QCHP / DHP licensing for doctors in Qatar
Qatar’s Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP) — long known as the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) — registers and licenses doctors to practise in Qatar, under the Ministry of Public Health.
Last updated 2026-07-11 · figures are indicative snapshots — confirm current values with the source
How do I get licensed as a doctor in Qatar (QCHP/DHP)?
You register with Qatar’s DHP (formerly QCHP): submit your application, complete DataFlow primary source verification, and sit the 150-question qualifying exam where required. Experience requirements are set by scope of practice — a full general practitioner from overseas typically needs 5 years’ clinical experience, while a specialty scope needs 5 years plus additional post-qualification years.
The scope-of-practice framework
Qatar licenses doctors against a defined scope of practice, and the experience you need depends on the scope you apply for. The DHP publishes the full table in its Guidelines for Physicians.
- General practitioner (full scope): overseas applicants need 5 years of clinical experience.(Qatar DHP (MOPH) — Guidelines for Physicians)
- Specialty scope: 5 years’ total experience plus additional post-specialty-degree years per the category tables; 3 exam attempts allowed.(Qatar DHP (MOPH) — Guidelines for Physicians)
- The base requirement is a medical degree of at least 6 years (internship time can count if the programme is shorter).(Qatar DHP (MOPH) — Guidelines for Physicians)
Verification and exam
DataFlow verification and the qualifying exam are core steps. Qatar has tightened its PSV requirement and names its approved providers directly.
- DHP names DataFlow and Quadrabay as its two approved PSV providers; PSV takes a minimum of about 30 working days.(Qatar DHP (MOPH) — Primary Source Verification)
- Qualifying exam: 150 multiple-choice questions over 3 hours, pass mark 65% for physicians; application review takes about 5 working days.(Qatar DHP (MOPH) — Qualifying Examination)
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Frequently asked questions
Is QCHP the same as DHP?+
Yes. The Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) is now the Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP), under the Ministry of Public Health. The “QCHP” name still appears informally and in the Prometric exam name, but DHP is the current regulator.
How much experience do I need to work as a doctor in Qatar?+
It depends on your scope of practice. A full general practitioner from overseas typically needs 5 years of clinical experience; a specialty scope needs 5 years plus additional post-specialty-degree years. Qatar’s DHP publishes the full table in its Guidelines for Physicians.
Does Qatar require DataFlow verification?+
Yes. Qatar’s DHP requires primary source verification and names DataFlow and Quadrabay as its two approved providers. PSV takes a minimum of around 30 working days, so start it early in your application.
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