QCHP exam eligibility and requirements for nurses
To become a Registered General Nurse (RGN) in Qatar you need a 4-year bachelor's degree or a 3-year diploma, plus 2 years of post-registration experience. Online or distance programmes are not accepted. Assistant nurses and practical nurses do not sit the exam.
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Original questions across the QCHP Qatar exam for nurses topic areas, with an explanation after every answer and your estimated readiness at the end.
Start the free checkQatar RGN requirements
These rules are from the Qatar guideline for nurses, which has no date. The regulator is the Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP), formerly QCHP.
Check the exam first with the free 20-question check, and read the QCHP exam fee page for costs.
| Qualification | Experience needed |
|---|---|
| 4-year bachelor's degree | 2 years after registration |
| 3-year diploma | 2 years after registration |
| Associate degree, if licensed as an RGN | 3 years after registration |
Online or distance learning programmes are not accepted.
Assistant nurses and practical nurses
The nurse guideline table says the exam is "Not required" for the Assistant Nurse and the Licensed Practical Nurse. An Assistant Nurse needs a diploma of 18 months to 2 years and 2 years of experience. A Licensed Practical Nurse needs a 2-year programme, and a minimum of 2 years for overseas candidates.
Registered Midwives sit the exam. They need a midwifery bachelor's degree, or a nursing bachelor's plus a recognised postgraduate midwifery qualification, and 3 years as a midwife.
Exam format and pass mark
The nurse exam has 150 multiple choice questions. The pass mark is 50 percent. The blueprint from March 2023 has 30 questions on Nursing Fundamentals, 61 on Adult Nursing, 44 on Maternal-Child Nursing and 15 on Unit Management and Leadership. The time is shown as 3 hours on the DHP page and 3.5 hours in the blueprint, so we cannot say which is right.
The exam language is not confirmed in the sources we read.
Exemptions, attempts and validity
- Nurses can be exempt if they passed the NCLEX within the previous 5 years. A newer exemption list is in Circular DHP 19/2025, which we could not read.
- Qatari nationals are exempt, and so are pharmacists, nurses and allied staff with a clinical Master's or PhD, under a 2018 policy.
- Attempts: the current DHP page says unlimited. A 2018 policy said five, plus one more with a reason. We have not found a circular that settles it.
- Validity: the 2018 policy said the qualifying exam is valid for 3 years. The current page does not repeat this.
You apply to DHP first. Then you book at Prometric. See the QCHP exam hub and try the free 20-question check before you book.
Common questions
What are the QCHP exam requirements for nurses?
A 4-year bachelor's or a 3-year diploma, with 2 years of post-registration experience. Online programmes are not accepted.
How do I become a registered nurse in Qatar?
Meet the RGN rules, apply to DHP, pass the qualifying exam at Prometric, unless you are exempt, and then continue with licensing.
Do assistant nurses sit the Qatar exam?
No. The nurse guideline says the exam is not required for the Assistant Nurse and the Licensed Practical Nurse.
Are online nursing degrees accepted in Qatar?
No. Online and distance programmes are not accepted.
How many times can I take the Qatar nurse exam?
The DHP page says unlimited. A 2018 policy said five. The page is newer, but the conflict is not settled.
Is NCLEX accepted in Qatar?
Nurses with an NCLEX result from the previous 5 years can be exempt from the qualifying exam.
Related guides
Sources
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