Qatar Launches Optional Overseas Exam For Food Handler Candidates

Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health has launched an optional pre-recruitment examination service for candidates seeking to work as food handlers in the country.

Available through approved examination centres in several countries, the service allows food establishments to assess candidates’ competence and suitability before recruitment and travel to Qatar.

The examination is offered in Arabic and English and provides detailed reports on applicants’ performance in areas related to food safety. The reports can help establishments identify candidates’ strengths, areas for improvement and training needs.

Candidates who pass the examination outside Qatar may complete the procedures required to obtain a food handler professional practice permit without repeating the examination after arriving in the country.

The Ministry said the overseas examination is currently optional and is not a requirement for recruiting food handlers. It is working to make the professional practice permit a mandatory requirement in the future, with the date and implementation mechanism to be announced after the necessary procedures are completed.

The service builds on Qatar’s food handler professional practice permit programme, which has been in operation since 2021. The number of licensed food handlers in Qatar has reached 10,630.

Food establishments and workers can find details about the programme, eligible professional categories, registration procedures and approved overseas examination centres on the Ministry of Public Health’s website.

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