DHA License for Orthopedic Doctors from USA
Your clear, step-by-step path to practicing Orthopedic Surgery in Dubai.
Updated January 2025
This guide provides a clear, step-by-step process for US-educated orthopedic surgeons seeking to obtain a professional license from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This license is legally required to practice in Dubai and serves as official recognition of your American board certifications and clinical expertise.
Your DHA Licensing Journey: A Simple Overview
1
Check Eligibility
3
Verify Documents (Dataflow)
2
4
DHA Exam
5
Get Eligibility Letter
DHA Orthopedic License Pathways for USA Doctor
| A. Specialist Orthopedic Surgery & Subspecialties | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pathways | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| Pathways 1 | American Board Certificates issued by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery | No experience is required after obtaining main or sub-specialty |
| Pathways 2 | American Board Certificates issued by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery | No experience is required after obtaining main or sub-specialty |
| C. Consultant Orthopedic Surgery (Main Specialty) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pathways | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| Pathways 1 | American Board Certificates issued by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery | Two (2) years of experience after obtaining main specialty qualification |
| Pathways 2 | American Board Certificates issued by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery | Five (5) years of experience after obtaining main specialty qualification |
| D. Consultant – Subspecialty (Orthopedic Surgery) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pathways | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| Pathways 1 | American Board Certificates issued by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery | One (1) year of experience after obtaining sub-specialty qualification |
| Pathways 2 | American Board Certificates issued by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery | Four (4) years of experience after obtaining sub-specialty qualification |
Recognized Orthopedic Subspecialties as per DHA(Applicable to Specialist & Consultant)
- Adult Reconstructive Orthopaedics
- Brain Injury Medicine
- Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics
- Musculoskeletal Oncology
- Orthopaedic Trauma
- Orthopedic Surgery of the Spine
- Sports Medicine
- Surgery of the Hand
- Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery
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 Orthopedic 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 or Registration)
- 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 Exam for Orthopedic Surgery
Kindly note exam is exempted for American Board Certificates issued by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery holders
Requires a mandatory **Computer-Based Test (CBT)**.
Requires an **Oral Examination**.
A. Computer-Based Test (CBT) for Specialist Orthopedic Surgeon only
Booking and Logistics (Prometric)
| Booking Portal | Visit prometric.com/dha |
|---|---|
| Exam Selection | Select **“Orthopedic Specialist”** (Code: ORT5971). |
| 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)
The exam covers comprehensive knowledge across the following core orthopedic topics:
- Basic Principles of Orthopedics
- Trauma and Spine
- Orthopedic Sports Medicine
- Reconstruction (Arthroplasty)
- Infections and Oncology
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Upper Limb, Foot, and Ankle
- Metabolic Skeletal Disorders
- Patient Safety, Professionalism, and Ethics
Recommended Preparation References
- *Campbell’s Operative Orthopedics* (S. Terry Canale and James H. Beaty)
- *Rockwood and Green's Fractures in Adults and in Children* (Robert W. Bucholz, et al.)
- *Apley’s System of Orthopedics and Fractures* (Louis Solomon, et al.)
- *Surgical Exposures in Orthopedics* (Stanley Hoppenfeld, et al.)
- *Review of Orthopedics* (Mark Miller and Mark Brinker)
- *Orthopedic Knowledge Update (OKU)* series
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 Exemption – Specialist & Consultant Orthopedic Surgeons
This document outlines the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) examination exemption criteria for Specialist and Consultant Orthopedic Surgeons, including main and subspecialty practitioners.
✅ Eligibility Criteria Overview
Applicants must satisfy one of the two criteria below to qualify for licensure exam exemption:
📌 Criteria 1 – Tier 1 Certificate Holders
Holders of a recognized Tier 1 specialty certificate from one of the listed countries below.
🌍 List of Recognized Tier 1 Certificates by Country
| Country | Tier 1 Certificates |
|---|---|
| Austria | • Facharzt Diplom (Österreichische Arztekammer) • Arzt für Allgemeinmedizin (with specialist registration) Note: UAE nationals exempt from specialist registration |
| Australia | • Fellowship of Royal Colleges recognized by AMC Note: Fellowship must be by examination, not endorsement |
| Belgium | • Specialty degree from SPF/Federal Public Service • Specialty degree from French Community of Belgium |
| Canada | • RCPSC Specialization Certificate • CFPC Certification (College of Family Physicians) |
| Denmark | • Bevis for tilladelse til at betegne sig som speciallaege • Certificate for general medical practice |
| Finland | • Erikoislääkarin tutkinto (University-awarded) • Certificate for general medical practice |
| France | • CES with full license (Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins) • DES/DESC with full license • Diplôme d’études spécialisées de médecine générale Note: UAE nationals exempt from specialist registration |
| Germany | • Facharztliche Anerkennung/Urkunde (State Chamber of Physicians) with Oberarzt title • Zeugnis über die spezifische Ausbildung in der Allgemeinmedizin Note: UAE nationals exempt from Oberarzt title requirement |
| Iceland | • Sérfræðileyfi (Directorate of Health) • Almennt heimilislækningaleyfi (general practice) |
| Ireland | • Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) |
| Luxembourg | • Certificat de médecin spécialiste (Ministère de la Santé) • Diplôme de formation spécifique en médecine générale |
| Netherlands | • Bewijs van inschrijving in een Specialistenregister (MRSC, SGRC, HVRC*, RGS) • Certificaat voor huisartsen (HVRC or RGS) **HVRC only if issued before 19 July 2007* |
| New Zealand | • Fellowship of Royal Colleges Note: Must be exam-based |
| Norway | • Spesialistgodkjenning (Medical Association/Directorate of Health) • Bevis for kompetanse som allmennpraktiserende lege |
| Singapore | • Exit certificate from JCST + Specialist Accreditation Board certificate |
| South Africa | • Fellowship certificate (Colleges of Medicine/Surgery) • 3-year residency post-internship + specialist license |
| Sweden | • Bevis om specialistkompetens som läkare • Bevis om kompetens som allmänpraktiserande läkare |
| Switzerland | • Diplôme de médecin spécialiste (FDHA) • General practice certificate (FDHA) with EU directive confirmation |
| UAE | • Emirati Board |
| UK | • CCST (STA) • CCT (GMC/PMETB) |
| USA | • American Board Certificates (ABMS) |
📋 Criteria 2 – Detailed Requirements
Applicants must fulfill all of the following:
| Ref. | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 2.1 | Holders of a recognized Tier 2 specialty certificate |
| 2.2 | Has completed subspecialty training/certification in a recognized specialty |
| 2.3 | 10+ years of practice in the specialty, including ≥2 years in a teaching hospital in a senior role (Consultant, Head of Unit, Director, Medical Director) |
| 2.4 | Has worked with a team responsible for academic training programs |
| 2.5 | Holds a valid medical license and is in good professional standing |
| 2.6 | Has clinical publications, runs clinical research programs, or organizes international conferences in the specialty |
⚠️ Important Notes
Exemption applies only to licensure exams, not other requirements.
Certificates must be valid at application (if no validity stated, ≤5 years from issuance).
Practice gap ≤3 years required (exceptions for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women).
Professional title on certificates must match the requested title.
🌐 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.