How to Apply for DHA Licensure Examination

If you are a registered nurse in the Philippines

and would like to continue your passion here in
Dubai, you will have to go through a screening
process called DHA examination.
Let us sort things out first so that you may fully understand the terms/vocab that you will encounter
when you apply.

1. Dubai Health Authority - think of this as the DOH for Dubai. (HAAD for Abu Dhabi, MOH for
the entire UAE)
2. Prometrics - this is the organization that caters the examination for the DHA applicants.
(NCLEX and HAAD have Pearson Vue)
3. Primary Source Verification (PSV) - this a credentialing body that ensures your documents
and claimed educational background and work experience are all genuine.

There you go, I hope that enlightens you.

I HIGHLY SUGGEST, that you take the examination in Makati, Philippines since this will save up
much of your precious time looking for a job here in Dubai. Imagine that you would take the exam
here that will take you around 4 to 6 weeks or more just to get your results, and with only 60 days to
stay here you will surely run out of time (hello Balikbayan, hello Kish or hello Buraimi!)

I took the examination in Makati, and whatever I will share here on this post will be purely what I
have encountered so far. This does not limit what DHA does for the applications that they receive.

STEP 1: Prepare All Required Documents

A. At this point in time, you will not need to have your documents attested yet. I suggest for you to
halt at that idea of getting everything attested as early as this phase since you will be scanning all of
these documents. You will be having a hard time folding and fitting the "red-ribbon document" onto
the scanner. Also, make sure that you have scanned all the documents clearly and without any
alterations.

B. Here are the documents that you will be needing:
1. Transcript of Records - the TOR that you used for your local board exam can be used just make
sure that you still have all of the pages including the RLE record. If you do not have one, you can
coordinate with your school on how to process for a new one. While you are at it, ask them to have it
DFA Authenticated (Red Ribbon) already since you cannot file for such with your school records
coming personally from your hand. It should be forwarded by your school, no one else.
2. Work Experience - Two (2) years is the minimum qualification for such. Clinical nurses (from
hospitals), school health nurses, occupational health nurses, company nurses, private duty nurses
and private clinic nurses are all allowed to apply as long as you do not have a 6-month gap before you
schedule your exam. (Take note: if you are a fresh graduate, you may be exempted from submitting
any work experience certificate just like what one of my friends did, she is now working in a
hospital here in Dubai. Go grab your chance as early as now!)
3. 1 colored passport size photo
4. Passport copy
5. Authorization Letter for DHA - you will be able to download this towards the end of your online
application where you will have to download a file, affix your signature on it, scan, and then upload
the file.
6. Proof of Professional Registration in the Philippines - this includes:
PRC License - it should not be expired
Board Certificate - the diploma-like stuff that you get from PRC
Certificate of Good Standing - you can get this without too much hassle from PRC
C. Scan all documents. Make sure that you have fully scanned your documents or else they might
send you an email saying that you will have to upload it again because some important parts (e.g.
registrar's signature) are missing.

STEP 2: Create a Sheryan Account

A. A Sheryan is an online account where you will process and monitor everything that is relevant for
you license application.

B. Go to this site to create your account. You should see this:



C. Create your account and then you will be directed to the Online Registration and Licensing page
where you will have to choose New Professional License under Professional Home.
D. Upload your documents with the document title that generally describes the file e.g. Passport,
Passport Photo, Transcript of Records etc.

STEP 3: Wait For Your Eligibility ID

A. It will take up to 6 weeks for you to have such so that you can start your next process (PSV and
Scheduling of Prometric Examination).
B. With this, you can monitor the credentials evaluation process that they are doing on the
documents that you have uploaded.
C. Make sure that you will use a UAE-based credit card for paying the fee at the end of your DHA
application. This is only the phase where you will have to use the particular sorts of credit card.
(Cost: 210 AED)

STEP 4: Apply for PSV

A. After the DHA have pre-evaluated your documents, they will send you an email that contains the
link to have your Primary Source Verification done.
B. Pay your fees using internationally accredited credit cards e.g. Visa, Mastercard
C. Wait for your PSV report that may take up to 6 weeks again.
(Cost: 700AED)

STEP 5: Schedule Your Prometric Exam

A. Once you have your DHA Reference No. that you will get at the end of your STEP 3, you can now
schedule your exam. Choose the "Schedule My Test" and just follow the clear instructions they have
there.
(Cost: 170USD, take note: US Dollars)


B. If you have encountered a calendar with all of the dates blocked, try to choose the other link that
shows Prometric Ateneo Graduate School - Makati, Philippines.

C. It is now time to prepare for your test! For a set of recalled questions and a reviewer, you may post
your email on the comments' box below and I will send it to you. Take Note: Do not underestimate
the test! While it is true that our local board examination is much more difficult than this, there are
still a significant portion of Filipino DHA-Prometrics takers who failed the said exam because they
did not prepare for it. You do not want to waste your precious time, do you?

STEP 6: Go to The Test Center

A. Be at the test center 1 hour before the scheduled test to have room for preparation.
B. Ateneo Graduate School is located at #130 H.V. Dela Costa Street Salcedo Village, Makati
City. There is another Ateneo around the area which is in Rockwell. So if you will take the cab better
make sure to give the correct instructions or you will end up being late for going to the wrong
location. Landmark: There is a Starbucks in front of the building.
C. DO NOT FORGET your original passport and your appointment receipt.
D. They will take your biometrics and verify the documents that you brought. They will also hand you
a locker key that you can use if you have some stuff with you for you will not be allowed to bring
ANYTHING inside the test room.
E. The examination is good for two (2) hours and has seventy (70) items. Do not make any
unnecessary movements because a camera right in front of you will be used to monitor your behavior
while taking the test. Do not talk to anyone especially to your seatmate.

STEP 7: Wait For the Result

A. Results will be out two (2) to five (5) days after you have taken the test. I got mine after 2 days.
B. Once you have passed the examination, your Sheryan Account will indicate that you have made it.
C. On my experience, I received automatically an Eligibility Letter because I have scheduled my PSV
way earlier than my Prometric test. So my guess is that everything was already done when I had the
results of my test making the "Passed" mark on my Sheryan Account unnecessary.

STEP 8: Go to Dubai

A. Once you have passed the exam, it is time for you to get your papers ready to travel abroad.
B. Your license will be processed once you have successfully got a job. You will present your eligibility
letter to your employer and they will process the license for you.
C. It is now time to practice your profession in a foreign land. Congratulations!

For inquiries, feel free to post your comments and I will answer them to the best of my ability.
Thank you.