/Fail only; no detailed score is shared
Candidates can retake the exam if they fail (usually up to 3 attempts allowed)
After successfully passing the DHA Exam, the final step is to activate the candidate's professional license. This process involves submitting the required documents and paying the license activation fee via the DHA Sheryan portal. Once activated, the license permits candidates to legally work in Dubai’s healthcare sector. Below is a breakdown of the steps involved:
After passing the exam:
Submit a license activation request in Sheryan
Upload final documents and pay the license fee
Wait 4–6 weeks for license approval
Download DHA license and start the job application
DHA Exam 2025 is an important key to making a successful healthcare career in Dubai. With the increasing demand for skilled medical professionals in the UAE, now is the right time to take the exam. Though the process may seem long, proper planning, documentation, and preparation will help candidates clear it smoothly.
