DOH License for Healthcare Professionals in Abu Dhabi

How DOH licensing works

You apply for a DOH license through TAMM, the Abu Dhabi government services platform.

1. Apply on TAMM. You submit your application for your professional title.
2. Assessment against the PQR. DOH checks your qualifications and experience against the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements.
3. Primary source verification. DataFlow confirms your degrees, experience, licenses and good standing with the institutions that issued them.
4. Pearson VUE exam. If your title requires it, you book the DOH licensing exam with Pearson VUE from your TAMM account.
5. Eligibility. DOH confirms you are eligible for the title.
6. Activation. A DOH-licensed facility in Abu Dhabi employs you and activates your license.

Minimum experience for common titles

• General Practitioner: the internship year, then two years in clinical practice
• General Dentist: the internship, then two years of practice
• Registered Nurse: a bachelor's degree in nursing; no minimum experience
• Pharmacist: two years after qualifying, not counting work for pharmaceutical companies or in sales

Specialist and Consultant requirements depend on the PQR tier of the country where you trained. Physicians trained in Tier 3 countries cannot hold the Consultant title.

About the exam

Pearson VUE delivers the DOH exam at test centres in many countries, and you book it from your TAMM account. The format depends on your title and may be written, oral or an OSCE, in English. The PQR gives you three attempts in total across the UAE authorities, then one last attempt with another authority.

Exam exemptions

You may not need the exam if you are a UAE national, if you hold a qualification or registration on the PQR's lists, such as US or UK board certification, PLAB, USMLE or NCLEX, or if you already hold a valid DHA, MOHAP or SHA license for the same title with a good standing certificate and a full DataFlow report. No exemption applies after more than two years out of practice.

Moving from DHA or MOHAP

Apply to DOH for a transfer on TAMM while your current license is still valid. Your DataFlow report is transferred to DOH, which may ask for more verification, and specialist titles also need your residency programme documents. Your Abu Dhabi employer then activates the license. Most transfers take 4 to 6 weeks. See license transfers between authorities.

Good standing and time out of practice

Your good standing certificate must come from the regulator where you last practised and be no more than six months old when you apply. After more than three years out of practice, the PQR requires CME credits and a training period in an approved setting. Non-UAE nationals cannot apply after more than five years away.

Timeline and costs

Most DOH applications take 6 to 8 weeks, depending on DataFlow, exam availability and your documents. DOH, DataFlow and Pearson VUE fees are paid to them separately. Your first consultation with us is free; our licensing service is paid.

Continuing education

Licensed professionals need CME credits in their specialty each year: 40 for physicians and dentists, 20 for nurses and pharmacists, and 10 for allied health. Surgical specialists also submit a logbook every two years for renewal.