What is DTAC? — UK Software Development Guide

4 min readJune 2025ClickMasters Technical TeamReviewed by Reviewed by James Whitmore, CTO
what is dtacdigital technology assessment criteria nhs

Direct Answer

DTAC (Digital Technology Assessment Criteria) is the NHS's mandatory assessment framework for digital health technologies seeking to be listed on the NHS App Library or deployed in NHS settings. It has five domains: (1) Clinical Safety (DCB0129), (2) Data Protection (UK GDPR + DSP Toolkit), (3) Technical Security (Cyber Essentials Plus + CREST pen test), (4) Interoperability (FHIR R4 UK Core), and (5) Usability & Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA).

Dtac in the UK

DTAC is the gateway for NHS App Library listing in England. All five domains must be evidenced — failure on any single domain results in rejection. Plan for 3–6 months for a well-prepared first submission. Common failures: Cyber Essentials Plus (requires external verification, not self-assessed), WCAG 2.1 AA (manual screen reader testing often fails), and Clinical Safety (DCB0129 Clinical Safety Officer requirement catches many first-time applicants). ClickMasters has supported DTAC remediation across Domains 2, 3, and 5.

Get Expert Advice on Dtac

Get Expert Advice on DTAC ClickMasters engineers apply DTAC principles in every project. Free consultation. → clickmasterssoftwaredevelopmentcompany.co.uk/contact/