Nursing licence exams: DHA, DOH, MOH and Prometric explained
Which exam for which emirate, how Prometric fits in, eligibility basics and what happens after you pass.
Which authority, which emirate
The UAE has three licensing authorities: DHA for Dubai, DOH (Department of Health) for Abu Dhabi, and MOH for Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. They are separate licences — passing one does not license you in another emirate, though transfer processes exist.
Outside the UAE, Saudi Arabia licenses through SCFHS, and Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain each run their own Ministry of Health processes. Identify your target destination first; everything else follows from that choice.
Where Prometric fits in
Prometric is the test administrator, not the licensing body — it runs the computer-based exam centres where you sit the DHA, DOH, MOH and several other Gulf nursing exams. You book through the authority's process and take the test at a Prometric centre, including centres in India.
Because booking, fees and scheduling run through official channels, beware of anyone offering 'guaranteed pass' packages or selling exam questions — these are scams, and several are documented in our fraud-awareness guide.
Eligibility basics
Eligibility generally requires a recognised nursing qualification, active home-country registration and a minimum period of clinical experience — the exact thresholds differ by authority and by role (RN vs assistant nurse). DataFlow primary-source verification must be completed as part of the application.
Authorities publish detailed eligibility criteria on their official websites, and they do change. Confirm the current requirements for your specific category before paying any fee.
Preparing for the exam
The exams test clinical knowledge across medical-surgical, paediatric, obstetric, psychiatric and community nursing. Candidates who trained recently often do best by revising fundamentals; experienced nurses should watch for practice differences between Indian and Gulf protocols.
Use current review materials matched to your specific exam, practise computer-based mock tests under time pressure, and schedule the exam only when mocks are consistently comfortable — re-sits cost time and money.
After you pass
Passing earns you an eligibility letter, not a licence to practise independently — the full licence is typically activated when you have an employer and complete the remaining formalities such as the medical fitness test. Many candidates secure job offers on the strength of the eligibility letter itself.
Keep your DataFlow report, eligibility letter and all application references in one folder. You will need them again for licence renewal, transfers between emirates, or applications to other Gulf countries.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DHA exam the same as the MOH exam?
No. DHA (Dubai), DOH (Abu Dhabi) and MOH (northern emirates) are separate licensing authorities with separate exams and separate licences.
Can I take the exam in India?
Yes — Prometric operates test centres in India where you can sit the DHA, DOH, MOH and other Gulf nursing exams.
Do I need DataFlow verification before the exam?
Primary-source verification through DataFlow is part of the licensing application for Gulf authorities. Start it early — it is frequently the longest step.
Does passing the exam guarantee a job?
No. It makes you eligible for licensing, which is what employers require — but you still go through interviews and the employer's own selection process.
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