DHA License Dubai
Relevant for healthcare professionals planning to practise in Dubai.
UAE psychology and social care pathway guidance
Psychologist License in Dubai: DHA and CDA Routes
Choosing a psychologist licensing route in Dubai requires the proposed role, facility regulator and qualification to be considered together. Use this guide to clarify DHA healthcare and CDA social-care routes, document supervised practice and distinguish psychologist from assistant-level applications.
- Authority Pathway Guidance
- PQR-Based Profile Review
- DataFlow / PSV Support
- Application Assistance
What PQR actually publishes
PQR Qualification and Experience Requirements for Psychologist Titles
Psychology titles depend on degree level and specialty. In Dubai, DHA licenses seven Specialized Psychologist tracks — Addiction, Clinical, Forensic, Health, Neuropsychology, Rehabilitation and Clinical Psychopharmacology. Every other specialization, including the general Psychologist title, falls under CDA.
| Title | Qualification | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologist | Bachelor's degree in psychology + a Master's degree (minimum two (2) years) in Psychology | Two (2) years post-qualification |
| Psychologist — doctoral route | Bachelor's degree in psychology + a Doctoral degree in Psychology | One (1) year post-qualification |
| Specialized Psychologist | Bachelor's degree in psychology + a Master's (minimum two (2) years) or Doctoral degree in a recognized psychology specialty | Two (2) years (Master's route) or one (1) year (Doctoral route) post-qualification |
| Psychometrist | Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.Sc.) in psychometrics | Two (2) years post-qualification. Practises only under the supervision of a licensed Psychologist |
| Psychologist Assistant | Bachelor's degree in psychology from a psychology or education faculty. UAE nationals only | No experience required* |
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.
Resolve the DHA or CDA question
Start with the service you will deliver and the facility’s licence
The word “psychologist” on a degree or job advert is not enough to choose an authority. Ask the employer for its regulator, the intended professional title and the actual work. A centre’s marketing name alone does not establish its licensed activities.
| Question to resolve | Information to request | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Which authority regulates this role? | Facility regulator, licensed service and proposed professional title. | DHA healthcare and CDA social-care applications use their respective requirements. Do not choose solely by the employer’s use of “clinical” or “counselling”. |
| Does my education fit the title? | Full degree sequence, specialty, course duration, transcripts and supervised training evidence. | A broad psychology qualification and a specialty qualification need to be assessed against the actual category. |
| What supervision is expected? | Proposed supervisor, professional licence, duties and supervision arrangements. | An assistant title should not be treated as independent psychologist practice. |
| What will I actually do? | Written duties, client group and assessment or intervention responsibilities. | A precise role description makes a boundary question reviewable by the authority. |
The PQR contains authority-specific limits on psychology titles; a category in a UAE-wide table is not automatically available through DHA. Dubai’s social-care licensing rule distinguishes Psychologist from Assistant Psychologist, with supervision for the assistant category. Sources: official PQR resource and Dubai’s amended social-care licensing rule, Article 8.
An overseas qualification question
Can psychotherapy training or registration replace a psychology master’s?
Dubai’s amended CDA licensing rule lists a master’s degree, or an equivalent degree, in psychology for the Psychologist category. It lists a psychology bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent degree, plus licensed supervision for Assistant Psychologist. A professional association membership, supervised clinical hours or a long training course may help explain your experience, but none is automatically the academic degree specified for the category.
If your award is called a postgraduate diploma, psychotherapy training certificate or something else, do not rely on its duration or an overseas registration label alone. The useful question for CDA is whether the academic award, subject and level can be accepted for the intended licensed category. Only CDA can decide equivalence in an individual application; a consultant cannot promise it.
Document the work behind the title
Make supervised practice clear without sharing client files
Prepare a summary of placement or employment dates, setting, duties and supervisor details. Separate direct work, observation, teaching, research and supervision meetings so the reviewer can understand the record. Ask the authority which evidence format it accepts rather than inventing a universal hours threshold.
Illustrative situation: a graduate is offered an “assistant psychologist” role but the job description expects independent assessments without a named supervisor. Clarify the intended licence and supervision arrangement before treating the offer as a suitable assistant pathway.
Where you intend to practise
Which Authority Licenses Psychologists?
Psychologists may fall under different pathways depending on the role, emirate, facility and scope. CDA may apply for applicable social care or community-based roles in Dubai, while DHA or other health authorities may apply for healthcare facility-related roles depending on the case. 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.
CDA Social Care License Dubai
Relevant for applicable social care and community-based professional roles in Dubai.
DHCC Guidance
Useful for clarifying the current route for roles in Dubai Healthcare City.
Primary-source verification
DataFlow / PSV Verification for Psychologists
Verification requirements for psychologists can depend on the chosen authority route and professional category. UAEHealthPro can help you identify what to check before you begin an authority-specific verification pathway.
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 Psychologist Titles
DHA sets the pass mark for this title at 55%. The fee is USD 240, charged in US dollars with no dirham equivalent published.
| Title | CBT code | CBT duration | Questions | Fee | Pass score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Psychology | CPS5071 | 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 Psychologist Licensing Mistakes
Oversimplifying the route
Assuming every psychologist follows the same DHA, CDA or other authority pathway.
Role mismatch
Choosing a route without considering the intended role, scope and target facility.
Skipping profile review
Proceeding before checking qualifications, clinical or supervised experience and category context.
Facility-context assumptions
Overlooking whether the intended role is healthcare, social care or community-based.
Assessment assumptions
Assuming an exam or interview outcome before independent authority review.
Automatic-outcome assumptions
Assuming eligibility before the relevant authority reviews the case.
What it actually costs
MOHAP Fees for Psychologists: 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
Psychologist FAQs
Questions About Psychologist Licensing
Do I need DHA or CDA for a psychologist role in Dubai?
Ask the employer for the facility regulator, licensed service, proposed professional title and duties. Compare that information with the relevant authority requirements. The words clinical, counselling or therapy in an advert are not enough to decide the route.
Does every psychology title in the PQR apply to DHA?
No. The PQR includes authority-specific limits on psychology titles. Check the category and specialty available through the intended authority rather than treating a UAE-wide qualification table as a list of all DHA options.
Can a bachelor’s graduate use the CDA Assistant Psychologist route?
CDA lists an Assistant Psychologist category with a psychology bachelor’s qualification and supervised practice. The degree is only part of the application: confirm the current experience, training and licensing requirements, together with the proposed supervision arrangement.
Can an assistant psychologist practise independently?
CDA’s published scope requires an Assistant Psychologist to work under a licensed psychologist’s supervision. Clarify the supervisor and permitted duties before accepting a role that expects independent practice.
How should I document supervised psychology experience?
Separate placements and employment, and record dates, setting, duties and supervisor details. Distinguish direct work from observation, research, teaching and supervision meetings. Ask for the authority’s accepted format rather than assuming a universal hours requirement.
Should I send therapy notes with an eligibility enquiry?
Use a professional summary without client identifiers for an initial enquiry. If an authority later requests case evidence, follow its specified format and confidentiality requirements through the appropriate submission channel.
Does a master’s degree automatically establish eligibility?
A degree label alone does not establish the full pathway. Present the undergraduate and postgraduate sequence, specialty, duration, supervised training and employment evidence for assessment against the intended title.
Does a psychology licence also authorise the facility or business?
Clarify professional licensing and the facility’s authorised services separately. Ask the employer which approvals cover the proposed work; a personal qualification or application result does not by itself establish the facility’s permissions.
Should I buy DHA exam preparation before the route is confirmed?
Confirm the authority, category and assessment instructions first. A DHA Clinical Psychology preparation package should not be assumed to cover a CDA application or a different professional title.
Can UAEHealthPro guarantee a DHA or CDA psychologist licence?
No. UAEHealthPro can help organise the role, qualification and practice evidence and explain application steps. Eligibility and licensing decisions remain with the relevant authority.
Start with your profile
Need Help With Psychologist 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