DHCA exam 2026: format, booking and attempts
The DHCA licensing exam for Dubai Healthcare City from DHCA's own rules: Prometric MCQs, pass/fail on the day, 3 attempts, USD 180-280 fees and DHA-licence exemption. Everything here comes from DHCA's own published documents, listed at the end of the page. For the full licence process see the DHCA licence guide.
- Pass / fail only
- Pass mark
- MCQ, in English
- Format
- 3 per exam
- Attempts
- Prometric
- Delivered by
How to register and book the DHCA exam
DHCA's own process, in order.
- 1
Submit your online application
Apply to DHCA online first - you cannot sit the exam before the application is in.
- 2
Wait for the email
DHCA emails you when you can proceed to the exam.
- 3
Get your Eligibility ID
Issued once you confirm readiness on the online system. It is valid for three months.
- 4
Book and pay with Prometric
Use the Eligibility ID to choose a centre and date within the three months. Fees are paid online to Prometric and are non-refundable.
- 5
Sit the exam
Bring your original passport. You receive a Pass or Fail score report at the centre when you finish.
The DHCA exam, explained
Who needs the DHCA exam
DHCA licenses professionals who work inside Dubai Healthcare City, a free zone with its own regulator - separate from DHA, which licenses the rest of Dubai. DHCA's FAQ is clear that its exam does not apply to every licensing category, so check your title first. Holders of a valid DHA licence can be exempted from the exam when they apply for the same licence title and specialty.
Not sure which Dubai regulator you need? Our DHCC vs DHA guide explains the difference, and the DHCC licence guide covers the full process.
Know where you stand before you pay the exam fee. Our free mocks are timed at exam pace and scored against the published pass mark, domain by domain. No sign-up.
Take a free mock testFormat, results and fees
The exam is taken at a Prometric testing centre in English, in multiple-choice format. At the end you receive a score report stating Pass or Fail; DHCA's guideline says no other details, such as scores, are given. Exam details and reference material are in DHCA's Licensing Exam Guide for Healthcare Professionals on the DHCC website.
DHCA's FAQ lists exam fees of USD 220-280 for medical and dental specialties and USD 180-220 for nursing and allied health, paid online to Prometric during registration. Fees are non-refundable, and passing the exam does not by itself guarantee a licence.
English proficiency
DHCA asks every professional for evidence of English: TOEFL 500 (paper) or 64 (internet-based), IELTS 5.0, OET grade C, or Cambridge English 169. You are exempt if you studied your specialty in English, have practised or been licensed for at least a year in a native English-speaking country, have been licensed and practised in the UAE for at least three years, or hold a valid DHA licence or an Option 1 country qualification.
How to prepare
Plan around the three-month Eligibility ID: book only when you are ready, because an unused window and a failed attempt both cost you. Our free timed mock tests show your weakest domains, and the question banks give you full-length papers with a rationale for every answer.
Not sure which DHCA exam you sit - or whether you are exempt?
Your exam depends on your profession, title and qualifications. We confirm your exact DHCA route before you spend anything.
Attempts, re-sits and results
Attempts
A maximum of three attempts per DHCA exam. After a third failed attempt you can reapply for the same professional grade only after one year of continued practice outside DHCC, twenty continuous professional development (CPD) points and two recommendation letters from direct supervisors - or apply for a lower grade if you meet its requirements.
Results
Pass or Fail on a Prometric score report as soon as you finish - no scores are given.
Failed an attempt? Our UAE retake guide covers how to use the time before the next one.
Prepare for the DHCA exam
Original exam-style questions written to the published blueprints, with a rationale and reference for every answer - start free with a timed mock. All question banks.
Registered Nurse (RN)
AED 179555 original questions in 4 full-length papers, each with a rationale and reference. DHA pass mark 50%.
General Practitioner (GP)
AED 349702 original questions in 5 full-length papers, each with a rationale and reference. DHA pass mark 60%.
Pharmacist
AED 249549 original questions in 4 full-length papers, each with a rationale and reference. DHA pass mark 60%.
Dentist (General)
AED 349462 original questions in 3 full-length papers, each with a rationale and reference. DHA pass mark 60%.
Physiotherapist
AED 249582 original questions in 4 full-length papers, each with a rationale and reference. DHA pass mark 50%.
Medical Laboratory Technologist
AED 249444 original questions in 3 full-length papers, each with a rationale and reference. DHA pass mark 50%.
DHCA exam and licensing guides
DHCC License: Dubai Healthcare City Licensing Guide (2026)
Everything you need to know about DHCC licensing - how it differs from DHA, application process, who needs it, free zone benefits, and fee comparison.
Read the guide UAEDHCC License Explained: What Dubai Healthcare City Actually Licenses & How It Differs from DHA (2026)
Dubai Healthcare City issues commercial licenses through its free zone authority - not the same as DHA. Learn exactly what DHCC licenses, how DHCR professional licensing works, and why your DHA license won't work inside the free zone.
Read the guide UAECDA License for Psychologists in Dubai: Complete 2026 Guide to Eligibility, Exams & CDA vs DHA
Everything psychologists need to know about obtaining a CDA license in Dubai in 2026, including eligibility requirements, the Prometric exam, MoE equivalency, DataFlow verification, and how CDA differs from DHA licensing.
Read the guide UAEMental Health Licensing in Dubai: DHA vs DHCC (CDA) - Which Licence Do You Need?
Clear, definitive guide to mental health licensing in Dubai for 2026. Understand whether you need a DHA or CDA (DHCC) licence as a psychologist, counsellor, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist - with side-by-side comparisons, eligibility criteria, and step-by-step processes.
Read the guideDHCA exam FAQs
How many attempts do I get at the DHCA exam?
How is the DHCA exam result reported?
Is the DHCA exam the same as the DHA exam?
How long is the DHCA Eligibility ID valid?
DHCA licensing by profession
Requirements, experience rules and salaries in the UAE for your profession.
More on the DHCA exam
Sources - last reviewed September 2026
- DHCA - Professional FAQ: which categories need the exam, Prometric delivery, eligibility ID validity, attempts, fees and results.
- DHCA - General Licensure Requirements for Healthcare Professionals, GL/HCP/050/03: exam process, pass/fail score report, attempts and reapplication, DHA exemption, English proficiency.
DHCA can change an exam's format or pass mark without notice, so confirm yours before you book.
Get your DHCA exam right the first time
Tell us your profession and title. We confirm which DHCA exam you sit, whether you qualify for an exemption, and the fastest order to do everything in.