MoPH launches food handler examination service outside Qatar

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 11, 2026

Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health now allows candidates to take the Food Handler Licensing Examination at approved centers outside the country to streamline hiring and early skills assessment for food sector workers. This voluntary option supports food establishments in improving recruitment efficiency and aligns with plans to eventually make the professional practice licence mandatory to enhance food safety nationwide.

Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has introduced an optional service enabling candidates to take the Food Handler Licensing Examination at accredited centres outside the country. This initiative aims to facilitate early evaluation of prospective food sector workers’ skills and suitability, allowing food establishments to enhance operational efficiency and reduce time spent on recruitment processes.

The Food Handler Licensing Examination, offered in both Arabic and English, assesses candidates across multiple food safety domains. Detailed performance reports help employers identify candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, tailor training programs, and promote adherence to food safety practices. Candidates who successfully pass the exam abroad can proceed with obtaining a professional practice licence without retaking the test in Qatar.

MoPH emphasized that this option is voluntary, not a mandatory step for hiring food workers. The ministry is also working towards making the professional practice licence compulsory in the future, with implementation dates and procedures to be announced upon finalization.

This development expands on the Food Handler Licensing Programme launched in Qatar in 2021, which has since certified more than 10,600 food handlers nationwide. The ministry highlighted that extending the examination service beyond Qatar reflects ongoing efforts to enhance workforce competence, support qualified recruitment, and strengthen food safety compliance to protect public health.

Food establishments and candidates seeking to utilize the new service can find further details, including registration steps and lists of accredited international examination centres, on the Ministry of Public Health’s official website.

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