DHA Preventive Medicine License Guide
Your clear, step-by-step path to practicing Preventive Medicine in Dubai.
Updated August 2025
This guide provides a clear, step-by-step process for Indian Preventive Medicine doctors seeking to obtain a professional license from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This license is legally required to practice in Dubai and proves your qualifications and skills.
Your DHA Licensing Journey: A Simple Overview
1
Check Eligibility
3
Verify Documents (Dataflow)
2
4
Pass Exam (CBT/Oral)
5
Get Eligibility Letter
Preventive Medicine License Pathways for Indian Doctor
| A. Specialist Preventive Medicine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pathway | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| Pathway | MBBS + MD/DNB (Preventive Medicine) | **3 years** experience post MD/DNB |
| B. Specialist – Subspecialty (Preventive Medicine) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| **Standard** | MBBS + MD/DNB + DM / DrNB / FNB in respective subspecialty | No experience required |
| C. Consultant Preventive Medicine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Note | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| Cannot become Consultant directly after MD/DNB. | MBBS + MD/DNB + DM/DrNB/FNB | Five (5) year of experience post qualification |
| D. Consultant – Subspecialty (Preventive Medicine) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| **Standard** | MBBS + MD/DNB + DM/DrNB/FNB in the subspecialty | Four (4) years of experience post qualification |
Recognized Preventive Medicine Subspecialties (Applicable to Specialist & Consultant)
- Addiction Medicine
- Aerospace Medicine
- Clinical Informatics
- Community Medicine
- Medical Toxicology
- Occupational Medicine
- Public Health and General Preventive Medicine
- Public Health Medicine
- Sexual And Reproductive Health
- Undersea And Hyperbaric Medicine
DHA Licensing Process – Step by Step
Step 1: Create Your DHA Sheryan Account
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 Preventive Medicine 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
Purpose: Verify the authenticity of your documents before applying for the DHA license.
Required Documents :
- Higher 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 1235 (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 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 Preventive Medicine Exam
Requires a mandatory **Computer-Based Test (CBT)**.
Requires an **Oral Examination**.
A. Computer-Based Test (CBT) for Specialist Preventive Medicine only
Booking and Logistics (Prometric)
| Booking Portal | Visit prometric.com/dha |
|---|---|
| Exam Selection | Select **“Public Health & Preventive Medicine”** (Code: SPH6022). |
| Cost (Fee) | **USD 280** (paid directly to Prometric). |
| Test Centers in India | Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Trivandrum. |
| Exam Day Requirements | Original Passport, DHA Eligibility ID, and Prometric Confirmation Letter. |
CBT Syllabus (150 Questions), Pass Score 65%
The exam covers comprehensive knowledge across the following core Public Health & Preventive Medicine topics:
- Epidemiology
- Preventive medicine
- Biostatistics / research methods
- Health care management
- Health informatics
- Health education & communication
- Maternal & child health care
- Primary Health Care principles/ elements
- Community Medicine ethics/ legal aspects
- School health
- Nutrition
- Elderly health care
- Mental health
- Special needs health care
- Occupational health
- Environmental health
- International health
Recommended Preparation References
- Last JM (Ed): A Dictionary of Epidemiology, 4th Edn. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000 [French, Chinese, Japanese, Farsi, Serbian, Russian, Slovakian translations published 2001-6] .
- Pencheon D, Guest C, Melzer D, Muir Gray JA, editors. Oxford Handbook of Public Health. Practice. First Edition, reprinted 2003. Oxford University Press, New York; 2003.
- Park K. Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 18th ed. M/s Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers, India; 2005.
B. Oral Examination for Consultants and Subspecialty Specialists
This assessment is mandatory for Consultant-level applicants.
| Standard Fee | **AED 500** |
|---|---|
| Urgent Fee | **AED 2,000** |
| Format | Can be conducted **in-person** or **virtually**. |
You can complete the **DataFlow Verification** and the **DHA Exam/Oral Assessment** in any order, or concurrently, to significantly speed up your overall license application timeline.
DHA Exam & Experience Exemption (For Preventive Medicine)
Preventive Medicine doctor are exempted from the DHA exam if they meet either of the following criteria:
✅ Criteria : License + GSC from Recognized Countries
Preventive Medicine doctor 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 , USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Singapore, Germany, France, South Africa, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Iceland, Luxembourg, South Korea.
🌐 English Language Proficiency (if applicable)
If your medical education was not in English, you must pass one of the following language proficiency tests::
- IELTS: Minimum 5.0
- TOEFL: Minimum 500
- OET: Minimum Grade C
- Cambridge English: Minimum 169
Activate the License:
Once you have a job, your employer will finalize the process and activate your official license, allowing you to legally work.