In the first two articles of the DHA Nursing Exam Series, we explained “What the DHA Nursing Exam Is and Why It Matters” and then covered its format, duration, passing score, number of attempts, and syllabus. In this final article of the series, we will discuss how to register for the exam and how to prepare for it.

What This Article Covers?

This guide explains:

• How a nurse begins the DHA registration process
  
• How the exam fee is paid and how scheduling works
  
• How to link DataFlow with DHA Sheryan
  
• The exact Prometric booking steps
  
• Required documents on exam day
  
• How results are released and what happens after passing
  
• How to avoid common mistakes that delay licensing
  

This is the practical, logistical side of the DHA nursing exam process.

Before You Can Register

DHA does not allow any nurse to book the exam immediately.
Before the exam registration opens, DHA checks that you have:

DHA Sheryan account

Every nurse must create a profile in Sheryan, the official DHA licensing system.

DataFlow (Primary Source Verification) initiated or completed

Your degree, license, and experience letters must be verified or under verification.
DHA will not permit exam booking without DataFlow case linkage.

Submitted a DHA initial evaluation application

DHA reviews your documents inside Sheryan. If you meet PQR criteria, DHA issues a CBT Eligibility ID.

Confirmation that your category requires a CBT

Some titles are exempt. Most international nurses are not exempt.

Once these are completed, the exam registration becomes available.

Step-by-Step: How Nurses Register for the DHA Exam

This is the complete workflow from start to finish.

Step 1: Create your DHA Sheryan account

Sheryan is the regulatory portal where:

• Nurses submit documents
  
• DataFlow reports are linked
  
• DHA determines eligibility
  
• DHA issues the CBT ID
  
• Results and licensing status are posted
  

Inside Sheryan you select your professional title (e.g., Registered Nurse) and upload documents.

Step 2: Submit your “Professional Registration” application

This is where DHA evaluates your:

• Qualification
  
• Home-country license
  
• Experience
  
• Good Standing Certificate
  
• DataFlow verification
  

DHA then assigns your classification (RN, Assistant Nurse, Specialist Nurse etc.) and determines whether your title requires the exam.

Step 3: Link your DataFlow report to your Sheryan application

If DataFlow finds discrepancies, DHA may place your application on hold.
Make sure all your DataFlow documents appear as “Verified” or “In Process.”
If DataFlow is still ongoing, DHA may conditionally allow the exam later.

Step 4: DHA issues your “CBT Eligibility ID”

Once your application passes initial evaluation, DHA generates a CBT Eligibility ID.
This ID is your key to scheduling the Prometric exam.

You will also see your:

• Exam name
  
• Exam code
  
• Specialty
  
• Eligibility status
  
• Instructions to proceed to Prometric

Only after this step can you move to scheduling.

Step 5 — Book the exam through Prometric

Once you have the CBT ID:

1. Go to the Prometric website.
   
2. Choose DHA (Dubai Health Authority) testing program.
   
3. Enter your CBT Eligibility ID.
   
4. Select your exam category.
   
5. Choose whether you want:
   
   
   • Test Center exam, or
     
   • Remote proctored exam (if available for your title).
     
     
6. Select your preferred date and location.
   
7. Pay the exam fee online.
   
8. Receive the confirmation email.
   

The booking confirmation includes:

• Test center address
  
• Exam day/time
  
• Required identification
  
• Testing rules
  

DHA Nursing Exam Fees

Fees vary slightly by category and country, but the base cost for the DHA Prometric exam (according to DHA’s CBT guideline) is:

Approx. USD 240

This fee is paid directly to Prometric at the time of scheduling.

Other expected costs related to your exam journey include:

• DataFlow verification: USD 150–400+
  
• DHA application fees: varies by title
  
• Document legalization/attestation: varies by country
  
• Rescheduling or no-show fees (if you miss an exam slot)
  

Always confirm the live exam fee on your Prometric checkout page.

After Booking, How to Prepare Without Losing Time?

Once your seat is booked, do the following:

1. Download the DHA Mode-of-Exam for Nurses

This lists the exact:

• Domain areas
  
• Reference textbooks
  
• Question type distribution
  

2. Create a mock-exam timetable

Use 150-question timed practice tests to simulate exam conditions.

3. Focus on the highest-weight subjects

• Medical-surgical
  
• Pharmacology + med-math
  
• Maternal/newborn
  
• Pediatrics
  
• Prioritization & delegation
  
• Infection control
  

4. Learn the Prometric interface

Prometric provides an online tutorial.
Practice using on-screen navigation and calculator.

Exam-Day Requirements and Rules (Prometric)

Prometric test centers are strict. Nurses must follow all requirements.

What you MUST bring

• Original passport (mandatory primary ID)
  
• Prometric confirmation email
  
• CBT Eligibility ID
  
• Any additional ID listed in your confirmation (if required)
  

Arrive 45–60 minutes early

Late arrivals are typically not admitted.

What is NOT allowed

• Mobile phones, smartwatches, headphones
  
• Notes, cheat sheets, or reference material
  
• Bags (may need to be stored in a locker)
  
• Food/drink unless medically approved
  
• Personal calculators (Prometric provides one on-screen)
  

During the exam

• You may flag questions for review
  
• You cannot pause the timer
  
• You cannot leave the testing floor without permission
  
• All movements are monitored
  
• All breaks are timed and logged
  

Violating exam rules can result in:

• Immediate exam termination
  
• Test invalidation
  
• Permanent ban from future DHA exams
  

How DHA Nursing Exam Results Are Released

Prometric may show a preliminary completion notice, but the official result always comes from DHA through Sheryan.

Result timeline

Most candidates receive a Pass/Fail result within 2–5 working days.
Some cases may take slightly longer if DHA conducts additional review.

Result format

DHA provides a simple:

• PASS
  or
  
• FAIL‍

DHA does not release detailed scores or breakdowns.

What Happens After You Pass the DHA Exam

Passing the CBT does not automatically give you the DHA license.
Instead, DHA updates your profile to “Eligible for Registration.”

Your next steps:

1. Receive your DHA Eligibility Letter

This letter confirms you passed and are ready for licensing.

2. Apply for nursing jobs in Dubai

Hospitals strongly prefer candidates who already passed DHA exam.

3. Employer activates your license

A DHA license becomes “active” only when an employer in Dubai links you to their facility in Sheryan.

You cannot legally work until the employer activates your license.

If You Fail, What You Need to Know

Nurses may retake the exam.
DHA commonly allows up to 3 attempts, but your exact limit appears in your eligibility notice.

If you fail:

• You can rebook the exam as soon as DHA updates your result
  
• You must pay the full exam fee again
  
• DHA may require additional training after multiple failures (PQR-based)
  

Common reasons nurses fail include:

• Weak medication calculations
  
• Poor time management
  
• Inadequate use of official DHA syllabus
  
• Memorizing instead of applying clinical knowledge
  

Common Mistakes Nurses Should Avoid

These are the most frequent issues that delay exam booking or cause failures:

1. Not linking DataFlow properly to Sheryan

DHA will not release your CBT ID unless DataFlow is linked.

2. Attempting to book exam without DHA approval

Prometric will reject bookings without a valid CBT ID.

3. Incorrect passport name

Your passport name must match your Sheryan name exactly.

4. Arriving late to the test center

Late arrival = denied entry.

5. Ignoring the Mode-of-Exam

This is the official syllabus — ignoring it results in poor preparation.

Full Checklist (Copy & Save)

Before booking

• Create Sheryan account
  
• Submit documents
  
• Start DataFlow PSV
  
• DHA issues CBT Eligibility ID
  

Book exam

• Go to Prometric → DHA program
  
• Enter your CBT ID
  
• Select test center + date
  
• Pay fee
  
• Receive confirmation
  

Prepare

• Download Mode-of-Exam
  
• Do timed 150-question mocks
  
• Review med-surg + pharmacology
  
• Practice on-screen calculator
  
  

Exam day

• Passport
  
• Confirmation email
  
• Arrive early
  
• No personal items
  

After exam

• Check Sheryan for results
  
• If pass → receive eligibility
  
• Apply for jobs
  
• Employer activates license

Conclusion

Once you have mastered the registration steps, fee structure, booking process, preparation approach, and exam-day rules, the path to passing the DHA Nursing Exam becomes far more manageable. The licensing journey in Dubai involves several interconnected stages, but this article completes the final piece: executing the process efficiently and with confidence. With your exam paperwork, strategy, and logistics in place, you are now positioned to complete your DHA licensing requirements and begin pursuing nursing opportunities in Dubai’s healthcare sector.