DHA Respiratory Therapy License Guide

Easy Steps to Work as a Respiratory Therapy in Dubai

Updated August 2025

If you’re a Respiratory 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 or oral assessment to prove your Respiratory 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
Respiratory Therapist Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy And Valid ACLS /PALS Certification One (1) year experience requirement
Respiratory Therapist Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy (minimum two (2) years course duration) And Valid ACLS /PALS Certification One (1) year experience requirement
Respiratory Therapist Bachelor’s in nursing followed by a Postgraduate qualification in Respiratory Therapy And Valid ACLS /PALS Certification One (1) year experience requirement
Respiratory Therapy Technician* Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy or equivalent diploma (minimum two (2) years course duration) No experience required**
Sleep Technologist Bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy (or) a Certificate in Respiratory Therapy for not less than 2 years (or) Academic qualification Bachelor's degree in Nursing And either ONE of the following certificates o Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGT) o American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM) o Sleep Disorders Specialty Examination by National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field

*Respiratory Therapy Technician shall work under the supervision of Respiratory Therapist.
**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.

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 Respiratory 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 (for Respiratory Therapy):
  • Degree Certificate (Respiratory Therapy qualification)
  • 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 Respiratory 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 Respiratory Therapy Exam - Complete Details

  Respiratory Technician Exam

  • Role: Respiratory Technician
  • Code: RES5881
  • Duration: 3 Hours
  • Total Questions: 150
  • Pass Score: 55%
  • Fee: USD $240

  Respiratory Therapist Exam

  • Role: Respiratory Therapist
  • Code: RES5882
  • Duration: 3 Hours
  • Total Questions: 150
  • Pass Score: 60%
  • 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 will cover the following key domains of Respiratory Therapy:

  • Patient Data

  • Assessment and Evaluation

  • Equipment Manipulation, Troubleshooting / Quality Control

  • Patient Safety

  • Therapeutic Procedures

  • Airway Patency and Care

  • Bronchial Hygiene Techniques

  • Infection Control

  • Mechanical Ventilation

  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Home Care

  • Patient Education

Recommended References

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

  1. Egan’s Fundamentals of Respiratory Care – Textbook and Workbook Package

  2. Pilbeam’s Mechanical Ventilation: Physiological and Clinical Applications

  3. Wilkins’ Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care

  4. Clinical Manifestations and Assessment of Respiratory Disease, 8th edition

  5. Ruppel’s Manual of Pulmonary Function Testing, 12th edition

  Sleep Technologist Oral Assessment

Oral Assessment is required for Sleep Technologist.

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 Respiratory Therapy License Cost Calculator (Eligibility Letter Only)

DHA License Cost Calculator (Up to Eligibility Letter)

This estimate covers the mandatory costs for PSV, Exam/Assessment, and the Eligibility Letter application fee.

Estimated Cost Breakdown

ESTIMATED TOTAL (Up to Eligibility Letter): AED 0.00
(Approximate INR Conversion): INR 0.00

**Exchange Rate Used:** 1 AED = 24.15 INR (Approximate conversion). **Exclusions:** This total does NOT include the 5% VAT on PSV/DataFlow, GSC costs, external verification fees charged by your university/authority, or the final License Activation Fee (Est. AED 1,000) which is paid after securing a job.

DHA Exam & Experience Exemption of Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapy are exempted from the DHA exam if they meet either of the following criteria:

✅ Criteria: License + GSC from Recognized Countries

Respiratory Therapy 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