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Like every other healthcare professional in Dubai, you need a DHA pharmacist licence to practise in a private or public pharmacy. And to get the DHA license, you must pass the DHA Pharmacist exam, unless you qualify for an exemption under the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR).
The DHA Pharmacist Exam is a computer-based licensing test administered by the Dubai Health Authority through Prometric test centers. The exam confirms that a pharmacist applying for a Dubai license can practise safely, knows dosing and calculations, is aware of drug interactions, is competent in clinical decision-making, and follows DHAโs regulations before the license is issued.
The DHA Pharmacist Exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 3 hours (180 minutes). The passing threshold for the test is 60%. The test costs $280 for each attempt, and failing an attempt means paying the same fee again.
The result of the exam is provided on the Sheryan Portal within two working days as Pass or Fail, without a detailed mark sheet. Passing the exam helps you obtain a DHA Eligibility Letter and proceed with the licensing procedure, while failing means you need to prepare again.
The DHA allows you three attempts. After three unsuccessful attempts, you become ineligible for further DHA exam attempts, which means you have to apply for tests under other UAE authorities, including DOH and MOHAP. However, this happens rarely, as most pharmacists pass the test within the first two attempts.
This guide follows the order you need to understand, including the DHA exam exemption criteria, eligibility and requirements, application process, timeline, cost, syllabus, preparation techniques, and what to do if an application is refused.
What Is the DHA Pharmacist Exam?
A DHA Pharmacist Exam is a compulsory computer-based assessment test for pharmacists applying for a DHA license to practise in Dubai. The purpose of this exam is to check the competency of the professional to ensure patient safety.
The DHA Pharmacist Exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that have to be answered in 3 hours, with a passing score of 60%. Key topics include pharmacology, therapeutics, pharmacy law, calculations, and patient counseling.
What is the DHA Pharmacist Exam Format?
The DHA pharmacist exam is a computer-based test (CBT) of 150 multiple-choice questions with a three-hour limit, delivered through Prometric. All three pharmacy titles share the same format and the same USD 240 fee. What changes between titles is the pass score and the exam code.
Results are reported as Pass or Fail only. DHA does not release your score, a topic breakdown, or a review of the questions you missed. Your result is uploaded to Sheryan within two working days of the exam.
| Pharmacy Title | Pharmacist | Clinical Pharmacy | Pharmacy Technician |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Code | PHO5481 | PHO5482 | PHT5451 |
| Exam Type | Computer-based MCQs | Computer-based MCQs | Computer-based MCQs |
| Duration | 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Questions | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Passing Score | 60% | 70% | 55% |
| Negative Marking | None | None | None |
| Question Pattern | 4 options, choose 1 correct option | 4 options, choose 1 correct option | 4 options, choose 1 correct option |
| Question Type | Complex clinical cases requiring therapeutic decisions | Complex clinical cases requiring therapeutic decisions | Complex clinical cases requiring therapeutic decisions |
| Exam Attempts | 3 attempts | 3 attempts | 3 attempts |
| Result Announcement | 2 working days | 2 working days | 2 working days |
| Result Validity | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Exam Fee | USD 240 | USD 240 | USD 240 |
Two things worth noting. Clinical Pharmacy carries a 70% pass score, one of the highest of any title DHA examines and a full ten points above the general Pharmacist exam, despite testing an identical syllabus. And the fee is quoted in US dollars rather than dirhams, because it is paid to Prometric rather than to DHA.
Who Is Eligible for the DHA Pharmacist Exam?
All pharmacists who hold a DHA-recognized pharmacy degree or diploma, active registration, relevant work experience, and good professional conduct are eligible for the DHA Pharmacist Exam in Dubai. The main eligibility criteria include;
Personal Documents:
- You need a passport valid for at least 8 months and one colored passport photograph.ย
- Your original ID cardย
Educational qualification:
- You need a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm), or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from a college or university recognized in your home country.ย
- A Diploma in Pharmacy is accepted only for the Assistant Pharmacist category, not for the full Pharmacist license.
- Provide your official school certificates and grade transcripts for both high school (Matric) and senior secondary school (Inter).
Active professional registration:
- You need current registration with your home country’s pharmacy council or licensing body, plus a valid professional license from wherever you last practiced.ย
- A lapsed or non-renewed registration will be flagged during verification, so renew it before you submit documents rather than after.
Post-qualification experience:
- DHA requires a minimum of two years of relevant experience in pharmacy practice, retail or hospital, gained after you qualified, not during your degree. That two-year minimum is the same for the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician titles.
- If you’re applying for the Clinical Pharmacist title, the requirement is two years post-qualification with a minimum of six months of it in a hospital setting. This is the only pharmacy title that carries a hospital condition, and it does not apply to the standard Pharmacist licence.
- The experience has to be documented clearly enough for a verifier to confirm it independently. That means your role and your exact dates, from an employer reachable at the contact details on the letter, because everything goes through primary source verification.
- Experience gained as a pharmaceutical sales representative or medical representative does not count toward the two years, even if the role involved pharmacy knowledge and even if your job title includes the word “pharmacist.”
Good Standing Certificate:
- ย Provide a recent Good Standing Certificate (GSC) issued by the relevant authority within the last six months.
DataFlow Verification Report:
- Provide a positive primary source verification of your credentials from the DataFlow Group
What documents are required for the DHA Pharmacist Exam?
- Passport, valid well beyond the application window
- Recent passport photograph on a white background
- Pharmacy degree certificate and academic transcript
- Home-country pharmacist licence or council registration
- Good Standing Certificate issued within the last six months
- Experience certificates covering the period required for your title
- Internship Completion Certificate
- Positive DataFlow PSV Verification Report
- English proficiency certificate
- Medical fitness certificate, required at the residency and activation stage
How to apply for the DHA Pharmacist Exam in Dubai?
To apply for the DHA Pharmacist Exam in Dubai, you have to start by checking your eligibility against the DHA Professional Qualification Requirements, then register on the Sheryan portal and collect your Unique ID. Submit your degree, licence, experience, and Good Standing certificates to DataFlow for Primary Source Verification (around AED 935, 15โ30 working days). A positive report unlocks your Prometric eligibility ID. Book, pay for, and sit the exam, then download your result to start job hunting.
- Eligibility Checking using Self-Assessment tool
- Registration on the Sheryan Portalย
- Obtain Your DHA Unique ID
- Primary Source Verification (PSV) via DataFlow
- Generate Your Prometric Eligibility ID
- Schedule the Prometric Exam
- Appear for the DHA Pharmacist Exam
- Receive Your Resultsย
Self-Assessment & Eligibility Check
This is the first step before you get into the detailed pharmacist exam registration process, where you verify that your pharmacy qualifications align with the DHA Professional Qualification Requirements. The assessment process includes:
Go to the official online DHA Sheryan Portal or the Felix Happich Consultancy self-assessment tool built to check pharmacist eligibility for the specific title
Enter your pharmacy qualification (e.g., B.Pharm, Pharm.D, or M.Pharm), country of study, total years of continuous experience, and area of practice
The tool will tell you whether you are Eligible or Ineligible
Register on the Sheryan Portal
Once you are eligible, you have to create a Sheryan account to establish an official digital identity with the Dubai government. To create an account, go to the Sheryan portal. Click on “Register.” Use your full legal name, an active email ID, and your active mobile number to create your DHA Sheryan login credentials. Submit the registration form, and you will receive initial automated portal clearance.
Obtain Your DHA Unique ID
Your Unique ID is the master key for your entire licensing journey.
Log in to your freshly approved Sheryan account dashboard
Copy the generated DHA Unique ID displayed on your profile
Save this number safely. You will need it to track your application, link your verification, and book your examination
Primary Source Verification (PSV) via DataFlow
Once the Unique ID is generated, submit your documents for authenticity by conducting PSV verification through DataFlow. The authority will verify all your documents from the pharmacy institute where you qualified. The verification cost is a mandatory fee of approximately AED 935, depending on the number of documents. The verification process takes roughly 30 working days
Generate Your Prometric Eligibility ID
Once DataFlow issues a “Positive” verification report, your Sheryan portal will be updated. The system provides a specific Prometric Eligibility ID/Token, which signals to the testing vendor that you are authorised to reserve an exam seat.
Schedule the Prometric Exam
After you get the eligibility ID, go to the official website and select the scheduling assessment. Choose your preferred global testing centre, available date, and time slot. Pay the computer-based testing fee (approximately $240 USD or AED 300โ400). Once the fee is submitted, download and print your official Appointment Confirmation Letter.
Appear for the DHA Pharmacist Exam
At your selected Prometric test centre, arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time and bring your valid physical passport and printed Appointment Confirmation Letter for check-in. Stay calm and complete the exam, answering all multiple-choice questions within the allotted time.
Receive Your Results
Once you attend the exam, the results are sent from Prometric to DHA and typically appear on your Sheryan portal within 2 working days. The result is issued as either Pass or Fail, and remains valid for 5 years from the date of your exam.
Get DHA Eligibility Letter
The DHA issues successful candidates an Eligibility Letter showing that the pharmacist has met the required examination standard, but it does not itself give permission to practise. However, you can use it to apply for a job. After that, you can proceed with the pharmacist licensing process.
What is the difference between a DHA Pharmacist Eligibility Letter and a DHA Pharmacist Licence?
The DHA Pharmacist Eligibility Letter and DHA Pharmacist Licence are two different parts of the professional licensing process in Dubai. The DHA Eligibility Letter shows that the Pharmacist met the required examination standard, but it does not itself give permission to practise.
The DHA Pharmacist Licence, on the other hand, allows a qualified pharmacist to legally practise in Dubai after meeting DHAโs licensing requirements under the approved professional title.
Do Pharmacists Need English Proficiency for a DHA Exam?
Yes, IELTS or another accepted English language test may be required in specific cases. Under the DHA PQR, pharmacists must provide proof of English proficiency if they did not complete their university studies in English or if their licence belongs to a non-English-speaking country from the listed countries.
The accepted English language tests and minimum scores are:
- IELTS: 5.0
- Occupational English Test (OET): Grade C
- Cambridge Assessment English: 169
- TOEFL: 500 or equivalent
Therefore, the statement that DHA does not require an English test for pharmacists is not correct as a general rule. The requirement depends on the applicant’s education and licensing country.
What Is the DHA Exam Syllabus for Pharmacists?
DHA has two pharmacy exam blueprints. Pharmacists and Clinical Pharmacy candidates follow the same syllabus, while Pharmacy Technicians have a separate syllabus.
Syllabus for Pharmacist (PHO5481) and Clinical Pharmacy (PHO5482)
Both titles are tested on these 14 areas:
- Toxicology
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Sterile and Nonsterile Compounding
- Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics
- Pharmacognosy and Dietary Supplements
- Pharmacy Calculation and Compounding
- Clinical Pharmacogenomics
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmaceutical Care and Disease State Management
- Medication Safety
- Over-the-Counter Medication
- Pharmacy Law and Ethics
- Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic Decision Making
- Infection Control
The Pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacy exams cover the same 14 areas. The main difference is the passing score. The Pharmacist exam requires 60%, while Clinical Pharmacy requires 70%.
Syllabus for Pharmacy Technician (PHT5451)
Pharmacy Technicians are tested on these 9 areas:
- Pharmacy Calculation
- Pregnancy and Lactation
- Sterile and Nonsterile Compounding
- Infection Control
- Medication Safety
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmaceutical Care and Disease State Management
- Over-the-Counter Medication
- Pharmacy Law and Ethics
How to Prepare for the Pharmacist Exam in Dubai
Start with the DHA-published syllabus and reference list for your pharmacy title. Use these references to cover the main topics included in the exam.
After reviewing the reference materials, practise with timed questions. Complete full 150-question practice tests within three hours to improve your time management.
Focus your revision on pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, therapeutics, and clinical decision-making. Review pharmacy law, medication safety, compounding, and other topics included in your specific exam blueprint.
If you are taking the Clinical Pharmacy exam, prepare for the 70% passing score and use practice tests to check your progress.
DHA does not accredit, approve, or endorse exam preparation centers. Prometric is the test delivery provider for the examination. Check any preparation provider’s claims before enrolling.
DHA Reference Texts by Pharmacy Title
DHA specifies reference materials for each pharmacy title in its CBT guidelines.
| Pharmacy Title | DHA Specified References |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist (PHO5481) and Clinical Pharmacy (PHO5482) | 1. The APhA Complete Review for Pharmacy by Gourley & Eoff, American Pharmacists Association, together with Fundamental Immunology by Paul2. Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry3. Comprehensive Pharmacy Review by Shargel, Munick, Souney & Swanson4. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics5. Applied Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics by Shargel6. Pharmaceutical Calculations by Ansel & Stoklosa7. Pharmaceutics: The Science of Dosage Form Design by Aulton8. Principles of Toxicology by Stine & Brown9. Essentials of Pharmacoeconomics by Rascati |
| Pharmacy Technician (PHT5451) | 1. Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy by Beringer et al.2. Goodman and Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics by Hardman, Limbird & Gilman3. Drug Information Handbook by LexiComp4. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach |
