Short answer: DHA’s Licensing Manual says primary source verification and the computer-based test can be done at the same time. The final Get Registered application cannot be processed until verification is complete and the test is passed. So you can book while verification runs, but a pass has a clock of its own.
Can you book the DHA exam while verification is still running?
Yes, according to DHA. The Licensing Manual says primary source verification, shortened to PSV, and the computer-based test, shortened to CBT, can be done simultaneously. The step that waits for both is the final application: DHA’s manual says the Get Registered application cannot be processed until PSV is complete and the CBT is passed, if one is required.
So the order is up to you, within limits. The sensible question is not whether you may, but whether doing it in parallel suits your plan. Meddex is independent and is not connected to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Prometric.
Key facts and where they come from
Each line is official, with the document and the date we read it.
- PSV and the CBT can be done at the same time. Source: Licensing Manual 10.5, read 15 and 16 October 2026.
- The Get Registered application cannot be processed until PSV is complete and the CBT is passed if required. Source: Licensing Manual 10.6, read 15 and 16 October 2026.
- PSV is carried out by a third-party agency, which the Sheryan FAQ names as DataFlow. A report takes 15 working days from payment, in DHA’s wording. Source: Licensing Manual 6.1 and Sheryan FAQ.
- A PSV result is positive, unable to verify, or discrepancy. Re-verification is allowed up to twice for unable to verify and once for discrepancy. Source: Licensing Manual 6.2.
- You need the eligibility ID from your Sheryan account to book with Prometric. Source: Assessment Manual 7.2.2.
- A pass leads to a registration certificate valid for one year from the result date. Source: Assessment Manual 4.7.
Why would you book first?
Verification takes the longest and is out of your hands, so it makes sense to start it first. The exam is the part you control. If you have studied and appointments are scarce, booking while PSV runs can save weeks. There is no rule saying you must wait for a positive report before booking.
DHA does not say how long you will wait for an appointment after the eligibility ID arrives, so there is no way to calculate the saving in advance. See the time limits that exist for the periods DHA does state.
What can go wrong if you do both at once?
Three things, none of them certain. First, PSV can return unable to verify or a discrepancy, which means more weeks of correction while your pass is already running down its one-year clock. Second, a good standing certificate has a six-month limit, so a late exam can leave your documents stale. Third, the exam fee is not refunded if you cancel inside five days, so booking before you are ready costs real money.
Note what we do not know. We found no statement from DHA about whether a pass taken before PSV is complete is treated differently from one taken after. Our reading is that the one-year registration clock matters most if PSV drags, and that is our reasoning, not a DHA rule.
A way to order the steps
This is our suggestion, built from the facts above.
- Check your title in the PQR and gather documents. The eligibility guide helps.
- Request your certificate of good standing late enough that it will still be under six months old when you apply. See the good standing certificate guide.
- Submit documents and pay for PSV as soon as the file is complete.
- Choose an exam date you can prepare for, count back the weeks, and book once you have the eligibility ID.
- Keep a copy of every PSV message, so that any correction starts from the same place.
What we do not know
Where to check and what to read next
The DHA licensing checklist lists the steps, and how long DHA licensing takes says which have a stated time. For the booking itself, read booking the DHA exam with Prometric.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general educational guidance, not official advice. Exam rules, fees and timelines are set by the Dubai Health Authority and the test provider and can change, so always confirm the latest details on their official channels. Review of Meddex content by named, licensed clinicians is not complete yet. See how we write and check our content.
Last updated .