Quick Read
- DHA’s GP exam has 150 MCQs; passing needs 60%.
- The GP Prometric exam fee is Rs.26,600 (USD 280).
- GP applicants need MBBS, internship, and two years’ clinical experience.
- A PLAB, AMC, or USMLE Part III pass exempts GPs.
- Failing three attempts blocks reapplication for two years.
- BAMS graduates sit a separate 100-question DHA Ayurveda exam.
DHA Exam for Doctors: Who Must Sit It and Who Is Exempt
The DHA exam for doctors is the licensing assessment that the Dubai Health Authority runs through Prometric for physicians whose title carries a computer-based test. Titles DHA does not list, such as certain consultant titles, go to an oral assessment instead, per the DHA CBT guideline. The Dubai health authority exam for doctors is needed once per position, as DHA’s FAQ confirms.
Exemptions for the GP title are narrow. The PQR accepts these proofs:
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| Country | Accepted Proof for the GP title |
|---|---|
| UK | PLAB I and II, or valid GMC registration if PLAB is over five years old |
| Australia | Both AMC parts (MCQ and clinical) |
| USA | USMLE Part III |
| Canada, New Zealand, UAE | LMCC, NZREX, EMREE |
| Ireland | Both PRES parts (MCQ and OSCE) |
Specialists and consultants are exempt with a Tier 1 specialty certificate from countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Germany. Exemption covers the exam only, so verification and experience checks still apply, and it lapses after a practice gap above three years.
See PG in Australia after MBBS through the AMC pathway or how to become a doctor in the UK for those routes.
Counselor insight: If you hold a PLAB I and II pass, check its date before paying Rs.26,600 (USD 280). Equivalency proof must be valid on the day you apply.
DHA Exam for Doctors Eligibility: PQR Rules for Indian MBBS and MD Holders
For the GP title, the PQR requires an MBBS of at least five years (excluding internship), a completed one-year internship, and two years of clinical experience after it. That experience must be salaried, hands-on work as a licensed doctor; teaching, observerships, and volunteering do not count, per the DHA assessment manual. You also need valid home registration and a Good Standing Certificate issued within six months.
Your postgraduate degree decides your tier:
| Your qualification | PQR tier | Specialist title | Consultant title |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBBS only | Not applicable | GP after internship and two years | Not applicable |
| MD, MS, DNB | Tier 3 | Three years' experience after the degree | Cannot attain the title |
| DM, DrNB, FNB, MCh | Tier 2 | No extra experience | Five years after the main qualification |
DHA's FAQ adds that Tier 3 degrees, practice gaps, and fresh graduates can receive a trainee restriction. A gap of three to under four years adds 80 CME credits and six months of training. A gap of four to under five years adds 120 credits and eight months of training. Beyond five years, non-UAE nationals cannot apply.
Counselor insight: DHA counts only salaried clinical months after internship. A year of PG-entrance preparation does not shorten your two years, and it can start a gap.
DHA Exam for Doctors: Pattern, Pass Marks, and Syllabus by Title
The CBT guideline, updated September 2026, sets General Practice at 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours with a 60% pass score. DHA can change content, format, or pass score without notice, so download the current PDF before you study.
| Physician title | Questions | Duration | Pass score |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Practice | 150 | 3 hours | 60% |
| Specialist Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology | 150 | 3 hours | 60% |
| Specialist General Surgery, Psychiatry, Anesthesia | 150 | 3 hours | 65% |
| Specialist Pediatrics, Neurosurgery | 150 | 3 hours | 70% |
| Specialist Sports Medicine | 150 | 3 hours | 55% |
| Consultant Dermatology, Endocrinology, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics | 100 | 3 hours | 70% |
The DHA exam for doctors costs Rs.26,600 (USD 280) for every title above. DHA shows only Pass or Fail in Sheryan and never shares your score. Per the manual, CBT results upload within two working days.
The GP paper covers 12 areas, from chronic diseases, emergencies, and women's health to pediatric, psychiatric, eye, ENT, and skin problems, epidemiology, and screening. DHA publishes no percentage weights, so sites quoting "Medicine 35 to 40%" are not citing DHA. The DHA exam for anesthesiologist paper is a 150-question specialist test at 65%, covering airway, regional anesthesia, critical care, and patient safety.
Counselor insight: The GP syllabus is a primary care list, so a doctor deep into super-specialty work may need to relearn pediatric fever or ENT basics.
DHA Exam for Doctors’ Fees in Rupees: What You Pay at Each Stage
| Stage | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Prometric exam, GP | Rs.26,600 (USD 280) | DHA CBT guideline |
| Prometric exam, Ayurveda or Unani | Rs.17,100 (USD 180) | DHA CBT guideline |
| Sheryan credentialing fee | Rs.5,200 (AED 200) | DHA service page; checkout fees may apply |
| DataFlow verification, doctors | Rs.31,900 (AED 1,235) | Last published figure; DataFlow shows the live price in its portal after you choose a package |
| Licence activation | Rs.77,600 (AED 3,000) for one year | Paid by the hiring facility through Sheryan per the DHA service page; your contract decides who bears it |
The DHA exam for doctors costs a GP applicant roughly Rs.63,700 before activation. Exam fees are non-refundable, including rescheduling and no-shows.
Once you land a job, our cost of living in Dubai guide will help you with your next budget.
Exchange rate used: Rs.95 per USD and Rs.25.9 per AED (the dirham is pegged at 3.6725 per USD). Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget.
Counselor insight: Verification costs more than the exam itself, so budget for DataFlow first and treat the Prometric fee as the smaller cheque.
DHA Exam for Doctors Process: Sheryan, DataFlow, and Prometric Steps
Follow these five steps for the DHA exam for doctors:
- Run DHA's free Self Assessment Tool and create your Sheryan account. It shows your title and assessment type.
- Start DataFlow primary source verification. DHA's FAQ states that a new report takes 15 working days from payment, while DataFlow's FAQ states that it takes 15 to 25 days with complete documents.
- Generate your Eligibility ID in Sheryan, then book at Prometric's DHA page. Cancel or reschedule at least five calendar days ahead.
- Sit the exam. Reach the center 30 minutes early with the passport you registered with.
- Check Sheryan for Pass or Fail, then complete Get Registered. Registration lasts one year, and a hiring facility must activate it before you can practice.
DHA's FAQ allows any Prometric center across the globe, so check the list for your city.
Our Q&A on DHA exam preparation for Indian healthcare professionals covers all aspects of preparation.
Counselor insight: Start DataFlow before you finish job hunting. The 15 working days start from the date of payment, and any follow-up document requests will extend your wait.
Documents for the DHA Exam for Doctors From India
Collect these before you open a DataFlow case for the DHA exam for doctors:
| Document | What DHA needs | India-specific detail |
|---|---|---|
| Passport and photo | Valid passport, recent photo | Match your name across passport, degree, and medical council record |
| Degree and internship certificates | Accredited degree and internship completion | College certificates, plus PG certificates for MD, MS, or DNB |
| Professional registration | Valid registration covering your experience years | State medical council registration, kept current |
| Experience letters | Salaried, hands-on, post-internship work | Hospital HR letters with joining and relieving dates |
| Good Standing Certificate | Issued within six months of applying | From your state medical council or last regulator |
| Translations, logbook | Legal translation; two-year signed logbook for surgeons | Regional-language certificates; MS holders |
Counselor insight: Ask HR for letters that list your clinical roles date by date. A vague "worked as medical officer" letter gives DHA nothing to count.
Which DHA Exam for Doctors Fits Your Profile?
- If you are an MBBS intern finishing this year, you need two years of salaried clinical work after your internship to qualify for the GP title. Keep every letter, and see highest paying jobs in Dubai for Indians.
- If you are an MBBS doctor with two or more years of experience, you must take the 150-question CBT unless you have equivalency proof.
- If you hold an MD, MS or DNB, DHA treats it as Tier 3: three years' experience for the specialist title, no consultant title and a possible trainee restriction. Compare medical PG in the UK after MBBS and doctor salary in Australia first.
- If you hold PLAB I and II or an AMC pass, you skip the CBT, but verification and experience checks still apply.
Counselor insight: DHA accepts PLAB, AMC and USMLE Part III as proof, so preparing for one of them keeps Dubai open alongside the UK, Australia or the USA.
DHA Exam for Doctors Timeline: A Six-Month Planning Calendar
Plan the DHA exam for doctors from your internship completion certificate, because Indian MBBS batches finish at different times.
| Month | What to do | India detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Run the Self Assessment Tool; gather certificates and HR letters | Your internship end date sets the two-year mark |
| 2 | Request your Good Standing Certificate; open a DataFlow case | Keep the certificate under six months old |
| 3 | DataFlow verifies; answer queries quickly | The 15-25 working days start after payment |
| 4 | Get your Eligibility ID; book Prometric; practise timed papers | Leave a five-day reschedule buffer |
| 5 | Sit the exam; check Sheryan | CBT results upload within two working days |
| 6 | Complete Get Registered; apply to Dubai facilities | Registration lasts one year |
Counselor insight: Your registration clock starts when you pass. Finish verification first so the exam does not waste months of that year.
DHA Exam for Doctors Cluster: Ayurveda, BUMS, Anesthesia, Pharmacist, and PA
Related roles sit outside the main DHA exam for doctors on the GP track and use different titles and exams:
| Role | DHA title | Exam | Fee | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayurveda doctors, BAMS | Ayurveda Practitioner | 100 questions, 2 hours | Rs.17,100 (USD 180) | 60% |
| BUMS | Unani Practitioner | 100 questions, 2 hours | Rs.17,100 (USD 180) | 60% |
| Ayurveda therapist | Ayurveda Massage Therapist | Not in the CBT list; check DHA's Mode of Exam per Specialty tool | Not listed | Not listed |
| Anesthesia technician | Technician or Technologist | 150 questions, 3 hours | Rs.22,800 (USD 240) | 55% or 60% |
| Assistant pharmacist | Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician | 150 questions, 3 hours | Rs.22,800 (USD 240) | 60% or 55% |
| Physician assistant | Physician Assistant | Not in the CBT list; check DHA's Mode of Exam per Specialty tool | Not listed | Not listed |
The DHA exam for bams doctors, the DHA exam for Ayurveda doctors, and DHA exam for ayurveda routes need a five-year BAMS with internship, two years' experience, and a valid BLS certificate. The DHA exam syllabus for ayurveda doctors includes Ayurveda philosophy, Dravyaguna Vigyan, Rasashastra, Roga Nidan, Kayachikitsa, and Panchakarma. The DHA exam for BUMDs doctors covers Unani fundamentals, pathology, pharmacology, and regimental therapy. The DHA exam for Ayurveda therapist route has no confirmed exam, and therapists work under an Ayurveda Practitioner.
The DHA exam for anesthesia technicians and its DHA exam for anesthesia technician syllabus cover airway, the anesthesia machine, transfusion, resuscitation, and regional anesthesia. DHA publishes no question bank and prohibits sharing assessment content, so DHA exams for anesthesia technician questions found online are not official. The DHA exam for assistant pharmacist has no matching title, so use Pharmacy Technician. The DHA exam for physician assistants requires national PA certification under the PQR, so test your credential on the Self Assessment Tool.
Counselor insight: Choose the title that matches your degree, not the easier pass mark. A wrong title wastes a non-refundable exam fee.
What If You Fail the DHA Exam for Doctors
These are the rules that decide what happens next in the DHA exam for doctors:
- You fail an attempt. There is no waiting period; you can rebook, subject to slot availability. Three attempts are allowed per title.
- You fail the third attempt. DHA blocks reapplication for two years. Three new attempts open after an extra recognized qualification or two years of licensed clinical experience. A final attempt with another UAE authority may also be allowed.
- You miss or cancel the slot. It is not considered a failed attempt, but the fee is lost.
- Your passport name does not match Sheryan. Contact DHA at least five days before the exam.
- You disagree with a result. Send an appeal letter to info@dha.gov.ae within one month.
- Your registration expires. It cannot be renewed after expiry, so you restart from the Self Assessment Tool.
Counselor insight: DHA never shares your score, so a fail does not show how close you were. Treat each attempt as one of three, and take timed mocks first.
3 Takeaways on DHA Exam for Doctors
- Run the Self Assessment Tool first and check whether PLAB, AMC, or USMLE Part III exempts you from the DHA exam for doctors.
- Budget roughly Rs.63,700 for a GP application before activation, and confirm DataFlow's fee before you pay.
- Start verification early, ensure your passport name matches everywhere, and book Prometric only after timed practice has cleared the pass line.
Verified by: LeapScholar's UAE counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian healthcare professionals through DHA licensing.
Have questions about the DHA exam for doctors? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions on the DHA Exam for Doctors
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What is the DHA exam for doctors?
It is DHA's computer-based licensing assessment for physicians, delivered at Prometric centers. General practitioners answer 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, and DHA reports only Pass or Fail in Sheryan. Titles missing from the CBT list, such as certain consultant titles, are assessed orally.
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Is the DHA exam for doctors compulsory for Indian MBBS graduates?
Compulsory for most. The PQR requires healthcare professionals to pass the authority's examination, with exemptions only for UAE nationals, Children of Emirati Women and holders of recognized equivalency proof. An Indian graduate without PLAB, AMC, USMLE Part III, or a Tier 1 specialty certificate sits the DHA test for doctors.
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What is the pass mark in the DHA exam for doctors applying as GPs?
DHA's September 2026 guideline sets the General Practice pass score at 60% across 150 questions. Specialist titles range from 55% to 70%, and the listed consultant titles are 70%. DHA scores using correct answers and domain weighting, so treat 60% as a target rather than a fixed count of 90.
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How much does the DHA exam for doctors cost in rupees?
The GP Prometric fee is Rs.26,600 (USD 280) at Rs.95 per USD. Add the Sheryan credentialing fee of Rs.5,200 (AED 200) and DataFlow verification, reported at Rs.31,900 (AED 1,235) for doctors, which you should confirm on DataFlow's portal. That puts a GP application near Rs.63,700 before activation.
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Can I take the DHA test from India?
Prometric centers worldwide host DHA's computer-based tests, and DHA's FAQ says professionals may attend any center across the globe. Book through the DHA page on Prometric once Sheryan issues your Eligibility ID. Carry the passport you registered with, because the names must match.
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Which doctors are exempt from the DHA exam for doctors?
GPs holding valid PLAB I and II, both AMC parts, USMLE Part III, LMCC, NZREX, EMREE, or both Irish PRES parts can skip the CBT. Specialists and consultants with a Tier 1 specialty certificate from countries such as the UK, USA, or Germany are also exempt. Verification still applies.
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How many attempts do I get at the DHA exam for doctors?
Three attempts per title, with no waiting period between them under DHA's manual. A missed or cancelled slot is not a failed attempt, although the fee is lost. After a third failure, DHA blocks reapplication for two years unless you gain a qualification or two years' experience.
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What if I fail all three attempts at the DHA exam for doctors?
Failure on the third attempt blocks you from reapplying to DHA for two years. DHA may allow one final attempt with another UAE authority or a fourth DHA attempt if you declare no failures elsewhere. Applying for a lower title earns one extra attempt if you meet its PQR requirements.
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Do BAMS doctors have to take the DHA exam?
BAMS graduates applying as Ayurveda Practitioners sit DHA's 100-question, 2-hour Ayurveda exam, priced at Rs.17,100 (USD 180), with a 60% pass score. The PQR accepts a five-year BAMS, including internship plus two years' post-qualification experience, and practitioners also need a valid BLS certificate.
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