DHA License Dubai
Relevant for healthcare professionals planning to practise in Dubai.
UAE healthcare license for lab technicians
Lab Technician License in Dubai and the UAE
Planning to work as a lab technician or laboratory professional in the UAE? UAEHealthPro helps you understand the suitable authority pathway with PQR-based eligibility review, document guidance, DataFlow/PSV support and application assistance.
- Authority Pathway Guidance
- PQR-Based Profile Review
- DataFlow / PSV Support
- Application Assistance
What PQR actually publishes
PQR Qualification and Experience Requirements for Lab Technician Titles
Medical laboratory titles scale from phlebotomy and technician-level diplomas up to specialty and Clinical Scientist titles that need a specialty-specific Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D.
| Title | Qualification | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomist | A minimum six (6)-month program in Medical Laboratory Sciences, a certified phlebotomy program, or a one (1)-year Health Science certificate | One (1) year of experience post-qualification as a phlebotomist |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | Diploma or certificate in Laboratory Technician, minimum two (2) years, or a Biotechnology Bachelor's covering medical laboratory subjects and clinical training | No experience required* |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist | BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology/Science or Biomedical Science | No experience required* |
| Medical Laboratory specialty titles | Bachelor's in the specialty field, or a BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology with a one (1)-year specialty emphasis, or a BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology plus ASCP specialty certification | Two (2) years post-qualification (four (4) years for a plain BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology without a specialty emphasis or certification) |
| Clinical Scientist | BSc Medical Laboratory Technology/Science + an MSc, or + a Ph.D., in a relevant specialty | Three (3) years (MSc route) or two (2) years (Ph.D. route) post-qualification |
Note: marked with * where PQR applies its standard Discontinuity of Practice (Gap of Practice) rule — professionals with more than three (3) years out of clinical practice may need extra CME/CPD hours and supervised retraining before the "no experience required" route applies.
Sources: DOH Abu Dhabi — Professional Qualification Requirements
Checked 22 August 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
Check the title behind “lab professional”
Lab Technician, Technologist or Specialist: What Your Qualification Supports
Start with the qualification route in the table above, then organise the evidence behind it. A degree name, a laboratory job title and a licence category are not interchangeable.
| Your situation | Prepare for review | Resolve before choosing the route |
|---|---|---|
| You hold a laboratory diploma | The award, accredited programme details, course duration and transcript. | Which technician entry matches the qualification? Do not use a technologist job advert as evidence that the qualification matches that title. |
| You hold a biotechnology degree | The transcript and evidence of medical laboratory subjects and clinical training. | PQR describes a conditional biotechnology route for Medical Laboratory Technician. Does the programme evidence support that route? |
| Your work is concentrated in one laboratory discipline | The relevant curriculum, further certification and a clear employment history for that discipline. | Are you seeking a general laboratory title or a specialty title? Check the particular specialty route. |
| Your experience is mainly research, teaching or industrial testing | A factual description of the setting, sample types and duties. | Which parts, if any, are accepted as relevant clinical experience for the intended title? Obtain an authority decision instead of assuming equivalence. |
Regulatory basis: PQR medical laboratory titles. The comparison questions are UAEHealthPro preparation guidance, not additional licensing criteria.
Experience is one part of eligibility
Read “no experience required” with its conditions
PQR lists no experience required for the Medical Laboratory Technician and Medical Laboratory Technologist entries, with a gap-of-practice condition. That does not remove the qualification requirement or decide the separate assessment, verification and licensing steps. Specialty titles have their own entries.
Illustrative situation: a biotechnology graduate has spent several years in industrial quality testing. The useful first review is the degree’s medical laboratory content and clinical training—not simply the total number of years employed in a laboratory.
For a first enquiry, summarise your degree and major, course duration, clinical training, employment setting, current registration and intended role. State whether you are considering a general or specialty laboratory title. You do not need to send patient information or laboratory results.
Where you intend to practise
Which Authority Licenses Lab Technicians?
Lab technicians and laboratory professionals may need DHA, MOHAP/MOH, DOH/HAAD, SHA or another applicable authority route depending on the intended work location. Confirm the proposed professional title and facility regulator before starting an application.
MOHAP / MOH License UAE
Relevant for applicable MOHAP-regulated healthcare pathways.
Abu Dhabi Medical License (DOH)
Relevant for healthcare professionals planning to practise in Abu Dhabi.
SHA License Sharjah
Relevant for professionals joining SHA-licensed facilities in Sharjah.
DHCC Guidance
Useful for clarifying the current route for roles in Dubai Healthcare City.
Primary-source verification
DataFlow / PSV Verification for Lab Technicians
DataFlow or PSV may be relevant to a laboratory professional licensing pathway. UAEHealthPro can help you check document readiness and authority context before you proceed.
Verification is independent.
UAEHealthPro can guide document readiness and route context, but does not control a verification outcome.
Explore DataFlow / PSV assistanceYour exam, specifically
DHA Exam Duration, Pass Mark and Fee for Lab Technician Titles
The pass mark moves with the title here — Clinical Biochemistry Technologist clears at 50%, Clinical Biochemistry – Clinical Scientist at 65%. The fee is USD 240, charged in US dollars with no dirham equivalent published.
| Title | CBT code | CBT duration | Questions | Fee | Pass score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Biochemistry – Clinical Scientist | BIC5662 | 3 hours | 150 | USD 240 | 65% |
| Clinical Biochemistry Technologist | BIC5661 | 3 hours | 150 | USD 240 | 50% |
| Hematology – Clinical Scientist | MTH4611 | 3 hours | 150 | USD 240 | 65% |
| Hematology Technologist | MTH4612 | 3 hours | 150 | USD 240 | 55% |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | LAB5601 | 3 hours | 150 | USD 240 | 50% |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist | LAB5631 | 3 hours | 150 | USD 240 | 50% |
| Medical Microbiology – Clinical Scientist | MIC5692 | 3 hours | 150 | USD 240 | 65% |
| Medical Microbiology Technologist | MIC5691 | 3 hours | 150 | USD 240 | 55% |
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.
Prepare carefully
Common Lab Technician Licensing Mistakes
Title-level mismatch
Applying as a Lab Technician when a diploma-versus-bachelor's qualification difference points to a Medical Technologist or Specialist category instead.
Test-category scope overlooked
Assuming a general laboratory role covers a specialised testing category without checking the specific scope required.
Supervised-experience shortfall
Proceeding without the supervised laboratory experience that some authority categories expect.
Wrong authority route
Assuming the same pathway applies across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates without checking the target facility first.
Verification assumptions
Starting DataFlow or PSV for a laboratory-science qualification without checking current primary-source verification requirements.
Automatic-outcome assumptions
Assuming exam exemption, licence approval or a fixed timeline before the relevant authority reviews the case.
What it actually costs
MOHAP Fees for Lab Technicians: Allied Health Band
MOHAP charges by professional band, and this profession falls under Allied health. The costs that do not change with your profession — DHA registration, the MOHAP application fee and DataFlow verification — are listed together on the fees and timeline page.
Allied health: MOHAP evaluation AED 300, licence fee AED 1,000 at a private facility.
MOHAP's licensing service lists licence fees for two groups only, doctors and nurses & technicians. The licence fee above is the group this profession falls closest to; confirm the amount for your title with the facility before paying.
Sources: MOHAP — Healthcare Professional Evaluation service · MOHAP — Licensing and Re-licensing of a Health Professional
Checked 22 August 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
Continue your preparation
Related Licensing Services
Lab Technician FAQs
Questions About Lab Technician Licensing
What qualification and experience does the UAE PQR require for lab technicians?
Phlebotomist: A minimum six (6)-month program in Medical Laboratory Sciences, a certified phlebotomy program, or a one (1)-year Health Science certificate. Experience: One (1) year of experience post-qualification as a phlebotomist. Medical Laboratory Technician: Diploma or certificate in Laboratory Technician, minimum two (2) years, or a Biotechnology Bachelor's covering medical laboratory subjects and clinical training. Experience: No experience required. The PQR is shared by DHA, DOH, MOHAP and SHA, and the full title ladder is in the table on this page. Where no experience is required, the PQR gap-of-practice rule still applies: more than three years out of clinical practice can mean extra CME/CPD hours and supervised retraining first.
What is the DHA exam pass mark and fee for lab technicians?
DHA's published CBT specification gives: Clinical Biochemistry Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technician and Medical Laboratory Technologist: pass mark 50%, fee USD 240. Hematology Technologist and Medical Microbiology Technologist: pass mark 55%, fee USD 240. Clinical Biochemistry – Clinical Scientist, Hematology – Clinical Scientist and Medical Microbiology – Clinical Scientist: pass mark 65%, fee USD 240. The fee is charged in US dollars. Titles not listed here may take a different CBT or an oral assessment instead, so confirm the exam mode for your exact title before booking.
Can a biotechnology graduate use the medical laboratory route?
PQR includes a Medical Laboratory Technician route for biotechnology graduates where the qualification covered medical laboratory subjects and clinical training. The degree name alone is insufficient; have the transcript and training evidence reviewed against that entry.
Does research laboratory experience automatically count as clinical laboratory experience?
Do not assume that it does. Present the work setting, duties and dates accurately and ask the relevant authority to determine what is acceptable for your intended title.
Can UAEHealthPro guarantee approval?
No. UAEHealthPro is an independent consultancy and final decisions remain with the relevant authority.
Start with your profile
Need Help With Lab Technician Licensing?
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 authority 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 the relevant authority rules, professional eligibility criteria, document verification and authority review.
Review current UAE healthcare PQR information