For healthcare workers wishing to work in Dubai, obtaining a DHA license is mandatory. The license allows you to be lawfully employed in the emirate and adhere to Dubai’s high health standards set for professionalism. The DHA is an organization that registers and regulates healthcare professionals within the Emirate of Dubai. To achieve optimum standards of care, every healthcare worker, be it a doctor or a technician, must have a DHA license. The license shows the respective qualifications and standards for educational qualifications and professional practice in your field of employment.

In this comprehensive guide, we take you through the DHA License registration process, explaining the exam requirements. We will also give tips on preparing and succeeding in the DHA exam.

Doctors and Specialists

General practitioners, surgeons, and medical specialists are other fields requiring a DHA license to practice in Dubai legally.

 Nurses

Whether an individual is a registered nurse or a nursing assistant, they have to acquire licenses from the DHA to provide patient care in one of the hospitals or clinics within Dubai.

Pharmacists

All community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, and those working in the specialty pharmaceutical sectors of pharmacy require a current DHA license.

 Allied Health Professionals

Such positions include physiotherapists, radiologists, laboratory technicians, dietitians, and many more medical support positions.

Dentists

General dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and other dental specialties need to acquire a DHA license to practice in Dubai.

Whether you are a fresh face in Dubai or have been living there, securing a DHA license is still one of the essential steps that lie ahead of your career journey. Though lengthy, it ensures passing through the standards set for health professionals by the health authority in Dubai.

Eligibility Check

An eligibility check is the first step in ensuring your DHA license. Make sure that your qualifications, experience, and certifications satisfy what the Dubai Health Authority requires of you pertaining to a specific healthcare profession. This stage is strictly an important one because if your application does not meet the eligibility criteria set by DHA, your request will have to be delayed or rejected.

Your eligibility can be found through the DHA Sheryan online portal. This will call for one to log in and fill in details regarding their educational background and experience at work.

Preparing Documents

The next step involves collecting all the necessary documents for your DHA exam registration. Here’s a checklist of the documents you’ll need:

• A valid passport copy
• Recent passport-sized photographs
• Proof of your educational qualifications (diplomas, degrees, etc.)
• Valid medical license from home country
• A certificate of good standing issued by your local medical board or licensing authority
• Employment letters or experience certificates you have got from your former employer

Update your documents and, if needed, translate them into English as well. Inevitably, the case may arise of uneven or outdated documentation that may postpone the processing of your application.

Application Submission

You shall submit the ready documents to the DHA Sheryan platform. The electronic portal is where you could upload your files and complete your application for the DHA registration. You will be required to pay the DHA registration fees at this point in time. After you have submitted, you shall receive an e-mail acknowledging receipt of your application together with the application reference number. This can be used in tracing of your registration.

DHA License Exam

Depending on your profession, the next step is sitting for the DHA license exam. The format and content of the exam may vary depending on the specific role for which you are applying. 

Clinical knowledge exams and practical assessments may be included for doctors and specialists, among others. 

• Nurses are assessed on fundamental nursing principles, patient care, and technical skills. 
• Pharmacists should, therefore, be knowledgeable about medicines, prescriptions, and pharmacological reactions.
• Allied health professionals are tested for clinical knowledge pertinent to the field in which they will practice.

The most crucial part of the process is the exam itself, and you have to clear that in order to obtain your license. You can schedule your exam via the DHA portal once your documents are cleared.

The DHA license exam has stringent eligibility criteria. This usually varies with your profession, but the minimum DHA exam requirements typically revolve around the following:

• Proof of academic qualifications
• Specific number of years of relevant professional experience.
• A valid medical license issued from your country of origin
• Verification of all supporting documents

Understanding these requirements properly before applying is crucial, as not meeting them may further delay or even bar your application from going through.

Registration Fees
When you submit your application through the Sheryan platform, you will be charged DHA registration fees. The fee usually ranges between AED 200 and AED 300 and depends on your profession.

Examination Fees
The fee for the DHA exam varies according to your profession. Generally speaking, if you are a doctor or specialist, you would pay more premium, and lesser amounts if one were a nurse or an allied health professional. You would be likely paying between AED 500 and AED 1,000 for the exam.

Extra Cost

You will probably have to pay extra, including document verification charges, translation services if necessary, and the money they charge to issue the license, which one usually has to pay only after you have sat through an examination.

Create a Study Plan

Begin by planning a study schedule that provides concentrated, uninterrupted time to devote to the exam. Ensure you spread your time across all topics so you can cover most of the important bits indicated in the syllabus.

Gather Study Materials

Use pertinent coursework, including textbooks and guides specific to the profession. For example, for someone who is a nurse, there should focus on nursing-specific resources. For doctors, clinical guides should be consulted about their specialty.

Practice Tests

First, you have to sit through practice tests so that you can familiarize yourself with the real format of the DHA exam. Mock exams help you manage your time during the real test and pinpoint where you may need additional study.

Utilize Online Resources

There are many online resources that one can make use of to prepare for DHA, whether in terms of study guides or video tutorials. Make sure you utilize everything on your list to bring your preparedness into the next level.

Join Study Groups

Study groups are an excellent tool for keeping motivated and swapping useful information. Joining a group of fellow students preparing for the DHA exam will bring useful insights and resources together.

Conclusion

Having a DHA license is considered a big step for any health professional who aspires to work in Dubai. Most people dream of working in Dubai, but the whole process of obtaining qualifications to pass the exam seems an arduous task. But don’t worry; you can get through it with the right preparation.

And here we are, compiling absolutely all of the following resources that will be super handy for everyone who is ready to apply for DHA licensure. We have discussed everything, from step-by-step to some expert tips. In case you still have any doubts, please feel free to reach out to us!