Looking to build a healthcare career in Dubai? Knowing the DHA exam syllabus and exam pattern is the foundation for every doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse or allied healthcare professional.
As a healthcare professional, I understand that completing a demanding healthcare degree and preparing for a licensing examination are two different challenges. You may already have strong clinical knowledge, but an unfamiliar examination format, a broad syllabus, and uncertainty about high-priority topics can make preparation overwhelming.
I suggest you begin by finding the assessment requirements before diving into books, memorising random questions and completing irrelevant practice papers.
This guide aims to explain the DHA exam syllabus, examination pattern and profession‑specific topics using the DHA Healthcare Professional Licensing Assessment Guideline updated in September 2026.
What Is the DHA Exam?
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the regulatory body that licenses healthcare professionals to work in the emirate. The assessment process determines whether the applicant fulfils the competency requirements for practice in Dubai.
The DHA exam is not one universal examination for every healthcare occupation. Assessment requirements depend on your professional title and specialty.
Depending on the qualifications the DHA exam can be computer‑based (CBT), an oral assessment, or another applicable assessment route. Certain applicants can be exempt from the examination in Dubai when they fulfil the requirements outlined by the qualification policy.
The CBT assessment for healthcare professionals is conducted by Prometric, an organization that provides computerised testing services internationally. This way, the candidate does not have to travel to Dubai for the examination – it is possible to take the test in the home country.
DHA Exam Pattern: Number of Questions, Duration and Passing Score
It is a mistake to assume that the DHA exam pattern is the same for all healthcare occupations. The updated guideline contains sections for different healthcare professions and highlights the assessment criteria.
For example, the DHA exam pattern for a General Practice physician differs from the requirements for a General Dentist. The number of questions, duration and passing score can vary significantly across occupations.
Below are the DHA exam pattern highlights for some of the most in‑demand healthcare specialisations.
| Professional title | Questions | Duration | Passing score |
| General Practice Physician | 150 | 3 hours | 60% |
| General Dentist | 150 | 3 hours | 60% |
| Pharmacist | 150 | 3 hours | 60% |
| Registered Nurse | 150 | 3 hours | 50% |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist | 150 | 3 hours | 50% |
The information above should be used as a guide for the DHA exam pattern as certain occupations have unique assessment criteria.
Additionally, certain occupations might have different question counts, passing scores and fees.
An important detail: The duration displayed in DHA's CBT guideline includes registration, the process introduction, and examination content. Therefore, do not automatically assume that the entire scheduled duration represents uninterrupted question-answering time.
The DHA exam pattern mostly consists of multiple‑choice questions (MCQ) although other question types can be offered at the discretion of the examiners. The result is only available in the form of Pass/Fail in the Sheryan account. It is worth noting that the percentage is not disclosed to the applicants.
DHA Exam Syllabus: Important Topics by Profession
The DHA exam syllabus, for healthcare professionals is occupation‑specific. The topics might seem unrelated at first. If one is a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse or allied professional then one must prepare for the DHA exam in line with the qualification requirements.
One probably has theoretical and practical knowledge in the occupation yet it is normal for one to feel overwhelmed by the assessment requirements.
1. DHA Exam Syllabus for Doctors
Physician examinations assess knowledge relevant to the applicant's professional title and specialty.
The topics covered in the DHA exam for doctors can be organized as follows:
- Chronic diseases and common acute medical problems
- Common paediatric conditions
- Women’s health
- Emergency problems and common surgical conditions
- Common psychiatric problems
- Eye, ENT and dermatology conditions
- Family medicine concepts
- Basic epidemiology and evidence‑based medicine
- Screening and periodic health examination
Candidates applying for specialist or consultant titles must study their applicable specialty blueprint. A general practice syllabus should not be treated as sufficient preparation for a specialist assessment.
I would recommend doctors, it is advisable to spend time during DHA exam preparation on common presentations, differential diagnosis and management along with investigations and related complications.
2. DHA Exam Syllabus for Dentists
As someone with a dental background, I believe dentists should approach licensing preparation by revisiting core clinical principles and practising their application to patient scenarios using structured DHA exam preparation designed for dentists.
The official DHA exam syllabus for General Dentist includes the following topics:
- Anaesthesia and pain control
- Oral medicine and oral surgery
- Periodontics
- Temporomandibular joint and muscle
- Endodontics
- Oral implant surgery
- Restorative dentistry
- Orthodontics and paediatric dentistry
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Deformities and orthognathic surgery
- Patient education and ethics
During revision, connect each topic with diagnosis, treatment planning, indications and contraindications, possible complications, and patient safety.
For instance, a question about a medically compromised dental patient may require you to integrate medical history, medication considerations, the planned procedure, and precautions. Simply memorising a definition may not prepare you to handle such a question confidently.
Specialist dental assessments have their own subject coverage. Candidates should consult the blueprint corresponding to their intended title rather than assuming that the General Dentist syllabus applies to every dental specialty.
3. DHA Exam Syllabus for Pharmacists
The DHA exam for pharmacist covers a range of topics related to pharmacy practice.
Pharmacist must thoroughly understand concepts and grasp their applications in varied contexts.
To organize revision pharmacist is advised to create tables that compare topics, indications and contraindications mechanisms of action and medication side effects.
The current official DHA exam syllabus for pharmacists includes the following topics:
- Toxicology and medicinal chemistry
- Sterile and non‑sterile compounding
- Pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics
- Pharmacognosy and dietary supplements
- Pharmacy calculations and compounding
- Clinical pharmacogenomics
- Infection control
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmaceutical care and disease‑state management
- Medication safety
- Overview of Over-the-counter medications
- Pharmacy law and ethics
- Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic decision-making
Pharmacist should focus on common applications of topics covering drug selection, contraindications, adverse effects, drug interactions, calculations, monitoring and counselling.
Pharmacy calculations deserve regular practice because understanding the formula is not enough; you must also apply it accurately under time constraints.
Candidates can explore the Academically's DHA Exam Preparation Course for pharmacists for structured, profession-specific preparation.
4. DHA Exam Syllabus for Nurses
The official DHA exam blueprint for Registered Nurses is divided into the following four areas:
- Nursing Fundamentals
- Adult Nursing
- Maternal‑Child Nursing
- Unit Management and Leadership
Nurse applicants should revise aspects of theoretical concepts and also practice clinical applications.
Nurse may notice themes in questions, including patient assessment, monitoring, medication administration and recognising abnormal signs or symptoms that need immediate care and intervention.
Questions involving patient scenarios should be approached systematically. Identify the patient's immediate needs, determine which findings require urgent attention, and evaluate the safest appropriate intervention.
Nursing professionals applying for other titles, including midwifery roles, should review their respective examination blueprints because the subject coverage can differ.
5. DHA Exam Syllabus for Allied Healthcare Professionals
The DHA exam blueprint for allied healthcare professionals is occupation‑specific to tailor the professional discipline.
Common Core Topics:
- Basic Anatomy & Physiology
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Clinical Safety & Patient Care Standards
- Professional Ethics & UAE Laws
- Medical Terminology
- Role-specific Competencies (see below)
Role-Specific:
Physiotherapists:
- Neuro & Musculoskeletal Rehab
- Cardio-Respiratory Therapy
- Physical Assessment & Exercise Prescription
- Patient Mobility & Assistive Devices
You can always use the practice test for physiotherapist exam to gauge how well you understand the topics at their level of detail.
Radiographers:
- Radiographic Techniques
- Radiation Physics and Protection
- Patient Positioning & Imaging Protocols
- Emergency Procedures in Radiology
Medical Laboratory Technician:
- Safety and quality control
- Bacteriology and virology
- Immunology and serology
- Parasitology
- Haematology
- Blood Banking
- Biochemistry and hormones
- Urinalysis and body‑fluid analysis
- Mycology
- Laboratory operations and patient safety
Other allied healthcare professionals will encounter subjects relevant to their clinical or technical responsibilities.
I recommend that you begin with the list of topics and pinpoint the areas that you find difficult. You can always use the practice test for medical laboratory technician exam to gauge how well you understand the topics at their level of detail.
In this way you will also avoid the mistake of overcomplicating the revision process and overlooking the key areas.
Once you identify the spots you can plan a revision schedule that will help you address them well before the examination day.
How to Prepare for the DHA Exam Effectively
You now know the DHA exam syllabus – the next step is to create a structured revision plan for DHA exam that will help you use your time and effort efficiently.
Below are the recommendations for each part of your DHA exam preparation
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility and Examination Route
I recommend that you begin by discovering the examination requirements for your intended title.
Each healthcare occupation has an assessment guideline and an online verification system- Sheryan to review eligibility for the Dubai Health Authority.
Review the qualification pathway outlined in the document carefully and ensure that you provide all information and complete all required additional steps.
The typical licensing pathway is composed of the following stages:
Check eligibility and professional title
↓
Complete applicable documentation and verification
↓
Complete the required assessment, if applicable
↓
Licence activation through the applicable process
Completing the examination is not enough to activate the license in Dubai.
Step 2: Convert the Syllabus into a Study Plan
The revision plan should be based on the DHA exam syllabus- divided into sections (topics) and subsections (areas of knowledge).
It is also useful to highlight the sections according to your confidence level and skill.
Determine the order in which you will revise the topics and allocate time for each section.
Make sure to leave space for revising the weak areas. Schedule regular revision sessions instead of postponing all revision until the final week.
Step 3: Use Active Recall and Practice Questions
Spending hours reading notes or textbooks is exhausting and ineffective.
You need to give your brain a chance to consolidate acquired information through practice questions.
Make sure to highlight the areas that you find especially challenging.
I recommend using practice questions to test your skills in the areas of interest.
For example,
- if you are a doctor focus on presenting medical cases and selecting the most appropriate action.
- if you are a dentist focus on topics that appear often in the questions.
Always review the answers and explanations even if you answered the question correctly.
If you are not confident in your answers practice until you reach a level of performance and accuracy.
It is also worthwhile to keep a log of the common errors and weak areas so you can consolidate the knowledge gained.
Step 4: Practise Timed Mock Tests
I suggest you use the practice test to identify the topics you find most challenging.
You should also use practice exams to test your readiness for the test conditions and time limits.
Always review the results after completing a practice paper to identify areas you need to strengthen.
Success Story: Dr. Karthikeyan’s Journey from Chennai to Dubai
Dr. V. K. Karthikeyan, an experienced dentist from Chennai, decided to pursue international career opportunities in Dubai after more than 20 years of dental practice. During his DHA exam preparation, he prioritised DHA-specific study, scenario-based questions, and time management. He credits Academically's DHA preparation course for dentists for structured study materials, practice tests, lectures, and mentorship with helping him stay focused throughout his preparation journey.
His experience highlights an important lesson: understanding clinical concepts and applying them to real-world scenarios are both essential when preparing for a licensing examination.
Step 5: Revise Professional Ethics and Patient Safety
Professional ethics and patient safety are integral parts of clinical practice.
I advise against skipping this part of the revision because it would significantly lower your chances of passing the DHA exam.
It is always essential to strengthen your knowledge of ethics and patient safety when you prepare for any examination.
I recommend allocating time to revise the topics especially if they appear in your chosen DHA exam blueprint.
Step 6: Use Reliable Resources
I recommend using the references identified in the DHA examination guideline as the foundation, for your revision.
It is also smart to locate the textbooks, online courses and practice questions to reinforce the knowledge gained and to review the weak areas.
| Profession | Recommended Books |
| Doctors (General Practitioners) | - Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine - Harrison’s Internal Medicine - Kumar & Clark’s Clinical Medicine |
| Pharmacists | - Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy - Goodman & Gilman’s: Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics - Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics by Roger Walker |
| Nurses (Registered Nurse) | - Kozier & Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing - Brunner & Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing - Wong’s Nursing Care of Infants and Children |
| Pharmacy Technicians | - Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician Principles and Practice - Pharmacy Calculations by Howard C. Ansel |
| Allied Health Professionals | Role-specific books: Physiotherapists: Braddom’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Lab Technicians: Tietz Clinical Chemistry, Dacie & Lewis Practical Haematology Radiographers: Radiologic Science for Technologists (Bushong), Clark’s Positioning Dietitians: Krause’s Food & the Nutrition Care Process |
What Happens After Passing the DHA Exam?
After you have received the results of the examination always follow the instructions given by the Sheryan account and complete all remaining requirements for license activation.
The subsequent process depends on your application and professional category. It may include:
- registration review
- fulfilment of documentation requirements, and
- coordination with the relevant healthcare facility for licence activation.
Remember that examination success and permission to practise are separate stages. Check the status of your application and confirm that all applicable requirements have been completed before beginning professional practice in Dubai.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for the DHA exam is a challenging process and your revision should be based on the specific requirements of your occupation.
Make sure to use the DHA exam blueprint and revise the topics in detail focusing on the areas of weakness.
As a healthcare professional I am confident that the revision schedule and the combination of practice questions and mock tests will help you get ready for the DHA exam.
However, I strongly advise against spending much time on the revision or trying to memorise the information instead of understanding the underlying concepts. It is time to finalise your revision plan clarify the weak spots and complete the practice questions and tests.
