DHA Exam Preparation For Nurses

DHA Nursing Exam Preparation is for nurses who want to work in Dubai, UAE under the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). DHA uses the Sheryan system for professional registration, and nurses usually need to complete eligibility checking, DataFlow/Primary Source Verification, CBT exam through Prometric, DHA registration, and final license activation through a Dubai healthcare facility. DHA also mentions that DataFlow verification and CBT assessment can be done in parallel.

Who can apply?

For the Registered Nurse title, DHA requires a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. For the Assistant Nurse title, DHA requires a Diploma in Nursing of not less than 18 months course duration. The 2025 DHA PQR lists no experience required for Registered Nurse and Assistant Nurse, but this is still subject to DHA’s gap/discontinuity of practice criteria.

Nurses must be graduates from a recognized nursing college or university. DHA also mentions that qualifications obtained through honorary, correspondence, or distance-learning routes are not counted toward PQR requirements. Nurses must also hold a valid license or registration to practice in their home country or country of last employment, where applicable.

DHA process for nurses

The DHA nursing process usually includes:

1. Create or login to DHA Sheryan account
2. Complete the Self-Assessment Tool
3. Submit documents for Primary Source Verification/DataFlow
4. Book and attend the CBT exam through Prometric
5. DHA reviews registration eligibility
6. Receive DHA registration if approved
7. Activate the professional license through a Dubai healthcare facility

DHA’s official process shows Self Assessment, Primary Source Verification, CBT assessment if required, registration eligibility review, registration, and professional license activation.

Exam pattern

The DHA Nursing exam is a computer-based test conducted through Prometric. The exam format is Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), and the result is shown as Pass or Fail in the applicant’s Sheryan account; the exact score is not shared.

The official DHA CBT guideline lists these exam details for Registered Nurse, Assistant Nurse, and Registered Midwife.

Main syllabus areas for nurses

For Registered Nurse, the DHA exam mainly covers:

Fundamentals of Nursing: nursing process, vital signs, infection control, patient safety, hygiene, comfort, documentation, admission and discharge care, medication administration, and basic nursing procedures.

Adult Nursing / Medical-Surgical Nursing: respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, neurological, musculoskeletal, and emergency conditions. Students should understand disease conditions, signs and symptoms, nursing management, and patient education.

Maternal and Child Nursing: antenatal care, labor and delivery basics, postpartum care, newborn care, pediatric growth and development, common childhood illnesses, and maternal-child safety.

Pharmacology in Nursing: drug classification, dosage calculation, side effects, contraindications, safe medication administration, IV fluids, emergency drugs, and patient monitoring.

Nutrition: diet therapy, nutritional needs in different diseases, pediatric and maternal nutrition, diabetic diet, renal diet, and enteral/parenteral feeding basics.

Mental Health Nursing: therapeutic communication, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, crisis intervention, and patient safety.

Community Health Nursing: health promotion, vaccination, family health, infection prevention, screening, and public health education.

Leadership, Ethics, and Professionalism: nursing ethics, legal responsibilities, patient rights, confidentiality, delegation, teamwork, unit management, and professional communication.

DHA’s CBT guideline lists the official Registered Nurse coverage as Unit Management & Leadership, Fundamentals, Maternal–Child Nursing, and Adult Nursing, along with references in pharmacology, nutrition, ethics, fundamentals, health assessment, medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, critical care nursing, psychiatric nursing, and community health nursing.

Required documents

For DHA nursing registration, candidates generally need academic certificates, transcript, nursing license or registration, passport copy, passport-size photo, updated CV, experience documents if applicable, Good Standing Certificate if applicable, and BLS certificate. DHA specifically mentions passport-size photo and passport copy under required documents, while the PQR states that nurses must submit academic transcripts for credentialing and must hold valid BLS certification or other certification according to scope of practice.

Important DHA rules

DHA states that the professional must pass the required assessment within three attempts across the Authorities, must not be blacklisted, and must first receive the PSV result for submitted documents.

Assistant Nurses and Assistant Midwives cannot work independently and must work under a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife.

How to prepare effectively

Students should prepare with a proper balance of concept revision, MCQ practice, mock tests, and clinical case discussion. They should focus strongly on fundamentals, adult nursing, maternal-child nursing, pharmacology, infection control, patient safety, emergency care, and nursing ethics. Daily MCQ practice is important because the exam contains 150 questions, and students must build both speed and accuracy.

A good preparation plan should include topic-wise classes, chapter-wise MCQs, weekly mock tests, revision of weak topics, discussion of previous-style questions, and final exam simulation. Nurses should also practice clinical scenario-based questions because many DHA questions test practical nursing judgment, patient safety, priority setting, and correct nursing intervention.