DHA Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist License Guide

Easy Steps to Work as a Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist in Dubai

Updated August 2025

If you’re a Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist who wants to work in Dubai, you’ll need a special license from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This license is required by law and proves you have the right training and skills. This guide will walk you through each step of the process, from checking if you qualify to getting your first job, so you can confidently start your new career in Dubai.

Steps Overview
Requirements
Application Process
Exam Details
Cost Calculator
Exam Exemption

DHA Licensing Steps (Overview)

1

Create Sheryan Account

Sign up on the DHA’s online portal to start your application.

2

Dataflow Verification

A third-party company, Dataflow, will check if your documents are real.

3

Take the Exam

Pass the DHA’s computer-based test to prove your Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist knowledge.

4

Get Eligibility Letter

After passing the exam and Dataflow, you’ll receive a letter that allows you to look for jobs.

Note: You can do the Exam and Dataflow in any order, or both at the same time.

Qualification and Experience Requirements

Position Qualifications Experience
Clinical Dietician Bachelor of Science in Dietetics Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field in a health facility
Clinical Dietician Bachelor’s degree in health science with a major in Nutrition (Please see table below) And Post-graduate diploma or master in Dietetics Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field in a health facility
Nutritionist Bachelor of Science in Nutrition/Public Health Nutrition Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field

*In compliance with the Discontinuity of Practice (Gap of Practice) criteria.

  Additional Requirements

  • Registration/License: Applicants must hold a valid License/Registration to practice in their home country and/or country of last
    employment (where applicable).
  • Good Standing Certificate (GSC): A valid GSC is required from the same licensing authority that issued your license. The certificate must be issued within the last six months of your application date.

Examples of Equivalent Qualifications in Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition

Examples of Equivalent Qualifications in Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition
  • Bachelor of Science in Dietetics – Clinical Dietetics
  • Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics – Clinical Dietetics
  • Bachelor of Science in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics – Clinical Dietetics
  • Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition – Nutrition
  • Bachelor of Science in Nutrition – Nutrition
  • Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Technology – Nutrition
  • Bachelor of Health Science (Major Nutrition) – Nutrition
  • Bachelor of Arid land Agriculture/Food Nutrition from the UAE University (Faculty of Food Systems) – Nutrition
  • Bachelor’s in food science/food service systems management – Nutrition

DHA Licensing Process – Step by Step

Step 1: Create Your DHA Sheryan Account

DHA Sheryan Portal

The Sheryan portal is the online platform where you will manage your entire DHA license application. It’s your digital gateway to becoming a licensed Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist in Dubai.

Documents Required to Open a Sheryan Account:
  • Valid Passport: A clear copy of your passport.
  • Passport-sized Photograph: A recent photograph with a white background.
  • Active Email ID: An email address that you check regularly for updates.

Once your account is created, you will be assigned a unique DHA ID, which you will use for all subsequent steps.

Step 2: DHA Primary Source Verification (PSV) via DataFlow

DHA Dataflow

Purpose: Verify the authenticity of your documents before applying for the DHA license.

Required Documents (for Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist):
  • Degree/Diploma Certificate 
  • License (Valid license)
  • Good Standing Certificate (From your licensing authority)
  • Experience Certificate (If any; 1 letter included in base fee)
PSV Fees:
  • Base Fee: AED 935 (covers 4 documents: Degree, License, Good Standing + 1 Experience Letter).
  • Extra Documents: AED 300 per document (e.g., additional experience letters).
  • +5% VAT (Applicable on total fee).

Note: Some universities/authorities may charge extra for verification replies.

Processing Time: 3–6 weeks (Depends on how quickly your university/employer/licensing board responds to DataFlow’s verification requests).

Step 3: DHA Audiologist Exam

All exam details are consolidated in the Exam Details section below for your convenience.

 

Step 4: Apply for Eligibility Letter

  • Log in to your Sheryan account.
  • Apply for the “Get Registered” service.
  • Ensure your documents are verified by DataFlow and your exam results are recorded.
  • Pay the AED 200 fee.

You will receive your Eligibility Letter, typically within 24 hours. This letter allows you to begin your job search in Dubai.

DHA Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist Exam - Complete Details

  Clinical Dietitian Exam

  • Role: Clinical Dietitian
  • Code: NUT4112
  • Duration: 3 Hours
  • Total Questions: 150
  • Pass Score: 55%
  • Fee: USD $240

  Nutritionist Exam

  • Role: Nutritionist
  • Code: NUT4111
  • Duration: 3 Hours
  • Total Questions: 150
  • Pass Score: 50%
  • Fee: USD $240

Booking Steps (Via Prometric)

  1. Visit: prometric.com/dha
  2. Select Exam: Schedule: Choose date, center in India
  3. Pay the exam fees (credit/debit card)
  4. Confirmation: Email with admit details

Exam Day Requirements

  • Original Passport
  • DHA Eligibility ID
  • Prometric Confirmation Letter

Important Notes

  • Reschedule/Cancel: 72 hrs prior (fees may apply)
  • Retake: After 14 days if failed
  • Results: Available via DHA/Prometric

DHA Prometric Exam Centers in India

You can take the DHA Prometric Exam at any of these authorized test centers in India:

📍 Ahmedabad | 📍 Bangalore | 📍 Chennai | 📍 Hyderabad | 📍 Gurgaon | 📍 Kolkata | 📍 Mumbai | 📍 Trivandrum

Core Exam Coverage Areas

The 150-question exam is designed to assess competency across the following core areas of dietetics and nutrition:

  • Fundamentals and Management:

    • Fundamental of Dietetics, Food Management, and Services

    • Procurement and Materials Management

    • Food Production, Distribution, and Facility Design

  • Nutrition Science and Health:

    • Food Science and Normal Nutrition

    • Nutrition Through Life Cycle

    • Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

  • Clinical Practice and Therapy (Medical Nutrition Therapy – MNT):

    • Nutrition Screening, Assessment, and Counselling

    • Medical Nutrition Therapy

    • Metabolic Disorders

    • Inflammatory Diseases and Cancer

  • Food Service and Planning:

    • Principles of Food Preparation and Training

    • Menu Planning

Recommended Reference Materials

Candidates are advised to consult the latest editions of the following texts:

  1. Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Sharon Rady Rolfes, Kathryn Pinna, and Ellie Whitney (Brooks Cole).

  2. Krause’s Food and the Nutrition Care Process by L. Kathleen Mahan, Janice L Raymond, and Sylvia Escott-Stump (Elsevier eBook on Intel Education Study).

  3. Clinical Nutrition by Marinos Elia, Olle Ljungqvist, Rebecca Stratton, and Susan A. Lanham-New (Wiley-Black).

  4. Nutrition and Diagnosis-Related Care by Sylvia Escott-Stump.

  5. ADA Pocket Guide to Enteral Nutrition by Charney, P. and Malone (American Dietetic Association).

  6. Essentials of Food Science by V.A. Vaclavik and E.W. Christian (Springer Science, New York).

DHA Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist License Cost Calculator

DHA Clinical Dietician License Cost Calculator 💰

Note on Currency Conversion: This calculator uses **illustrative, fixed exchange rates** for estimation only. Actual costs in INR will vary based on the bank's exchange rate on the day of payment.

Assumed Rates:

  • 1 AED ≈ 22.5 INR
  • 1 USD ≈ 81.5 INR
  • 1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED
Input Your Variables:
Estimated Costs:
DHA/Prometric Exam Fee (USD 240) 0.00 AED 0.00 INR
DataFlow PSV Base Fee (AED 935) 0.00 AED 0.00 INR
DataFlow PSV Base VAT (5%) 0.00 AED 0.00 INR
DataFlow Extra Document Fee (AED 300 + 5% VAT per doc) 0.00 AED 0.00 INR
Eligibility Letter Fee (AED 200) 0.00 AED 0.00 INR
**TOTAL ESTIMATED MANDATORY COST** 0.00 AED 0.00 INR

DHA Exam & Experience Exemption for Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist

Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist are exempted from the DHA exam if they meet either of the following criteria:

✅ Criteria: License + GSC from Recognized Countries

Clinical Dietician & Nutritionist holding a valid license and Good Standing Certificate (GSC) from one of the recognized licensing authorities listed below are exempted from the DHA Prometric exam, provided that:

  • The degree was obtained within the last 3 years, OR
  • There has been no gap in clinical practice since their last employment.
Recognized Countries & Licensing Authorities:
  • UK (HCPC)
  • USA
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Ireland
  • Singapore
  • Germany
  • France
  • South Africa
  • New Zealand
  • Sweden
  • Denmark
  • Norway
  • Finland
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
  • Iceland
  • Luxembourg
🌐 English Language Proficiency (if applicable)

If you did not study in English, you must pass one of:

  • IELTS: Minimum 5.0
  • TOEFL: Minimum 500
  • OET: Minimum Grade C
  • Cambridge English: Minimum 169