December 17, 2025

DHA vs DOH Nursing Exams: Differences & Which to Take

If you are planning to work as a nurse in the UAE, the decision between the DHA exam and the DOH exam is not academic — it directly determines where you can work, how fast you can be hired, and whether your licensing effort is accepted or wasted.

This article breaks down the DHA (Dubai Health Authority) and DOH (Department of Health – Abu Dhabi) nursing licensing exams exactly as they operate in practice. It is written for nurses who want to understand how the system actually works, not how agencies summarize it.

Every point in this guide is grounded in official regulator documentation: DHA Sheryan, DHA CBT and PQR publications, DOH Professional Manual, DOH PQR, and TAMM/DOH eServices. There are no third-party opinions, shortcuts, or unofficial interpretations.

Use this guide if you want to:

Choose the correct exam based on where you intend to work
Understand why DataFlow is unavoidable and when it applies
Avoid common administrative mistakes that delay or block licensing
Understand mobility limits between Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Plan time, cost, and effort realistically before you start

DOH Vs. DHA comparison

Dimension	DHA (Dubai)	DOH (Abu Dhabi)
Regulatory scope	Dubai only (DHA-regulated facilities).	Abu Dhabi & Al Ain (DOH jurisdiction).
Portal / application	Sheryan (DHA licensing system). CBT eligibility ID generated in Sheryan.	TAMM / DOH eServices for professional licensing; DOH issues evaluation/eligibility via TAMM.
Primary Source Verification (PSV)	Required via DataFlow before registration/exam; DHA instructs candidates to link DataFlow to Sheryan.	Required via DataFlow (dfdoh) and must be linked on TAMM; DOH eServices instruct applicants to upload DataFlow results.
Exam delivery partner	Prometric (DHA CBT guideline & booking via Sheryan→Prometric).	DOH uses structured licensing assessments and testing partners; exam procedures and eligibility managed through TAMM/DOH; DOH Professional Manual and PQR set rules. (Testing partner details provided per case by DOH/TAMM).
Typical format (nurse)	CBT — single-best-answer MCQs; DHA publishes blueprint/Mode-of-Exam. Typical Registered Nurse exams reported as ~150 Qs / ~165 mins (see DHA CBT Guideline & Mode-of-Exam).	DOH exams follow DOH standards for licensing assessments; format may be CBT / written and can include multi-component exams per DOH standards. DOH’s licensing manual and standards describe written/oral/practical components when applicable.
Pass score & attempts	DHA publishes CBT guidance and PQR with pass rules per specialty; DHA FAQ: no waiting period between attempts; exact pass mark shown in Mode-of-Exam/eligibility.	DOH licensing standards permit multiple attempts; HAAD/DOH exam standards commonly allow up to 3 attempts per component (re-sit rules). Details depend on the exam component and are in DOH standards/PQR.
Fees	Prometric CBT fee paid at booking (DHA CBT guideline lists fee; confirm the live fee in Sheryan/Prometric). Additional DHA application and PSV fees apply.	DOH application and evaluation fees apply via TAMM; PSV/DataFlow fees apply. DOH publishes eServices billing—confirm on TAMM during application.
License activation	DHA issues registration; employer must activate licence in Sheryan for practice to begin.	DOH issues licence after employer links professional; activation and residency/visa steps managed on TAMM/DOH.
Cross-authority conversion	No automatic conversion — each authority evaluates per its PQR. DataFlow reports can be reused but new authority’s evaluation/exam rules apply.

Sources: DHA Sheryan services and CBT Guideline; DHA PQR; DOH Professional Manual, DOH PQR & TAMM/DOH eServices.

Work location

If your job is in Dubai, take DHA. DHA licence is required to practise in DHA-regulated facilities; employers will ask for DHA registration or eligibility from Sheryan.
If your job is in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain, take DOH. DOH licensure is required in the emirate; DOH/TAMM is the official route.

Can you work in Dubai without DHA? No. DHA licensure (activated licence) is mandatory for practice inside Dubai. The DHA registration → employer activation sequence is listed in Sheryan.

Can you work in Abu Dhabi without DOH? No. DOH requires licensing for professionals practising within the emirate; DOH’s Professional Manual explains the duty to be licensed.

Eligibility requirements and DataFlow verification (PSV)

Both DHA and DOH require Primary Source Verification (PSV) (DataFlow) of education, registration and experience documents before the regulator issues an exam eligibility or proceeds with evaluation.

DHA: Sheryan explicitly lists PSV via DataFlow as a prerequisite for registration and indicates that CBT eligibility is created after verification and PQR checks. DHA also allows DataFlow and CBT to proceed in parallel in some cases but stresses PSV as mandatory for final registration.
DOH: DOH eServices and FAQs instruct applicants to upload/attach DataFlow verification and state applications are transferred to licensing only after verification completes. DOH’s professional licensing process is defined in its Professional Manual and PQR.

Can you take DOH without DataFlow? No. DOH will not typically approve the exam phase until DataFlow verification is complete and the application passes initial checks. TAMM/DOH guidance directs applicants to complete DataFlow first.

Can you take DHA without DataFlow? In practice DataFlow must be initiated and linked to your Sheryan application; DHA will not issue a CBT Eligibility ID without required PSV results showing the necessary documents. DHA allows parallel processing in some steps, but PSV remains mandatory before licence activation.

Exam

DHA (official mechanics)

Delivery: Prometric (DHA’s CBT partner). DHA publishes a Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Guideline and Mode-of-Exam per specialty to show question counts, duration and blueprint. Candidates generate a CBT Eligibility ID in Sheryan before booking Prometric.
Format: Single-best-answer MCQ CBT; DHA Mode-of-Exam lists the exact format for each specialty. Typical Registered Nurse CBTs are structured around the DHA blueprint (DHA’s documents indicate 100–150 questions and timing consistent with ~165 minutes for many nursing exams — check your specialty’s Mode-of-Exam for the definitive number).
Attempts & re-sit rules: DHA FAQ states professionals may re-apply immediately after results (no required waiting period). The Mode-of-Exam and Manual describe attempts policy per specialty (DHA posts detail in eligibility and PQR).

Read further:

DOH - Formerly HAAD(official mechanics)

Delivery & structure: DOH’s Professional Manual and PQR define licensing exam structures. DOH uses formal testing arrangements (CBT/written/oral/practical where required) and coordinates scheduling through TAMM. The DOH licensing standards (including legacy HAAD standards) set out re-sit/attempt rules (commonly up to three attempts per component, with specific waiting periods after multiple fails).
Format & components: DOH may require single-component written CBTs or multi-component examinations (written + oral/practical) depending on profession/specialty. The DOH licensing process follows the PQR and Professional Manual for component definitions.

Read further: DOH Nursing Exam—How to Register and Prepare for It in 2026

Which exam is “easier”, DHA or DOH?
Neither regulator publishes a statement that one exam is easier. Official sources frame the exams in terms of specialty blueprint and competence expectations; difficulty arises from candidate preparation, clinical currency, and familiarity with the authority’s blueprint. In short: difficulty depends on your preparation and the blueprint, not on DHA vs DOH.

Costs

Both regulators separate three cost types:

PSV / DataFlow fees (paid to DataFlow) — applicant pays; amounts depend on documents and issuing country. Both DHA and DOH require PSV; expect comparable DataFlow costs.
Regulator application / evaluation fees — payable via Sheryan (DHA) or TAMM (DOH) during the professional application/evaluation step. Check the portal for the live amount for your title.
CBT / exam delivery fee — paid at booking to Prometric (DHA) or via the DOH-designated testing arrangement. DHA CBT Guideline indicates candidates pay Prometric at booking; confirm the live fee on Prometric checkout. DOH’s process shows exam fees handled per TAMM/DOH instructions.

Published regulator references direct candidates to the portals for the authoritative fee schedule; both DOH and DHA change fees from time to time and the live amount on Sheryan/TAMM/Prometric is authoritative.

5: Validity and renewal

DHA: DHA registration is usually valid for one year; an employer must activate a licence for you to practice. Renewals are handled through Sheryan.
DOH: DOH licences follow DOH rules and renewal cycles outlined in the Professional Manual and PQR; DOH requires CPD/CME and active employment for renewal.

Can you hold both DOH and DHA licences at the same time?
Yes — you may hold valid licences from multiple UAE authorities provided each licence was issued and activated by the respective authority and employer. However, each licence is tied to the issuing emirate’s regulatory regime and a licence activated by an employer in one emirate does not replace the need for the other emirate’s licence if you move. DataFlow reports can be reused, but a new authority will still evaluate and may require its own exam or acceptance criteria.

Can you convert DHA → DOH or DOH → DHA automatically?
No automatic conversion. Each authority evaluates credentials against its PQR. Holding one authority’s licence may accelerate administrative checks but does not guarantee exemption from the other authority’s evaluation or exam requirements. The PQR documents and regulator manuals make clear that equivalency/exemptions are decided per authority.

What recruiters and hospitals expect

Employers hire to the emirate: Dubai hospitals expect DHA-eligible/registered nurses; Abu Dhabi employers expect DOH-eligible/registered nurses. Recruiters screen for the correct portal status (Sheryan CBT ID vs TAMM/DOH evaluation).
Time & sequencing: Because DataFlow is the common bottleneck, begin PSV early; the regulator will not progress you to the exam/registration stage until verification is complete. Both DHA and DOH advise starting PSV early in the application process.

Administrative pitfalls and how to avoid them

Both regulators repeatedly flag the same avoidable administrative errors in their portals and manuals:

Name mismatches: passport, degree and licence must match — correct before you start PSV.
Incomplete experience letters: letters must show exact dates, job title and duties on official letterhead — DataFlow and the authority will query vague letters.
Expired Good Standing Certificates: obtain recent GSCs per regulator timelines.
Booking without CBT Eligibility ID: Prometric bookings without the DHA Eligibility ID will be rejected; DOH/TAMM likewise requires DOH eligibility before exam scheduling. Always generate the eligibility ID from the portal.

FAQs about DOH and DHA

Q: Which exam is easier, DHA or DOH?
A: Regulators do not declare one easier. The frameworks are competency-based and mapped to each authority’s PQR/blueprint. Candidate performance depends on preparation and experience, not the label “DHA vs DOH.”

Q: Can I work in Dubai without DHA?
A: No. You must be registered/licensed by DHA and have your licence activated by a DHA-licensed employer to practise in Dubai.

Q: Can you take the DOH exam without DataFlow?
A: No. DOH requires DataFlow PSV to verify documents prior to proceeding to the examination phase. DOH/TAMM guidance instructs candidates to complete PSV.

Q: How much does each exam cost?
A — Each authority publishes application / exam fee details on their portals. DHA CBTs are booked via Prometric (pay the Prometric fee at booking); DOH exam fees and regulator admin fees are shown on TAMM/DOH eServices during application. Check Sheryan/TAMM for the live, authoritative fee.

Q: How long is each exam / how many questions?
A: DHA publishes CBT guidelines and Mode-of-Exam per specialty (many nursing CBTs are ~150 questions, ~165 minutes; confirm for your specialty in Sheryan). DOH exam components and timing are defined in DOH PQR/Professional Manual and vary by component (written/oral/practical).

Q: How many attempts are allowed?
A: DHA allows re-applications immediately (no mandatory waiting period) and details attempts per specialty in Mode-of-Exam. DOH/HAAD standards commonly permit up to three attempts per component with defined waiting periods after multiple failures — consult DOH PQR/standards.

Q: Can I have both DOH and DHA licences?
A: Yes, you can hold valid licences from both authorities, but each licence is issued/activated separately by the relevant employer/authority. DataFlow can be reused but each regulator will evaluate per its rules.

Recommended candidate playbook

Decide target emirate (job location) — that determines which authority to prioritise.
Prepare documents to DOH/DHA standards (degree, transcripts, licence, GSC, detailed experience letters).
Start DataFlow PSV immediately — this is the largest time variable. Both regulators require it.
Submit on the correct portal (Sheryan for DHA; TAMM/DOH for DOH) and wait for your CBT Eligibility ID.
Book and prepare using the authority’s Mode-of-Exam/blueprint — study the blueprint for domain weights and question types.
After pass → secure employer activation in the relevant emirate to start practice.

Quick reference links (official pages you should bookmark)

DHA — Sheryan / CBT Guideline / Mode of Exam: DHA Sheryan services, CBT Guideline and Mode-of-Exam pages.
DHA — PQR & Licensing Manual: DHA PQR and Manual for licensing professionals.
DOH — Professional Manual & PQR: DOH Professional Manual, PQR and eServices (TAMM).
DOH — TAMM eServices (professional licensing): TAMM portal for DOH applications and exam/eligibility steps.

Conclusion

Choose the exam that matches where you will work. Start DataFlow now. Use the regulator’s official blueprint (DHA Mode-of-Exam or DOH PQR/Professional Manual) to structure your study. Regulatory portals (Sheryan and TAMM) are the authoritative sources for eligibility IDs, fees, exam codes and result publication — rely on them and keep copies of all verification receipts.