bisayang dako

(This shall be used as a guide only. It is best to consult with the DHA Licensing Department with your concerns and queries for better information)

Important: The Nurse practitioner should have at least 2 years' experience in his/her country. (If you're a fresh graduate, concentrate in these areas: Medical-Surgical, Maternity/Labour/NICU – these are the areas that pay better based on what I've seen.

I discourage all fresh graduates to come here without any clinical experience, salary to be offered is very less and if you don't have a PRC license, you will not get a career in the healthcare sector. Nursing Assistants here are required to be licensed in the Philippines and you will not be allowed to function as a Nurse as we know it back home.

It is also better to come here with your DHA Eligibility, your chances of getting a better paying job increases. If you opt for an administrative job because of visa issues, you might find it hard to go back to the healthcare sector or obtaining a license.

If you have a clinical experience and a PRC license, you may start processing your eligibility even if you're in the Philippines.

First things first: There are three licensing bodies for healthcare professionals in the UAE. HAAD for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. MOH for Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah & Um Al Quwain and DHA for Dubai.

Based on that, decide which Emirate you're planning to be based in when you come here and aim for the registration/eligibility in that particular licensing body. Contrary to popular belief, they have no unified licensing body for the whole UAE, at least for the next two years or so.

The process below is for Dubai:

1. Applicants should be currently working and should have minimum 2 years continuous working experience certificate which should not be more than 3 months old. Fresh graduates that get an Eligibility will have limited functions and most of the time, employers will not look at your CV.

2. Go online to the DHA website. eservices.dha.gov.ae

3. Click New User Registration

4. Create your account and upload the necessary documents (the site is very user friendly and it will guide you every step of the way) along with the application form.

5. Your documents should be scanned clearly prior to uploading, you don't want your application delayed because your documents got rejected during review

6. Attestation by the UAE Embassy in Manila and DFA are not required for getting your license, it is required for getting your UAE Work Permit.

Documents that need to be scanned and uploaded:

Copy of high school certificate/diploma.
Bachelor's Degree Certificate
Transcript of Records - a full transcript clearly stating the breakdown of theoretical and clinical hours per subject of the nursing program.
Experience Certificate signed by an authorized person from Human Resources, Nursing or Medical Director. (Please note that no experience required for new graduates, but employment is permitted only in hospitals, day surgical centres and polyclinics under the direct supervision of a licensed Registered Nurse/Registered Midwife).
Valid PRC License to practice nursing in the Philippines or country of last employment.
Valid Good Standing certificate from previous licensing authorities testifying good conduct and not charged with a criminal act (if the licensing authority does not issue good standing certificates then a letter of good standing from previous employer).
Passport copy.
One (1) colored passport size photo.

Important:

Name should be exactly like the passport.
Upload all documents "JPEG/PDF format only” in the required fields.
Name the scanned documents according to the certificate. For example: Passport, Picture, Experience
In case if you don't have any of the required documents: you will need to upload a justification letter. For example: if you don't have a Good Standing Certificate or License, you need to upload an explanation letter to the Licensing section.
In case if Primary Source Verification (PSV) from Dataflow was done: a receipt or report must be uploaded.
In case you have successfully passed the DHA exam: you need to upload the related document (at the Additional Documents Details section)

Failure to provide the required documents after 3 attempts will result in application rejection.
You may save the application by clicking on the "Save as Draft" option at the bottom of the page in order not to lose the input information.
Once the application is submitted a reference number is automatically generated. You should keep a note of this number to be used for tracking the application status.
Payment task will be generated automatically after application submission.
You need to check the Sheryan account frequently after submitting the application to check if there is any feedback from DHA ( in the pending task section)

Payment

Application fees for all professionals: 210 AED
Payment must be done online using a credit card, debit card or prepaid card

Review of Application

You application will be checked and verified by The Licensing and Accreditation Section in the DHA Health Regulation Department. Application review (Credentialing) may take up to 6 weeks.

Primary Source Verification

After approval of application, the certificates will be sent for Primary Source Verification "PSV": a process of verifying the applicant's documents directly from the original or primary source". An email from Data Flow Company will be sent to your contact email for PSV payment.
You should check your email regularly for PSV payment link
PSV fees:

Physicians and Dentists starting from AED 1000.
Other categories starting from AED 700

DHA Assessment or Exam

Health care professionals applying for DHA license should pass the assessment "except for applicant holding certain qualifications".
You would have to BOOK for the assessment/exam and pay for the exam charges separately. Payment is done online through a credit card, debit card or prepaid card
You would have to attend the exam at your own cost by travelling to the place of examination at your own expense.
Assessment is conducted either orally at DHA or accredited testing centers or online

Assessments fees:

Physicians and Dentists (Normal: AED 510, Urgent: AED 2010, Prometric).
Other categories (Normal: AED 260, Urgent: AED 2010, Prometric).

Prometric Test Center in Manila and Cebu as of this writing, if not, please contact the PRC office they might guide you to check for accredited testing centers:

Manila

ACESS 2/F ATENEO PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS (APS) SALCEDO
130 HV DELA COSTA ST.
MAKATI CITY, PHL 1227
Phone: 63-2-8920383

Cebu
TREAD INC.
SUITE 308-CENTRO MAXIMO BLDG.
D JAKOSALEM ST
CEBU CITY, PHLS
Phone: 63-32-2535514

A notification about assessment result will reach your account inbox.

Eligibility letter

Once you have successfully passed the exam, an eligibility letter will be issued through the online system which you will find in your online Sheryan account. This letter can be used by you to search for a job at different healthcare facilities in Dubai.

The Eligibility Letter is valid for one (1) year only. Within which you should find a job in Dubai.

Pending task will be shown in your account to upload job offer and malpractice insurance – your new employer will be responsible for this.

Good Luck!