Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in Qatar: 2025 Guide

In Qatar, mental health professional titles like 'psychiatrist' and 'psychologist' are legally protected and require a state-issued license from the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP). The requirements differ, with psychiatrists following the path for medical doctors and psychologists licensed as Allied Health Professionals.

This guide explains the official requirements for each profession, how to verify a provider's license on the QCHP registry, and what you need to know to find safe and legally qualified care.

Table of Contents | Jump Ahead

Mental Health Professional Regulatory Framework and Requirements

Regulatory Authorities

Professional Categories and Scope of Practice

Verification Procedures for the Public

Complaint Procedures

Protected Titles and Legal Framework

Current Professional Statistics

Language Requirements

Recommendations for the Public

Sources and Verification

Mental Health Professional Regulatory Framework and Requirements

OFFICIAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Primary Legislation:

• QCHP Establishment Law (2013): Primary healthcare professional regulation

• Department of Healthcare Professions Regulations: Detailed professional standards

• Circular No. (11/2020): Assistant Psychologist scope approval within Allied Health Practitioners

• Ministry of Public Health Regulations: Healthcare facility and service oversight

Regulatory Authorities

1. QATAR COUNCIL FOR HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS (QCHP)

Authority: Government regulatory body established in 2013

Functions:

• Registration and Licensing: All healthcare professionals, including mental health practitioners

• Professional Standards: Unified policies regardless of certificate origin or home country

• Quality Assurance: Upgrading levels of targeted healthcare services

• Verification: Academic certificates and practical experience verification

• Equivalency Assessment: Academic certificate evaluation according to international standards

• Good Standing Certificates: Issuing certificates for licensed practitioners

• Professional Register: Maintaining a comprehensive register of licensed practitioners

Mission: "To protect the health and safety of the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar by ensuring that all licensed healthcare practitioners are competent and fit to practice"

2. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS (DHP)

Authority: Ministry of Public Health Department

Sections:

• Registration & Licensing Section: Healthcare practitioner regulation

• Accreditation Section: CME/CPD activities accreditation and monitoring

• Fitness to Practice Section: Complaints management and professional conduct

• Physicians

• Dentists

• Nurses

• Pharmacists

• Allied Healthcare Practitioners (includes psychology professionals)

3. MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Authority: Government ministry with healthcare authority

Functions:

• Healthcare policy development and implementation

• Healthcare facility licensing and oversight

• National mental health program coordination

• Public health protection and promotion

• Healthcare quality standards enforcement

Professional Categories and Scope of Practice

1. PSYCHIATRIST (MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL)

License Required: Medical license plus psychiatric specialisation

Scope: Full psychiatric medical practice

Education Requirements:

• Medical Degree: Recognised medical degree from an accredited institution

• Clinical Experience: Minimum 1 year relevant clinical experience

• Psychiatric Specialisation: Specialised psychiatric training and certification

• Continuing Education: CME requirements (approximately 30 hours every 2 years)

• Language Proficiency: English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL), Arabic beneficial

• Document Verification: Dataflow verification of educational qualifications

• QCHP Application: Online application through QCHP portal

• Prometric Exam: Qatar medical licensing examination (exemptions possible)

• Professional Assessment: Clinical competency evaluation

• License Issuance: QCHP medical license with psychiatric specialisation

• Full Medical Authority: Prescribe medication and perform medical procedures

• Psychiatric Diagnosis: Complex psychiatric assessment and diagnosis

• Medical Interventions: Psychiatric medical treatments and procedures

• Hospitalisation Authority: Authority for psychiatric hospitalisation

• Psychotherapy: Provision of psychotherapeutic treatment

2. ASSISTANT PSYCHOLOGIST (ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL)

License Required: QCHP Allied Health Practitioner license

Scope: Psychology practice within a supervised framework

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree: Psychology degree from recognised institution

• Professional Training: Supervised practical training

• Experience: Minimum 2 years post-graduation supervised experience

• Certification: Department of Healthcare Professions certification

• Continuing Education: Ongoing professional development requirements

• Educational Verification: Degree verification through recognised institutions

• Experience Documentation: 2 years supervised experience as an Assistant Psychologist

• QCHP Application: Application through Department of Healthcare Professions

• Professional Assessment: Competency evaluation

• License Issuance: Allied Health Practitioner license with Assistant Psychologist scope

• Psychological Assessment: Basic psychological evaluation and testing

• Counselling Services: Individual and group counselling under supervision

• Treatment Support: Supporting treatment plans developed by senior professionals

• Educational Psychology: Educational assessment and intervention

• Research Support: Psychology research and data collection

3. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST (ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL)

License Required: QCHP Allied Health Practitioner license with Clinical Psychology scope

Scope: Clinical psychology practice

Education Requirements:

• Master's Degree: Clinical psychology or equivalent from recognised institution

• Clinical Training: Supervised clinical training and experience

• Professional Certification: Relevant clinical psychology certifications

• Experience: Relevant clinical experience in mental health settings

• Continuing Education: Ongoing professional development

• Clinical Assessment: Comprehensive psychological evaluation and testing

• Psychotherapy: Evidence-based therapeutic interventions

• Treatment Planning: Comprehensive treatment planning and implementation

• Professional Consultation: Clinical consultation services

• Research: Clinical psychology research and development

4. PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELOR (ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL)

License Required: QCHP Allied Health Practitioner license with Psychological Counsellor scope

Scope: Counselling psychology practice

Education Requirements:

• Relevant Degree: Psychology, counselling, or related field from a recognised institution

• Counselling Training: Specialised counselling training and certification

• Professional Experience: Relevant counselling experience

• Continuing Education: Ongoing professional development

• Counselling Services: Individual, group, and family counselling

• Mental Health Support: General mental health support and intervention

• Crisis Intervention: Basic crisis intervention and support

• Referral Services: Appropriate referral to specialised services

• Community Mental Health: Community-based mental health services

5. OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Regulation: QCHP Allied Health Practitioners licensing

Professional Categories:

• Mental Health Nurses: Nursing license with mental health specialisation

• Social Workers: Allied Health Practitioner license with social work scope

• Occupational Therapists: Allied Health Practitioner license with OT scope

• Family Physicians: Medical license with family medicine specialisation

Verification Procedures for the Public

Verifying QCHP-Licensed Professionals:

• QCHP License Verification: Check through QCHP official verification system

• Professional Register: Verify registration in QCHP professional register

• License Status: Confirm current license status and validity

• Scope of Practice: Verify authorised scope of practice

• Good Standing: Check professional standing and any restrictions

• QCHP Website: https://dhp.moph.gov.qa/en/pages/searchpractitionerspage.aspx

• DHP Registration System: Department of Healthcare Professions verification

• Professional Directory: QCHP licensed practitioner listings

Verification Process:

• Online Verification: Use QCHP online license verification system

• License Number: Verify using the practitioner's QCHP license number

• Professional Details: Confirm name, specialisation, and license validity

• Facility Verification: Verify authorised practice locations

• Complaint History: Check for any professional conduct issues

Complaint Procedures

For QCHP-Licensed Professionals:

Process:

• Formal Complaint: Submit complaint through QCHP Fitness to Practice Section

• Investigation: QCHP professional conduct investigation

• Professional Review: Professional standards review and assessment

• Disciplinary Action: QCHP disciplinary measures if violations found

• Appeal Process: Appeal procedures for disciplinary decisions

Complaint Categories:

• Professional Misconduct: Violations of professional standards

• Competency Issues: Questions about professional competency

• Ethical Violations: Breaches of professional ethics

• Scope Violations: Practising outside the authorised scope

• Facility Issues: Unlicensed or inappropriate practice settings

Contact Information:

• QCHP Fitness to Practice: Official complaint submission

• Ministry of Public Health: Healthcare service complaints

• Consumer Protection: General consumer protection laws

Protected Titles and Legal Framework

Protected Professional Titles:

• "Psychiatrist": Protected by medical licensing requirements

• "Clinical Psychologist": Protected by QCHP Allied Health licensing

• "Assistant Psychologist": Protected by QCHP Allied Health licensing

• "Psychological Counsellor": Protected by QCHP Allied Health licensing

Legal Requirements:

• QCHP License: Mandatory for all healthcare practice in Qatar

• Scope Compliance: Must practice within the authorised scope

• Facility Authorisation: Must practice in licensed healthcare facilities

• Professional Standards: Adherence to QCHP professional standards

Penalties for Unlicensed Practice:

• Legal Sanctions: Criminal penalties for unlicensed healthcare practice

• Professional Sanctions: QCHP disciplinary actions

• Facility Sanctions: Healthcare facility licensing violations

• Civil Liability: Civil liability for professional misconduct

Current Professional Statistics

• Established: 2013 as sole healthcare professional regulatory authority

• Comprehensive Coverage: All healthcare professionals in governmental and private sectors

• Professional Categories: Physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, allied health practitioners

• Quality Standards: Unified policies regardless of certificate origin or home country

• Psychiatrists: Medical professionals with psychiatric specialisation

• Assistant Psychologists: Allied health practitioners with a psychology scope

• Clinical Psychologists: Allied health practitioners with a clinical psychology scope

• Psychological Counsellors: Allied health practitioners with a counselling scope

• Comprehensive Licensing: Mandatory licensing for all healthcare practices

• International Standards: Academic evaluation according to international standards

• Continuing Education: CME/CPD requirements for license maintenance

• Professional Register: Comprehensive register of all licensed practitioners

Language Requirements

For Professional Practice:

• English: Primary language for professional practice and documentation

• Arabic: Beneficial for patient communication and cultural competency

• Language Proficiency: IELTS/TOEFL requirements for English proficiency

• Cultural Competency: Understanding of Qatari culture and healthcare context

Professional Communication:

• Medical Documentation: English language medical documentation

• Patient Communication: Multilingual communication capabilities beneficial

• Professional Development: English proficiency for continuing education

• International Standards: English proficiency for international professional standards

Recommendations for the Public

When Seeking Specialised Services:

• Appropriate Professional: Choose an appropriate professional category for needs

• Scope Matching: Ensure the practitioner's scope matches required services

• Referral System: Use appropriate referral system for specialised care

• Quality Assurance: Prefer services from established healthcare facilities

• Cultural Competency: Ensure cultural and linguistic competency

For International Practitioners:

• QCHP Licensing: Complete QCHP licensing process before practice

• Qualification Verification: Ensure international qualifications meet QCHP standards

• Cultural Preparation: Develop understanding of Qatari healthcare context

• Language Proficiency: Develop appropriate language proficiency

• Professional Integration: Connect with Qatari healthcare professional community

Red Flags to Avoid:

• No QCHP License: Cannot provide a valid QCHP license verification

• Unlicensed Facilities: Services provided outside licensed healthcare facilities

• Scope Violations: Practising outside the authorised professional scope

• Expired Credentials: Outdated or expired professional credentials

• Unverified Qualifications: Cannot demonstrate appropriate professional qualifications

Sources and Verification

Department of Healthcare Professions

Ministry of Public Health Circular 11/2020