Short answer: DHA does not publish a last date to register or a national calendar of exam dates. It does state time limits: reschedule or cancel five calendar days before, arrive 30 minutes early, a good standing certificate under six months old, a pass valid one year, and a three-month silence that can end an application.
Is there a last date to register for the DHA exam?
Not in the documents we read. DHA’s computer-based exam does not run on fixed national sittings like a university exam. You book an appointment with Prometric using the eligibility ID from your Sheryan account, and slots depend on availability at the centre. So there is no “applications close on” date to miss, and no “exam starts on” date to wait for.
What does exist is a set of time limits that start running once you begin. Missing one can cost a fee, a certificate or a file, so they are worth knowing. Meddex is independent and is not connected to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Prometric.
Key facts: the limits DHA states
Every line is official and names its source. All were read between 15 and 16 October 2026.
- Reschedule or cancel at least five calendar days before the exam date. Source: Assessment Manual 7.2.7.
- Arrive 30 minutes before the appointment, with a valid passport that matches your registration. Source: Assessment Manual 7.2.5 and 7.2.10.
- The registration certificate after a pass is valid for one year from the result date. Source: Assessment Manual 4.7.
- A pass older than two years may need a new assessment when you have a gap in practice. Source: Licensing Manual 7.6 and 7.7.
- A certificate of good standing must not be older than six months when you apply. Source: PQR 1.3.3 and Licensing Manual 10.3.
- DHA may reject an application if you do not respond for more than three months. Source: Sheryan FAQ.
- Primary source verification takes 15 working days from payment for a new report, and 5 working days to transfer an existing one, in DHA’s wording. Source: Sheryan FAQ.
- After a third failed attempt you are blocked from reapplying for two years. Source: Assessment Manual 4.10.
Which limits matter in the week of the exam?
Three. The five-day rule means that if you might not be ready, you must decide before that point. After it, DHA says fees are not refunded, and a cancelled or missed exam is not counted as a failed attempt but the fee is lost. The 30-minute arrival rule means your real start is half an hour before the booked time. And the passport must match your registration, so check the name letter by letter when you book.
The test centre day guide and the exam day checklist cover the rest of the day.
How long until you know the result?
DHA’s two documents give different answers. The Assessment Manual says results are uploaded to Sheryan within two working days. The Sheryan FAQ says Prometric results are shared instantly. We cannot say which you will see, so plan for the later one. The result is pass or fail only. Read the pass rate and attempts page for what DHA says about results and retakes.
What clocks start after you pass?
Two. The registration certificate runs for one year from the result date, and it is not a licence until a facility activates it. And if you then have a gap in practice, the two-year point in the Licensing Manual can mean a new assessment. Plan the job offer and the activation with those dates in view, and read after you pass the DHA exam for the usual next steps.
What we do not know
Where to check the real slots
The only way to see real slots is to go through the booking steps on Prometric’s DHA site with your eligibility ID, in a normal browser. Read DHA exam dates and booking windows for the steps in order, and the order of steps guide for when to book.
Related guide
For how the reschedule and missed exam rules work around a shift pattern, see booking the DHA exam around shifts and leave, and for the result rules see pass or fail only and the learning outcome letter.
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 .