DHA Dental License Eligibility Criteria from India

If you’re an Indian dentist dreaming of working in Dubai, one of the most important steps is getting a DHA dental license. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) controls licensure for health professionals in Dubai, and they have some clear requirements you must meet before you can practice there.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. You Need a Recognized Dental Degree

To begin with, you must have a dental degree that is accepted by the DHA. This usually means:

• BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)

• DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery)

• DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine)

• Or an equivalent degree recognized by DHA.
  

Your college and degree must be officially accredited and valid basically, they must be recognised as legitimate by educational authorities.

For Indian dentists, this typically means your BDS degree from a recognised Indian dental college is acceptable.

2. Complete the One‑Year Internship

After graduation, you must have done a 12‑month internship (also called house job) after finishing your degree. This internship is a structured training period where you work in clinical settings to gain basic practical skills.

Without this internship, DHA might ask for additional experience to make up for it.

3. Gain Clinical Experience

Once you finish your internship, you need hands‑on clinical experience meaning real work treating patients:

• Minimum 2 years of clinical experience after internship for general dentists from other countries (like India).
  

This experience must be clinical, meaning treating patients in a real healthcare setting; non‑clinical roles such as teaching or volunteer work usually do not count.

This experience shows DHA that you’ve worked as a real dentist and built skills beyond just training.

4. Hold a Valid License at Home / Work Country

You must have a valid dental license or registration from India (or wherever you last worked). This proves you were legally allowed to practise in that country. DHA also wants official confirmation that your licence is good, and you have no complaints or disciplinary issues.

5. Get a Good Standing Certificate

A Good Standing Certificate (GSC) is a formal document stating you have no professional complaints, legal issues, or malpractice cases. DHA typically wants this certificate to be issued within the last 6 months.

This is a crucial component of your application since it demonstrates your credibility as a dentist.

6. Pass the DHA Exam (Prometric Exam)

Once your qualifications and experience are verified, you must pass the DHA Licensing Exam (a computer‑based test). This exam checks your clinical knowledge, dental procedures, ethics, and UAE‑specific practice standards.

There are some cases where exemptions may be given (e.g., certain foreign board certifications), but most Indian dentists must sit for the exam.

7. Primary Source Verification (PSV)

DHA does what’s called Primary Source Verification (often done through DataFlow). This process checks that all your documents, degree, internship, experience letters, license, GSC are authentic.

Without PSV, DHA will not proceed with your application.

8. Language Skills

Although DHA doesn’t always require an English test like IELTS or TOEFL officially for dentists (depending on rules), having good English communication skills helps because dental practice and patient care in Dubai are in English.

Steps What You Must Have

Here’s a quick checklist:

1. Recognized dental degree (BDS/DDS/DMD).

2. Completed 1‑year internship.

3. Minimum 2 years clinical experience after internship.

4. Valid dental license from India.

5. Good Standing Certificate (recent).

6. Pass the DHA licensing exam.

7. Documents verified via PSV/DataFlow.

8. Good English skills (recommended).
   

Conclusion

Getting a DHA dental license from India is a structured but clear process. If you have a BDS degree, complete the required internship and work experience, gather all your documents carefully, and prepare well for the exam you can successfully qualify to work as a dentist in Dubai.  Contact us 

Faqs

• What is a DHA dental license?
  It is an official license issued by Dubai Health Authority allowing dentists to practice legally in Dubai.

• Who needs a DHA dental license?
  All dentists, specialists, and dental consultants working in Dubai healthcare facilities.

• What are the basic eligibility requirements?
  Recognized dental degree, required clinical experience, good standing certificate, and passing the DHA exam.

• How long does the DHA licensing process take?
  It typically takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on document verification and exam scheduling.

• Is the DHA exam mandatory?
  Yes, most applicants must pass the DHA exam unless they qualify for exemption under DHA rules.

• Can a DHA dental license be transferred from another emirate?
  Yes, licenses from MOH or DOH can often be converted, subject to DHA requirements.