Healthcare professionals applying for DHA registration as a pharmacist may sometimes receive a trainee restriction or be asked to complete an approved period of clinical training before proceeding with licensing.

An important point many applicants overlook is that not every DHA-licensed pharmacy is automatically approved to provide the clinical training required by DHA.

DHA states that required training must be completed as hands-on training in an approved training facility. For trainee licence activation, the facility must have an Approved Practice Setting/Clinical Training approval, and a suitable full-time supervisor is also required for trainee or supervised professional titles.

DHA-Approved Pharmacy Training Facilities Mentioned in the Application Return

The DHA return notice advised the applicant to obtain a training letter from one of the approved facilities listed below.

Pharmacy and Healthcare Facilities

1. Emirates Pharmacy LLC
2. Aster Pharmacy
3. Real 6 Pharmacy
4. Medeor 24X7 Pharmacy
5. Medicina 2 Pharmacy
6. Canadian Specialist Hospital Pharmacy
7. Royal Ruby Pharmacy
8. Super Care Pharmacy
9. 800 Pharmacy LLC
10. Modern Medi Prime Pharmacy LLC
11. NMC Specialty Hospital Pharmacy
12. Dubai Police General
13. Al Garhoud Private Hospital LLC
14. Emirates Speciality Hospital FZ-LLC
15. PharmaChoice Pharmacy – Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital
16. Fakeeh University Hospital
17. Nakheel Pharmacy
18. NMC Royal Hospital Pharmacy
19. Medcare Women & Children Hospital
20. Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital
21. Aster Hospital – Aster DM Healthcare
22. Ibn Sina Pharmacy Group
23. King’s College Hospital London / KCH Healthcare

Important: Do Not Contact a Facility Only Because Its Name Appears on an Old List

DHA facility approvals can change.

The official Approved Practice Settings document currently available through the DHA Clinical Training webpage carries a 2024 filename, while the application return shared with Nursing Manthra contains a broader list of facilities.

Therefore, applicants should verify the facility’s current Clinical Training approval before arranging or paying for training.

A facility may:

• be DHA licensed but not approved for clinical training;
• be approved for one professional specialty but not another;
• be approved for a particular type of training programme;
• have its approval, speciality or facility status subsequently changed.

The DHA website provides an official section specifically for Approved Practice Settings – Training Health Facilities.

What Should a Pharmacist Do After Receiving This DHA Return?

Step 1 – Check Your DataFlow Report

Confirm that your Bachelor of Pharmacy/PharmD qualification requested by DHA has undergone PSV verification.

If it has not been verified, the required qualification may need to be added to the DataFlow verification process.

Step 2 – Find an Approved Training Facility

Approach a DHA-approved facility that accepts pharmacy trainees.

Before proceeding, ask the facility to confirm that it currently holds the appropriate DHA approval for clinical training.

Step 3 – Obtain the Required Training/Acceptance Letter

The facility should provide the documentation requested by DHA for the candidate’s training.

The document should clearly relate to the candidate’s approved training arrangement. The exact format and requirements should be confirmed with the facility and DHA for the individual application.

Step 4 – Check the Training Conditions

Before starting, confirm:

Training title: Pharmacist/Pharmacy trainee
Training period: As required by DHA
Training type: Hands-on clinical/practical training
Facility: DHA-approved practice setting
Supervision: Appropriate DHA-licensed supervisor

DHA states that a facility must have a full-time supervisor to activate trainee licences or supervised professional titles.

Step 5 – Resubmit Before the Application Expires

When DHA returns an application asking for additional documents, the applicant should address the requested requirements and resubmit within the validity period of the application.

Do not leave the returned application unattended until its validity expires.

What Is a DHA Approved Practice Setting?

A DHA Approved Practice Setting is a healthcare or training facility approved to conduct specified clinical education or training programmes.

DHA’s clinical training framework includes:

Basic Training

• Undergraduate training
• Observership

Intermediate Training

• Internship
• Experience Equivalency
• Practical Training Courses
• Back to Practice

Advanced Training

• Residency
• Fellowship
• Postgraduate Certificate programmes

DHA states that facilities wishing to conduct such programmes must be assessed based on their eligibility and suitability for the particular training programme.

Who May Need DHA Trainee Training?

A trainee restriction may arise when an applicant does not fully meet the professional experience requirements under the applicable licensing criteria.

DHA specifically mentions situations such as:

• fresh graduates;
• professionals who do not fulfil experience requirements;
• certain qualification categories;
• discontinuity or gap in professional practice.

The individual requirement depends on the applicant’s qualification, professional title, experience and DHA credentialing assessment.

Can You Complete the Training at Any Pharmacy in Dubai?

No.

This is one of the most important lessons from the returned application.

A pharmacy being operational and DHA licensed does not automatically qualify it to provide DHA-approved trainee clinical training.

Applicants should verify that the selected facility has the required Clinical Training/Approved Practice Setting approval for the relevant programme and profession before obtaining the letter or beginning training.

Need Help With Your DHA Pharmacist Application?

If your DHA application has been returned for DataFlow verification, trainee requirements, clinical training, experience issues or additional documents, review the return comments carefully before resubmitting.

Nursing Manthra provides guidance for healthcare professionals with:

DHA application and eligibility guidance, DataFlow/PSV processing, pharmacist licensing, trainee requirement guidance, application-return clarification and UAE healthcare licensing support.

WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971502515717
UAE: +971 502 515 717
India: +91 6828756689

👩‍⚕️ About the Author

Shincy George, RN, MSN (Cardiothoracic Nursing), SCFHS-RN, DHA RN, MOH UAE RN, NCLEX-RN (USA), is the Founder of Nursing Manthra Academy.

With extensive international clinical and academic experience, she is dedicated to guiding healthcare professionals through global licensing pathways. Through Nursing Manthra, she supports internationally educated healthcare professionals in achieving their career goals across Canada, USA, UAE, Middle East, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.

Her mission is to simplify complex licensing processes and empower healthcare professionals with the right knowledge, guidance, and support to succeed globally.