DHA Occupational Therapy License Guide

Easy Steps to Work as a Occupational Therapy in Dubai

Updated August 2025

If you’re an Occupational Therapy 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 Occupational Therapy 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
Occupational Therapist Bachelor’s degree or Diploma from an accredited institution in Occupational Therapy (minimum three (3) years course duration) Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field
Occupational Therapist Direct entry to a recognized program with the attainment of an MSc degree in Occupational Therapy Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field
Occupational Therapy Assistant * Graduate of an accredited course in Occupational Therapy (minimum two (2) years course duration) Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field
Psychomotor Therapist Bachelor’s degree in Psychomotor Therapy (minimum three (3) years course duration) Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field

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

*Occupational Therapy Assistant cannot work independently.

  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.

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 Occupational Therapy 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 :
  • Degree 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 Occupational Therapy 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 Occupational Therapy Exam - Complete Details

  Occupational Therapist Exam

  • Role: Occupational Therapist
  • Code: ORA5562
  • Duration: 3 Hours
  • Total Questions: 150
  • Pass Score: 55%
  • Fee: USD $240

  Occupational Therapy Technician Exam

  • Role: Occupational Therapy Technician
  • Code: ORA5561
  • 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: USD 240 (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

Exam Coverage Areas

The 150 questions cover the following core domains of nursing practice:

• Neurological Conditions
• Physical Disabilities
• Developmental Disabilities
• Occupational Health and Patient Safety
• Community Based Services and Assistive Technology
• Hand Dysfunctions
• Psychosocial Problems & Mental Health
• Pediatric Conditions
• Community Based Services and Assistive Technology
• Ethics and Professionalism

Recommended References

The following texts and resources are recommended for preparation (use the Latest Edition for all):

1. Willard and Spackman’s Occupational Therapy, Latest Edition.
2. Pedretti’sOccupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction, latest Edition.
3. Occupational Therapy for Children (Case-Smith), Latest Edition.
4. Fundamentals of Hand Therapy, Cooper, Latest Edition.
5. Handbook of Developmental Disabilities, Odom, Latest Edition.
6. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A vision for participation, Brown, Latest Edition.

  Psychomotor Therapist Oral Assessment

Oral Assessment is required for Psychomotor Therapist .

You can directly book oral exam by DHA sheryan Portal

How to book Oral Exam

  1. Applicant views and selects the preferred date or date range
  2. Pay required fees
  3. Oral Assessment team confirms assessment date
  4. Oral assessment is conducted
  5. Receive results on Sheryan (registration is issued in case of passing the assessment)

Oral Assessment Fees

  • Normal Oral Assessment Fees: AED 250
  • Urgent Oral Assessment Fees: AED 2000
DHA Occupational Therapy License Cost Calculator

DHA Licensing Cost Calculator

Estimate your total DHA Occupational Therapy licensing fees.

Estimated Total Cost

Total Estimated Cost (AED): 0 AED
Total Estimated Cost (INR): 0 INR

This estimate is based on the following fixed fees and approximate exchange rates:

  • **PSV Base Fee:** AED 935
  • **Eligibility Letter Fee:** AED 200
  • **PSV VAT:** 5% on DataFlow fees (Base + Extra Docs)
  • **USD to AED Rate:** 1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED (used for Prometric Exam fee)
  • **AED to INR Rate:** 1 AED ≈ 22.6 INR (used for final conversion)

*Fees and exchange rates are subject to change by DHA and external market fluctuations.*

DHA Exam & Experience Exemption for Occupational Therapy & Psychomotor Therapy

Occupational Therapist are exempted from the DHA exam if they meet either of the following criteria:

✅ Criteria: License + GSC from Recognized Countries

Occupational Therapist 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