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A Department of Health (DOH) license is a legal document that is compulsory for every healthcare professional who practices their healthcare services in Abu Dhabi. The license application process ensures that all medical professionals fulfill the educational, professional, and ethical requirements outlined by the DOH authority. The application process involves several steps, such as creating an account on the DOH portal, submitting required documents, completing Primary Source Verification (PSV) through DataFlow, passing the DOH licensing exam, and paying the applicable fees.
The DOH licensing requirements include a valid medical degree, a minimum of two years of experience, a PSV DataFlow report, and license fees. These requirements are different for general practitioners, specialists, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and allied health professionals. Some healthcare professionals need to pass the DOH license test, while other healthcare professionals from exempted countries do not attend medical license examinations and oral assessments.
After getting the DOH license, the healthcare professionals need to activate their license through the respective healthcare facility. The facility applies for the license activation on behalf of the medical professional. The healthcare professional needs to renew the license every year as it expires annually, as per DOH regulations.
The DOH healthcare professionals convert their DOH licenses into DHA or MOH to practice their medical services in other emirates, respectively. The conversion of a DOH license IN Abu Dhabi to a DHA license in Dubai or an MOHAP medical license in the northern Emirates of the UAE involves obtaining a Good Standing Certificate (GSC) from the DOH portal, linking the existing PSV reports to the respective authority’s DataFlow, initiating the license conversion process on the relevant portal, and paying the conversion fees.
What is a DOH License?
A DOH License is an official permission from the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, that allows healthcare professionals to work legally in Abu Dhabi. It verifies their qualifications, skills, and experience to ensure safe medical practice. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other practitioners must obtain this license before providing services. The DOH reviews education, training, and professional background through exams and verification to maintain healthcare quality across Abu Dhabi’s medical sector.
What are the DOH license Requirements?
The requirements for a DOH license are a medical degree, PSV reports, clinical experience, a Good Standing Certificate, a language proficiency certificate, and a medical license test or oral assessment. The Department of Health (DOH) requires medical license tests or oral assessments from some healthcare professionals to check their knowledge and clinical skills.
Here are the requirements for a DOH license:
Educational Requirements
The educational requirements vary for every healthcare professional; for example, general physicians require an MBBS or MD degree, while nurses require a bachelor’s or diploma in nursing. Here are the educational requirements for different healthcare professionals:
- MBBS, MD, or equivalent degree for general physicians.
- Basic Dental Degree (BDS) for dentists.
- Bachelor of Nursing or Diploma of Nursing for nurses.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy for Pharmacists.
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Radiology, or Laboratory Technology for Allied Health Professionals.
Clinical Experience
The clinical experience after the internship is compulsory for every healthcare professional to get a medical license, as mentioned on the DOH official website. However, the duration of clinical experience is different for every healthcare professional. For instance, general physicians require 2 years of experience while specialist physicians require 3 years of experience.
Good Standing Certificate (GSC)
The Good Standing Certificate is compulsory for every healthcare professional to get a DOH license. This certificate must be valid and issued within 6 months before the application to the regulatory authority of the applicant’s country, as mentioned on the official website of the DOH.
Language Proficiency Certificate
The English language proficiency certificate is also required for the DOH license, as mentioned on the official DOH website. The accepted language proficiency certificates for the DOH medical license, with the minimum passing scores, are given below:
- IELTS with a minimum score of 6.5 bands.
- TOEFL with a minimum score of 79-80.
- OET with a minimum grade B.
DOH License Test or Oral Assessment
All healthcare professionals, except those exempted by the DOH authority, must pass the DOH license test or oral assessment to get the DOH license. The exempted medical professionals include those from the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. This test assesses both the medical knowledge and clinical experience of the applicants for a DOH medical license.
Medical Examination of License Applicants
A personal medical examination is required from all license applicants, as mentioned in the PQR (Professional Qualifications Requirements) issued by the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi. This personal medical examination includes all the tests specified by the DOH, and these tests must be carried out by health officials licensed by the DOH.
How to apply for a DOH license in Abu Dhabi?
To apply for a DOH license in Abu Dhabi, you have to follow a structured procedure that involves creating an account on the DOH official website, completing the application form, submitting all the required documents, starting Primary Source Verification (PSV) through Data Flow, and paying the application fees. The DOH medical license is compulsory for every healthcare professional to practice their medical services in Abu Dhabi, as stated in Article 18 of Law No. 1 of 2007.
The DOH medical license application process includes the following steps:
- Create a TAMM account
- Check eligibility
- Start Primary Source Verification (PSV) with Data Flow
- Complete the DOH application form
- Upload required documents
- Attend assessment, if required
- Pay application fees
- Receive a license
- Activate the license through the facility
Create an Account
The first step is to create an account on the TAMM platform (Abu Dhabi’s government services platform). Open the TAMM official website and use the UAE pass to create your account. Then, complete your profile on the TAMM account with accurate and updated personal information to get the Unique Identification Number (UIN).
Know the Eligibility
To become eligible for the DOH medical license, your educational and professional qualifications need to meet the DOH’s Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), which include the following credentials:
- A medical degree like MBBS, MD, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Nursing, or Bachelor of Pharmacy.
- Clinical experience of a minimum of two years after internship.
- An active medical license from the native country.
- Good Standing Certificate (GSC) from the previous employer.
- Language proficiency certificates like IELTS or TOEFL.
Primary Source Verification (PSV)
Register with personal and professional details on the official Data Flow website. Then, log in with the username and UIN (Unique Identification Number) and upload all the educational and experience documents that require verification. There are Data Flow verification fees, which vary with the number and type of documents. The fee will appear when you have submitted all the documents, which range between AED 990 and AED 1680.
Complete the Application Form
Log in to the TAMM platform and navigate to the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH) services. Click on Get a medical professional license and start the application process. Fill out all the sections and upload all the required documents with their PSV report.
Upload Required Documents
Upload the required documents in the form of PDF, JPG, or PNG, which include the following:
- Valid Passport Copies
- Photographs
- Respective PSV-verified medical degrees
- PSV Verified Clinical Experience
- Copy of Current Medical License
Assessment (If Required)
The Department of Health (DOH) requires oral assessment or medical license tests from some healthcare professionals like physicians and nurses. This medical license test checks the knowledge and clinical skills of healthcare professionals. The test can be in the form of an oral assessment or a Computer-based Test (CBT).
Pay Application Fees
The Department of Health (DOH) sends a notification for the payment when you have submitted the application and documents. The applicants pay the application fees online using the payment methods mentioned on the TAMM platforms. The application fees for DOH medical licenses vary for different medical professionals and range from AED 1000 to AED 2000.
License Issuance
The Department of Health-Abu Dhabi (DOH) reviews the application and makes sure that the applicant fulfills all its requirements and standards. Then, they issue the license on the DOH account. The applicants download this license and print it.
License Activation (If Necessary)
The facility in which healthcare professionals provide medical services will activate the license on behalf of healthcare professionals. The facility will apply for license activation from the DOH official website by submitting the necessary documents and paying the license activation fees.
How Much Does a DOH License Cost in Abu Dhabi?
The DOH license cost is between AED 2,237 and AED 5,327, which is different for every type of medical professional. For instance, general physicians need to pay AED 5,327, whereas dentists need to pay AED 4,907. The DOH license applicants pay the application fees, PSV Data flow fees, medical license test fees, and additional costs.
Here is the breakdown of the DOH license cost for different medical professionals:
General Physicians
The total estimated cost of the DOH license for general physicians is AED 5,327.
| Fee Type | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Primary Source Verification (PSV) | 1,680 |
| TAMM Application Fee | 100 |
| CBT Exam Fee | 100 |
| One-Time Processing Fee | 600 |
| Exam Fee | 347 |
| License Issuance Fee (1-Year) | 2,500 |
| Total Estimated Cost | 5,327 |
Dentists
The total estimated cost of the DOH license for dentists is AED 4,907.
| Fee Type | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Primary Source Verification (PSV) | 1,260 |
| TAMM Application Fee | 100 |
| CBT Pre-booking Exam Fee | 100 |
| One-Time Processing Fee | 600 |
| Pearson VUE Exam Fee | 347 |
| License Issuance Fee (1-Year) | 2,500 |
| Total Estimated Cost | 4,907 |
Pharmacists
The total estimated cost of the DOH license for a pharmacist is AED 2,437.
| Fee Type | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Primary Source Verification (PSV) | 990 |
| TAMM Application Fee | 100 |
| CBT Pre-booking Exam Fee | 100 |
| One-Time Processing Fee | 600 |
| Pearson VUE Exam Fee | 347 |
| License Issuance Fee (1-Year) | 300 |
| Total Estimated Cost | 2,437 |
Nurses and Midwives
The total estimated cost of the DOH license for nurses and midwives is AED 2,287.
| Fee Type | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Primary Source Verification (PSV) | 990 |
| TAMM Application Fee | 100 |
| CBT Pre-booking Exam Fee | 50 |
| One-Time Processing Fee | 600 |
| Pearson VUE Exam Fee | 347 |
| License Issuance Fee (1-Year) | 200 |
| Total Estimated Cost | 2,287 |
How Long Does it Take to Obtain a DOH License?
The time taken to obtain the DOH license is between 2 to 3 months, which varies for every medical professional. There are several steps in the process of obtaining a DOH medical license, and each step takes a different amount of time. For instance, document verification takes 2 to 6 weeks, and application processing takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Here is the complete breakdown of the total time taken to obtain a DOH license:
| Steps of the DOH License | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Document Verification (PSV) | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Application Processing | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Examination (If Required) | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Final Review & Issuance | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Total Estimated Time | 2 to 3 months |
How to Renew a DOH License in Abu Dhabi?
To renew a DOH license, you have to access the TAMM platform, start the application process, pay the application fees, and submit all the required documents. The license should be renewed three months before the expiry date as mentioned on the official DOH website. The DOH license will expire if the healthcare professional delays renewal for more than six months.
Renewal of a DOH license includes the following steps:
- Access the TAMM
- Start the Application Process
- Pay the Application Fees
- Upload the Documents
- Application Review and License Issuance
Access the TAMM
Open the TAMM official website in Abu Dhabi and log in to the platform with your Emirate ID number. Then, navigate to the Health and Safety section, click on the Healthcare Professionals, and then choose the Licensing and Certifications.
Start the Application Process
Now, you have to click on ” Manage a Healthcare Professional License” and then start the application process. Fill out the application form with personal and professional requirements. Then, submit all the required documents, which include the following:
- Experience Certificates
- Education Certificates
- Emirate ID
- Good Standing Certificate (GSC)
- Primary Source Verification (PSV) Data Flow Report
Pay the Application Fees*
Click on Submit Application and then pay the application fees through the payment methods mentioned on the portal. The license renewal application fee is AED 100, as mentioned on the official DOH website.
Complete Continuing Medical Education (CME) Requirements
The Department of Health-Abu Dhabi ensures that healthcare professionals have updated knowledge about new medical technologies, treatments, and procedures by checking their Continuing Medical Education (CME).
Here are the CME requirements for different medical professionals in Abu Dhabi:
| Profession | Total Annual CME Hours |
|---|---|
| Physicians/Dentists | 40 |
| Nurses | 20 |
| Pharmacists | 20 |
| Allied Health Professionals | 10 |
| Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners | 10 |
Review Application and License Issuance
The Department of Health reviews the application and issues it within 3 to 17 working days. They issue medical licenses on the TAMM platform, from which applicants download and print their licenses.
How to convert a DOH License into a DHA and MOHAP license?
To convert a DOH license into another type of medical license, like DHA or MOH, make an account on the official website of the respective authority, obtain a Good Standing Certificate, link the Dataflow, submit the application, and pay the license conversion fees. Along with these, you need to pass the DOH license test unless you qualify for an exemption. Once approved, the new license is issued online and activated by the employing medical facility. The details of each conversion are provided below.
How to Convert a DOH License to a DHA License?
To convert a DOH license to a DHA license, create an account on the DHA Sheryan official portal, prepare all the documents, link the PSV DataFlow, start the application process, and pay the license transfer fees. The applicant must have at least six months of experience with the DOH license, and the DOH license must be active while transferring into DOH.
Conversion of a DOH license to a DHA license involves the following steps:
- Create an account on the DHA Sheryan portal by providing basic information like full name, email, and Emirate ID.
- Prepare all the documents required for license transfer that are given below:
- Active and Valid DOH License
- Good Standing Certificate from DOH, which is Valid for at least 6 months
- Educational Qualifications (Degrees, Diplomas, Transcripts)
- Experience Certificates (Detailing duration, job title, and responsibilities)
- Passport Copy and Emirates ID
- Passport-sized Photograph
- No Objection Certificate (NOC)
- Old Primary Source Verification (PSV) Report from DataFlow Group
- Link the old PSV DataFlow report with the DHA authority. The applicant needs to access the DataFlow official website, open the report transfer section, request to transfer the report from the DOH to DHA, and pay the PSV report transfer fees. They will link the old PSV DataFlow report to the DHA DataFlow.
- Start the license transfer application by accessing the DHA Sheryan official portal. Open the license transfer section, fill out the application form, upload all the required documents, and attach the DataFlow report.
- Pay the license transfer fees through the payment methods mentioned on the portal.
The DOH will issue the license on the account of the applicant, who can download and print it.
How to Convert a DOH License to a MOH License?
To convert a DOH license to an MOH license, create an account on the MOHAP official platform, prepare the documents, link the DataFlow report, start the application, and pay the license transfer fees. The applicants need to prove their eligibility by having at least six months of experience with the DOH license and an active DOH license.
The transfer of a DOH license to an MOH license involves the following steps:
- Create an account on the MOH official portal by using basic personal information like full name, email, and Emirate ID.
- Prepare all the required documents mentioned on the official portal to transfer the DOH license to the MOH license. These documents include the following:
- DOH License, which is Active and Valid
- Good Standing Certificate from DOH (Issued within 6 months)
- Primary Source Verification (PSV) Report from DataFlow Group
- Educational Qualifications
- Experience Certificates
- Copy of your passport and Emirates ID
- Passport-size Photograph
- No Objection Certificate (NOC)
- Transfer or link the DOH PSV DataFlow verification to the MOH by opening the DataFlow official website, clicking on the request for a transfer, fulfilling all the documents, and specifying the MOH authority. After paying the PSV DataFlow fees, they will link the PSV report to MOH in 2 to 4 days.
- Start the application for license transfer by accessing the MOH account, opening the license transfer section, filling out the application form, and uploading all the required documents.
- Pay the DOH to MOH license transfer fees and click on “apply “. The MOH will issue the medical license on the MOH account after reviewing the application. The healthcare professionals can download and print it.
What are the Eligibility Criteria for the DOH license exam?
The eligibility criteria for the DOH exams include a valid medical degree, experience of 2 years, a Good Standing Certificate, and a PSV verification report. The DOH exam is compulsory for every healthcare professional who is not from exempted countries like the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, as mentioned in the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR).
Here are the eligibility criteria for the DOH exam:
- Educational Requirements include a valid degree in the respective medical profession, like MBBS, MD, Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Dentistry, and Bachelor of Pharmacy.
- Experience of 2 years for general physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, and experience of 3 years for specialists and consultants.
- Good Standing Certificate from the relevant authority of the native country.
- Primary Source Verification Data Flow of documents of DOH.
What is the Easiest Way to Get a License from the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi?
The easiest way to get a DOH license is to create an account on the DOH official portal, complete the documents, initiate the PSV verification, start the application, pass the medical test, and pay the license fees. You can make it easier by following the tips given below:
Choosing the right pathway based on qualifications
Every type of healthcare professional has a different pathway to get the DOH license. For instance, healthcare professionals from the exempted countries are not required to pass the DOH license test, whereas other professionals need to pass the test.
Ensuring all required documents are ready
To make the process of getting a DOH license easy, make sure that all the required documents are ready. Every healthcare professional requires different types of documents, so check which types of your documents are compulsory for your type of license and prepare them before starting the application process.
Meeting exam and training requirements efficiently
Check whether you are exempt from the medical exam and training requirements. Then, make sure you are eligible for the medical exam by completing the documents, experience, and Continuing Medical Education (CME).
