Good Standing Certificate must be current
DHA requires the certificate to be valid and not older than six months at the time of application. Requesting it too early is a common and avoidable delay.
Dubai healthcare professional licensing
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) License: Fees, Requirements and Process
Applying for a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) license? Start with the exact professional title and the Sheryan self-assessment. Then check verification, any title-specific assessment, professional registration and facility activation. This guide explains the handoffs and the questions to resolve before you spend money.
- DHA Pathway Guidance
- PQR-Based Review
- DataFlow / PSV Support
- Application Assistance
The short answer
DHA License in Brief
- Three stages in Sheryan: the Self Assessment Tool (free, result instant), then Get Registered, then Activate by your employing facility.
- Registration: AED 200; DHA decides a complete application in 5 working days. Primary source verification (DataFlow) and any required exam happen inside this stage.
- Exam, where your title needs one: a Prometric CBT at USD 180, 240 or 280 depending on the exam code, with a pass mark between 50% and 70% depending on the title (all specifications), or an oral assessment.
- Licence: registration is valid for 1 year and is not a licence to practise; a facility activates it (one year full time: AED 1,000 for nurses, allied health and T&CM, AED 3,000 for physicians and dentists).
- Good Standing Certificate: DHA requires the certificate to be valid and not older than six months at the time of application. Requesting it too early is a common and avoidable delay.
Sources: DHA Sheryan — Get Registered service description · DHA — Healthcare Professional Licensing Assessment Guideline (CBT), updated September 2026 · DHA Sheryan — Activate Professional License service
Checked between 22 August and 20 September 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
Choose the next service, not just the authority
What did your Sheryan self-assessment actually say?
The result guides the next request. It does not issue permission to practise. DHA’s professional services directory separates self-assessment, registration and facility activation.
| Your position | What to check next | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Self-assessment supports the selected title | Check the verification and assessment instructions for that exact title before applying for registration. | The automated result is not an active professional licence. |
| Self-assessment says “not eligible” or seems inaccurate | Review the entered qualification, experience and title. The DHA self-assessment service page explains how to proceed to Review Registration Eligibility for a manual decision. | The automated result does not rule out requesting a manual eligibility review. |
| You hold a valid registration | Confirm the category, specialty and validity with the prospective facility. The facility handles activation if its requirements are met. | Registration, sometimes called an eligibility letter, does not permit practice before activation. |
| You already hold a DHA licence | Check whether the request is renewal, an added title, a transfer or another change through the relevant Sheryan service. | A current professional should not assume that every change needs a new-applicant route. |
Write down the precise professional title and intended facility service before paying for a test. DHA publishes a Mode of Exam per Specialty; the assessment, if required, must be checked for your title rather than inferred from a generic “DHA exam” guide.
From registration to a place of practice
Four points to settle with the hiring facility
- Does the facility’s active licence cover the specialty and service connected to your registration?
- Will the facility submit the activation request, and how will you approve or respond to it in Sheryan?
- Who will arrange malpractice coverage and confirm other prerequisites for your proposed appointment?
- What is the expected start date after the active professional licence is issued?
The DHA activation service states that a professional can practise once the licence is issued. Use the active licence status, rather than a recruitment email or registration screenshot, as the final checkpoint.
Profile-ledPQR-based review first
Document-awareChecklist guidance for your case
Verification-readyDataFlow / PSV support
Facility-awareRegistration and activation context
Who this pathway is for
Who Needs a DHA License?
This guide covers professionals seeking to practise in a DHA-licensed Dubai healthcare facility. Check the facility, professional category, title and specialty before choosing a Sheryan service.
A clearer sequence
DHA Licensing Process
- Profile reviewReview your profession, title, specialty, qualifications, clinical experience and intended Dubai pathway.
- PQR / self-assessment guidanceUnderstand the profile factors to consider before moving into the authority process.
- Document checklist preparationPrepare the relevant document checklist for your profession and individual case.
- DataFlow / PSV guidanceReview what may need verification and prepare carefully before starting or transferring verification.
- DHA application, exam or assessment guidanceFollow the appropriate next step if an application, computer-based test or assessment is relevant to the result.
- Registration result and facility activation guidanceUnderstand the distinction between DHA registration and facility activation into an active licence before practice.
The rules that decide your case
Requirements DHA Publishes
These are the specific conditions taken from the authority's own service pages — the details that most often decide whether an application proceeds or stalls.
Surgical specialties must supply a logbook
The last two years of surgical logbook are required for surgical specialties.
Verification comes before registration
Qualifications, experience and registration must be verified through a Primary Source Verification agency, and any required computer-based assessment passed, before the registration application is decided.
Registration and an active licence are not the same thing
Registration is tied to the category, title and specialty you applied under. A healthcare facility then activates it into an active practising licence. You cannot practise on registration alone.
Three attempts at the assessment — across all authorities
DHA states the professional must pass the related assessment within three (3) attempts across the Authorities. Anything beyond that is an exception, not a reset: DHA’s Assessment Manual allows a further attempt only on its stated conditions, and a third DHA failure bars a new DHA application for two years.
DataFlow and the CBT exam can run in parallel
DHA states plainly that verification and the computer-based assessment can be done at the same time. Treating them as sequential — waiting for the DataFlow report before booking the exam — adds weeks to the timeline for no reason.
Registration is valid for one year and is not a licence
DHA states registration is valid for one year, and that a healthcare facility must activate it into a licence before the professional can start practising. Registration alone does not permit practice.
Draft applications are deleted after six months of inactivity
DHA clears draft applications left inactive for over six months, sending a reminder to the registered email address fifteen days beforehand. Worth knowing if you start an application and pause it while arranging documents.
The PSV result must come first
DHA requires the professional to have received the Primary Source Verification result for submitted documents before the registration application proceeds, and states an applicant must not be blacklisted.
A Good Standing Certificate has no expiry date of its own
DHA states its certificate carries an issue date and no validity period — it is for the receiving authority to decide whether to accept it. That cuts both ways: a certificate submitted to DHA must not be older than six months on the date you apply.
Good standing needs three months of active licence behind it
DHA requires an active licence held for more than three months. A professional who has been suspended or revoked, or who has been under investigation or received another decision in the past two years, is issued a Certificate of Current Status instead.
An expired registration cannot be renewed at all
Renewal is possible in two windows only: three months before expiry, or three months after a licence cancellation. Once the registration has actually expired the professional starts again from the Self Assessment Tool and completes every requirement afresh.
A professional may hold three registered positions at most
DHA defines a position as category, title and specialty together — physician, specialist, cardiology — and allows a maximum of three. One assessment is required per position, so three positions can mean three assessments.
A practice gap has an outer limit, and it differs for UAE nationals
A gap over two years adds a trainee restriction to the registration. The ceiling beyond that is five years for non-locals and ten years for locals.
A revoked professional is barred for two years
DHA does not accept an application from a revoked professional for two years from the revocation date. Reapplying then needs Medical Practice Committee approval, a positive verification report on new documents, and any required assessment passed again.
DHA's two documents give different renewal windows
The Renew Professional Registration service page states registration can be renewed within three months of its expiry date, or within three months of the professional licence being cancelled. The Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals v1.3 instead states renewal may be applied for within 90 days before the expiry date, and that after a licence cancellation the registration stays active for one year. Both are DHA's own. Work to whichever is stricter for your case and confirm with DHA before relying on either.
Nothing carries forward, and a shortfall blocks renewal
DHA's live CPD service states: “If the professional overachieves the set target, nothing will be carried forward to the next Professional License Renewal. However, if the professional underachieves the target, then the professional license cannot be renewed.” This reverses the 2023 Service Catalogue, which allowed 10 points to be carried into the next year. The live page is the one that governs.
Holding more than one position adds the targets together
Where a professional is licensed in more than one category, the 2023 Service Catalogue states the target CPD points are combined — the sum of the requirement for each category, not the higher of the two. The live CPD service page does not repeat this rule, so confirm it applies before relying on it.
The circulating “40 hours” figure is 40 points, and only for a one-year licence
DHA publishes CPD targets as points against the licence term, not as annual hours. Physicians and dentists need 40 points for a one-year licence, 80 for two years and 120 for three. Nurses and all pharmacists need 20/40/60. Allied healthcare and TCAM need 10/20/30. Sites quoting “40 hours for doctors, 20 for nurses, 10 for allied health” have the right numbers for the wrong unit and only for the shortest licence term.
An outstanding CPD action blocks an upgrade
DHA lists among the limitations on Add/Upgrade Professional Registration that the professional must not have an uncompleted CPD action against their registration or licence. A CPD gap does not simply sit there — it stops the next application.
Sources: DHA Sheryan — Get Registered service description · DHA Sheryan licensing portal · DHA — Health Regulation Sector Service Catalogue (update 21 March 2023) · DHA — Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals v1.3, effective 18/07/2025 · DHA Sheryan — Update CPD Points service description
Checked 22 August 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
Document readiness
Documents for a DHA Licence Application
This is the document list DHA publishes for this service, not a generic checklist. Your case may need additional items depending on profession, title and specialty.
Sources: DHA Sheryan — Get Registered service description
Checked 22 August 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
Important: DHA says the Good Standing Certificate submitted with registration must be valid and no older than six months on the application date. Request it when the rest of the file is nearly ready. Additional documents depend on your title. This page does not collect attachments.
What it actually costs
DHA Fees
Sheryan prints its core fees twice — once for Nurse and Midwife, Allied Health and T&CM, once for Physicians and Dentists. Those two columns are identical for registration and diverge sharply at licence activation, so the category you fall into changes the total far more than the registration fee does. The rows below the activation block are single-price services published in DHA's Service Catalogue rather than on the live portal, and are dated accordingly in their notes.
| What you pay for | Amount | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHA professional registration (credentialing) | AED 200 | Official | Identical for both applicant categories. The same AED 200 applies to renewal and to adding or upgrading a registration. |
| Self Assessment Tool | Free | Official | DHA charges nothing to check your own eligibility before applying. Worth doing first. |
| CBT assessment — Physicians, Dentists | USD 280 | Official | DHA prices the computer-based exam in US dollars, not dirhams. No AED equivalent is published. |
| CBT assessment — Nursing and most Allied Health | USD 240 | Official | Applies to all Nursing CBTs and the majority of Allied Health specialties. |
| CBT assessment — Aesthetician, Laser, OT Technician, TCIM | USD 180 | Official | The lowest of DHA’s three CBT price bands. Covers Aesthetician/Beauty Therapist, Cast Technician, Laser Hair Reduction, Operation Theatre Technician and Technologist, and all five TCIM exams. |
| Oral assessment — Nurse, Allied Health, T&CM | AED 250 | Official | Half what Physicians and Dentists pay for the same assessment. |
| Oral assessment — Physicians, Dentists | AED 500 | Official | The urgent option is AED 2,000 and is flat across every category, so it costs a Physician four times the normal fee and a Nurse eight times. |
| Licence activation, 1 year full-time | AED 1,000 / AED 3,000 | Official | Nurse, Allied Health and T&CM pay AED 1,000; Physicians and Dentists AED 3,000. Paid by the facility, not the professional. |
| Licence activation, 2 years full-time | AED 1,500 / AED 5,000 | Official | Nurse/Allied/T&CM and Physician/Dentist respectively. |
| Licence activation, 3 years full-time | AED 2,500 / AED 7,500 | Official | The widest gap between the two categories anywhere in DHA’s fee tables — three times the price for the same duration. |
| Part-time or trainee licence | AED 1,000 / AED 3,000 | Official | Priced the same as a one-year full-time licence in both categories. |
| Convert part-time to full-time | AED 200 | Official | Identical for both categories. |
| Knowledge and Innovation Fee | Added at checkout | Official | DHA states this is applied at checkout on every fee-bearing service and publishes no amount, rate or basis anywhere on Sheryan. Budget for a total above the listed fee. |
| Good Standing Certificate | AED 500 | Official | Requires an active DHA licence held for more than three months. Published in DHA's Health Regulation Sector Service Catalogue, updated March 2023. At least one fee in that document has since changed on the live portal, so confirm the current amount before you pay. |
| Review Registration Eligibility | AED 200 | Official | The paid appeal route when the free Self Assessment Tool returns "not eligible". Published in DHA's Health Regulation Sector Service Catalogue, updated March 2023. At least one fee in that document has since changed on the live portal, so confirm the current amount before you pay. |
| Transferring an existing PSV report to DHA | AED 300 | Official | DHA’s current FAQ states this for reports issued by other authorities. Additional or updated documents may need verification. The FAQ separately describes free linking for DHA reports issued after 2017; confirm the applicable service before paying. |
| Late full-time professional licence renewal — monthly penalty | AED 600 or AED 200 per month | Official | The current renewal service lists AED 600 per month for physicians/dentists and AED 200 for nurses, allied health and TCAM. Confirm the outstanding amount in Sheryan. This service page does not state a six-month cap on penalties. |
Sources: DHA Sheryan — Get Registered service description · DHA — Healthcare Professional Licensing Assessment Guideline (CBT), updated September 2026 · DHA Sheryan — Schedule Oral Assessment service · DHA Sheryan — Activate Professional License service · DHA — Health Regulation Sector Service Catalogue (update 21 March 2023) · DHA Sheryan — Primary Source Verification FAQs · DHA Sheryan — Renew Professional License
Checked between 22 August and 24 September 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
How long each stage takes
DHA Processing Times
| Stage | How long | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHA professional registration decision | 5 working days | Official | DHA’s stated service delivery time once a complete application is submitted. Renewal and add/upgrade are also 5 working days. |
| Self Assessment Tool result | Instant | Official | Free and immediate. The cheapest way to find out whether you are eligible at all. |
| Licence activation by the facility | Instant | Official | DHA states one working day where the professional’s personal records have changed. |
| CBT result uploaded to Sheryan | 2 working days | Official | Clause 7.2.14 of DHA’s assessment manual. |
| Oral assessment result | 3–5 working days | Official | Longer than the CBT, and the oral route covers the large majority of titles. |
| Oral assessment scheduling | 5 working days | Official | From submission to being scheduled — not to sitting the assessment. |
| Registration validity | 1 year | Official | From the date of issuance. A certificate issued after a successful assessment is valid one year from the result date. |
| Renewal window | 3 months | Official | The Sheryan service page states three months from expiry or from licence cancellation. DHA’s Licensing Manual v1.3 states 90 days before expiry and a one-year window after cancellation — the two DHA sources disagree, so check both before relying on either. |
| Expired licence renewal | 6 months | Official | Licensing Manual v1.3: an expired DHA licence can be renewed within six months of expiry. |
| Primary Source Verification — new report | 15 working days | Official | DHA’s current FAQ states this from payment for a new PSV report. This is a published estimate, not a guaranteed deadline; confirm the case-specific timing with DataFlow. |
| Transferring an existing PSV report | 5 working days | Official | DHA’s current FAQ states five working days from payment. Updated documents may need further verification; report transfer does not itself approve a professional licence. |
| Good Standing Certificate | 1 working day | Official | Published in DHA's Health Regulation Sector Service Catalogue, updated March 2023. At least one fee in that document has since changed on the live portal, so confirm the current amount before you pay. |
| Review Registration Eligibility | 10 working days | Official | Against "instant" for the automated Self Assessment Tool. Published in DHA's Health Regulation Sector Service Catalogue, updated March 2023. At least one fee in that document has since changed on the live portal, so confirm the current amount before you pay. |
Each row is a separate step, not a running total. A published service time runs from when the authority has a complete application. Primary source verification is a separate step with its own time, shown in its own row. Validity and renewal-window rows are periods, not processing times.
Sources: DHA Sheryan — Get Registered service description · DHA Sheryan — Activate Professional License service · DHA — Manual for Professional Assessment (Oral/CBT) · DHA Sheryan — Schedule Oral Assessment service · DHA Sheryan — Renew Professional Registration service · DHA — Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals v1.3, effective 18/07/2025 · DHA Sheryan — Primary Source Verification FAQs · DHA — Health Regulation Sector Service Catalogue (update 21 March 2023)
Checked between 22 August and 12 September 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
Where your title needs a CBT
DHA Exam Pass Mark, Questions and Fee for Common Titles
Some titles take an oral assessment instead, or no assessment. Check the exact title first, then the row for it; every other specialty is in the full table of DHA exam specifications.
| Title | Pass mark | Questions | Time | Fee | Exam code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 50% | 150 | 3 hours | USD 240 about AED 881 | RNT0312 |
| General Practice | 60% | 150 | 3 hours | USD 280 about AED 1,028 | GEN5331 |
| General Dentist | 60% | 150 | 3 hours | USD 280 about AED 1,028 | GEN5301 |
| Pharmacist | 60% | 150 | 3 hours | USD 240 about AED 881 | PHO5481 |
| Physiotherapist | 50% | 150 | 3 hours | USD 240 about AED 881 | PHY5121 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | 50% | 150 | 3 hours | USD 240 about AED 881 | LAB5601 |
| Radiographer | 55% | 150 | 3 hours | USD 240 about AED 881 | RAD5152 |
DHA prices the exam in US dollars. The dirham figure is the USD fee at the dirham's fixed rate of 3.6725; the amount you pay can differ with card or booking charges.
Sources: DHA — Healthcare Professional Licensing Assessment Guideline (CBT), updated September 2026
Checked 20 September 2026. DHA states it may activate or de-activate a specialty assessment and change its content, format or pass score without updating this guideline. Confirm the specification for your own specialty before you book.
Primary-source verification
DataFlow / PSV Verification for DHA Applicants
DataFlow or primary-source verification can help verify professional documents such as education, experience, professional registration and good standing. UAEHealthPro can guide you on what should be checked before starting or transferring verification.
Verification is independent.
UAEHealthPro can support your preparation and next steps, but does not control a verification outcome.
Explore DataFlow / PSV assistanceAssessment planning
DHA Exam or Assessment Guidance
Some professionals may need an exam or assessment depending on the DHA title, category and application result. UAEHealthPro can guide you on the relevant next steps after an eligibility review.
Preparation support only.
Exam guidance or future study material does not assure an exam result or licensing outcome.
Explore exam booking guidancePrepare carefully
Common DHA Licensing Mistakes
Wrong title
Applying under a DHA title that does not match the intended pathway.
Skipping PQR review
Starting the process before checking relevant profile factors.
Experience gaps
Missing recent experience or using incomplete experience formatting.
Expired good standing
Relying on a Good Standing Certificate that may no longer be accepted for the case.
Incorrect verification inputs
Starting DataFlow with documents that are incomplete or not aligned with the case.
Registration vs active licence
Confusing DHA registration with the facility activation required before practice.
Automatic-outcome assumptions
Assuming an application outcome without DHA review, verification and any relevant assessment.
Independent consultancy support
How UAEHealthPro Helps With DHA Licensing
Case-based quote
Get a Profile-Based DHA Cost Estimate
DHA licensing costs and timelines can vary based on profession, documents, DataFlow/PSV status, exam requirements and application type. Share your profile to receive a case-based quote and next-step guidance.
Continue your preparation
Related Licensing Services
DHA FAQs
Questions About DHA Licensing in Dubai
Is a “DHA eligibility letter” the same as professional registration?
DHA’s professional services directory itself refers to valid registration as an “Eligibility letter”. It is the registration stage, not a separate permission to practise. A DHA-licensed facility must activate it into an active professional licence before work starts.
What if Sheryan self-assessment says I am not eligible?
Check that the title, qualification and experience were entered accurately. DHA offers Review Registration Eligibility when the automated outcome is “not eligible” or does not reflect the applicant’s circumstances. Manual review is a route to a decision, not a promise of approval.
How do I know which DHA assessment applies?
Use DHA’s Mode of Exam per Specialty for the exact professional title. A CBT, an oral assessment or no assessment may apply depending on the title and application. Do not book a test based on a generic “DHA exam” description.
Does passing an assessment mean I can practise?
No. Assessment is one part of the relevant pathway. Registration and then active licensing through a suitable healthcare facility are separate steps; DHA states practice may begin after the professional licence is issued.
When should I request my Good Standing Certificate?
DHA says the certificate submitted for registration must be valid and no older than six months when the application is made. Check the issuing regulator’s processing time, but avoid requesting it so early that it ages out before submission.
Can I complete the DHA route before finding an employer?
An applicant can prepare and seek professional registration before facility activation. Activation is a facility service and depends on active registration, the facility’s permitted specialty and other prerequisites. Registration alone does not authorise work.
Can I use a previous UAE licence or DataFlow report?
Keep the previous authority, licence number and verification report references available. DHA has services and instructions for applicants licensed by other UAE authorities, but acceptance of an existing report or assessment depends on the current DHA process and the exact title.
What documents should I organise first?
Start with identity, degree and transcript, professional registration, dated experience records and a Good Standing Certificate at the appropriate time. Surgical specialties and specific titles may need more. Follow DHA’s current checklist for your chosen service.
How long does DHA registration take?
DHA publishes a service time for deciding a complete professional registration application. That service time does not include document collection, issuer responses during primary-source verification, assessment scheduling or facility activation. Plan those stages separately.
Can UAEHealthPro guarantee DHA approval?
No. DHA decides eligibility, assessment, registration and licensing outcomes. UAEHealthPro can help prepare and understand the route but cannot make or guarantee the authority’s decision.
Start with your profile
Need Help With DHA License in Dubai?
Start with a PQR-based eligibility review before you spend money on the wrong application. Share your profile and UAEHealthPro will guide you with the suitable DHA pathway and next steps.
Disclaimer: UAEHealthPro is an independent consultancy. We are not a government authority and we do not guarantee approval, exam results or processing timelines. Final decisions are subject to DHA rules, eligibility criteria, document verification and authority review.
Review current DHA professional registration information