The QCHP license is still what most doctors search for, but since 2019 medical licensing in Qatar has been run by the Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP) at the Ministry of Public Health. For France-trained specialists, DHP’s own physician guidelines list the French CES, DES/DESC and DIS in Category 1, its top tier for specialty qualifications, which carries a one-year post-specialty experience requirement. A Doha doctor’s salary is paid without income tax. Pay depends on your DHP title and your employer’s package, which at public employers such as HMC includes a housing allowance. Below is the licensing route, what changed with DHP’s December 2025 circular on the qualifying exam, and how to compare a Qatari offer with French hospital pay.
Key Takeaways
- QCHP was replaced by the DHP in 2019; the license is the same thing under a new name.
- French specialty diplomas are Category 1 in DHP’s Table 3 of approved specialty qualifications.
- DHP’s December 2025 circular lists only Qataris, children of Qatari women and Qatar graduates as exam-exempt, so confirm your exam status with DHP before you plan around an exemption.
- Verification comes first: you apply for primary source verification before evaluation.
- Evaluation review takes 25 working days and licensing review 15 working days, per DHP.
QCHP or DHP: Who Issues Medical Licenses in Qatar?
QCHP was created by Emiri decree in March 2013. In 2019, Emiri Decree No. 14 abolished it and replaced it with the Department of Healthcare Professions, which now handles registration and licensing, fitness to practise and accreditation. If you see “QCHP” on a job ad or in an older guide, it refers to the same license DHP issues today.
How DHP Treats a French Specialty Qualification
DHP’s Guidelines for Physicians include Table 3, the policy of approved specialty qualifications, with France as row 9. All three French entries sit in the Category 1 column:
- Certificat d’études spécialisées de médecine (CES)
- Diplôme d’études spécialisées and DESC
- Diplôme interuniversitaire de spécialité (DIS)
| DHP category | Experience after the specialty degree | Consultant title |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (France) | 1 year | 2 years after the postgraduate degree |
| Category 2 | 2 years | 4 years |
| Category 3 | 3 years, plus the qualifying exam | 6 years |
The specialty route also expects five years of experience in total. The consultant title is granted by your facility, not by DHP, and needs at least two peer-reviewed papers as first or second author, two recommendation letters and a committee review. Scfhs licensing for French doctors is an essential step for those looking to practice in Saudi Arabia. It ensures that foreign practitioners meet the local standards and regulations.
Do France-Trained Doctors Sit the Qatar Prometric Exam?
This is where you need to be careful. The guidelines say the DHP qualifying exam is not required for Category 1 and Category 2 specialists. But Circular DHP/2025/24, dated 30 December 2025, states that all healthcare practitioners take the qualifying exam according to their specialty, with exemptions only for Qataris, children of Qatari women and graduates of Qatari institutions. It then adds that the qualifying exam follows the policies set for each specialty. Ask DHP, or your employer’s licensing team, to confirm in writing whether your French DES qualifies for a QCHP exam exemption before you book anything.
For GPs, the answer is clearer. The guidelines require five years of clinical experience for overseas GPs and the qualifying exam, unless you hold an accepted equivalent such as PLAB 1, USMLE Step 2, MCCQE Part 1 or the AMC MCQ. No French exam is on that list. Abu Dhabi licensing for French doctors presents unique challenges. French doctors may find it difficult to navigate the specific requirements for practice in this region.
The exam format
DHP’s qualifying examination is a Prometric computer-based test of 150 multiple-choice questions over three hours. The cut score is 60% for GPs and mostly 65% for specialties, and the fee set from January 2024 is US$238.
The QCHP License Process, Step by Step
- Primary source verification first. DHP asks you to start verification before you apply for registration or evaluation, through one of its approved providers, which include DataFlow.
- Pre-evaluation. DHP checks your eligibility; the result is valid for six months.
- Evaluation. DHP charges QR 100, one part of the overall QCHP license cost and processing time, and reviews within 25 working days of a complete file.
- Qualifying exam, if required.
- Licensing. The license is issued against a licensed healthcare facility, your employer, and the review takes 15 working days. You need a verified Certificate of Good Standing, police clearance and a medical report.
Doctor Salary in Qatar in Euros
There is no published government pay scale for expatriate doctors in Qatar, and reliable salary surveys are scarce, so read any offer in euros with this table. The dha license for France-trained doctors is essential for practicing medicine in Qatar. Many expatriates find the licensing process to be complex, and having the correct documentation is crucial for a smooth transition.
| Monthly offer (QAR) | In euros |
|---|---|
| QAR 20,000 | about €4,911 |
| QAR 30,000 | about €7,367 |
| QAR 40,000 | about €9,822 |
In France, a full-time praticien contractuel earns €41,386 to €71,163 gross a year under the 2023 hospital pay decree, about €3,449 to €5,930 a month before contributions and tax. The comparison only works once you add the package: Hamad Medical Corporation lists a tax-free salary, housing allowance, 35 to 50 paid vacation days plus five days of Eid holidays, an annual ticket home, educational support for children and an end-of-service award, all of which shape the real doctor salary in Qatar.
Exchange rate used: QAR 4.0724 per euro, from the ECB euro reference rate of USD 1.1188 on 13 October 2026 and the QAR 3.64 rate to the US dollar.
Is a Doctor’s Salary in Qatar Tax-Free?
Yes. PwC’s Qatar tax summary states that income tax is not imposed on employed individuals’ salaries, wages and allowances. France and Qatar signed a tax treaty in Paris on 4 December 1990, amended in 2008. Whether France can still tax you depends on where your household, work and economic interests sit after you move.
Hospitals Hiring France-Trained Doctors in Doha
- Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC): the principal public healthcare provider in Qatar.
- Sidra Medicine: part of Qatar Foundation, focused on women and children.
- Primary Health Care Corporation: 31 health centres for primary care roles.
- Aspetar: a specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital.
- Private hospitals: Al-Ahli Hospital, a 250-bed private general hospital, and The View Hospital, affiliated with Cedars-Sinai.
Relocating to Doha with Children
Around 5,500 French expatriates live in Qatar, and French schooling in Doha is well established. According to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Lycée Bonaparte is under contract with the AEFE and Lycée Voltaire, a French-Qatari school, is AEFE-approved, with about 3,400 pupils between them. At HMC, educational support for children is part of the published benefits, so ask any employer how it handles school fees before you accept.
Moving From France to Qatar? Plan Your QCHP License With Us
Your French specialty diploma already has Category 1 recognition in Qatar. What decides how smoothly you move is the paperwork: confirming your exam status after the December 2025 circular, getting verification done early and lining up the right employer. Allocation Assist is a medical job consultancy that works with doctors trained in France and across Europe, guiding them from QCHP licensing to doctor job placement in Qatar. Each step is set out in the full QCHP license process. If you are weighing a move from France, reach out to us through our contact us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is QCHP the same as DHP?
Yes. QCHP was abolished in 2019 and replaced by the Department of Healthcare Professions at the Ministry of Public Health, which now issues all healthcare licenses in Qatar. Many job ads still use the older QCHP name.
How do I get a QCHP license as a France-trained doctor?
Start primary source verification first, then complete DHP’s pre-evaluation and evaluation. Sit the qualifying exam if it applies to you, and the license is issued against your Qatari employer’s facility.
How long does the QCHP license take?
After verification, DHP states 25 working days for evaluation and 15 working days for licensing, plus any time for the qualifying exam. Pre-evaluation results stay valid for six months.
Does Qatar recognise French specialist degrees?
Yes. DHP lists the French CES, DES/DESC and DIS in Category 1 of its approved specialty qualifications, which requires one year of experience after the specialty degree.
Is the Qatar Prometric exam required for France-trained specialists?
DHP’s guidelines exempt Category 1 specialists, but Circular DHP/2025/24 of 30 December 2025 lists only Qataris, children of Qatari women and Qatar graduates as exempt, so confirm your status with DHP in writing before you book. French GPs sit the exam unless they hold an accepted equivalent such as PLAB 1 or USMLE Step 2.
Do I need a job offer before applying for a Qatar medical license?
You can complete verification and evaluation first, but the license itself is issued against a licensed facility, so you need an employer to finish.
How much does a doctor earn in Qatar per month?
No official salary scale is published. Pay depends on your title and employer; HMC, for example, lists a tax-free salary, housing allowance and 35 to 50 paid vacation days among its benefits.
Is a doctor’s salary in Qatar tax-free?
Yes. Qatar does not impose income tax on employees’ salaries, wages and allowances. France and Qatar have a tax treaty, so check whether France can still tax you after you move.
