Khaberni - The Ministry of Health issued the first official license to practice the profession of embryologist in the Kingdom, with the aim of regulating this vital profession associated with the work of fertilization centers and in-vitro fertilization.
According to the Director of the Health Institutions Licensing Directorate at the Ministry of Health, Ikhlas Jamoos, the ministry has issued 3 licenses for embryology technicians, indicating that the ministry's doors are open to workers and those wishing to practice the profession, according to Al Mamlaka TV.
Jamoos clarified that the issuance of this license is in line with the Ministry of Health's policy to regulate healthcare professions and ensure the quality of medical services provided in Jordan, especially in the field of fertilization and assisted reproduction, which is experiencing increasing growth and regional demand.
She stated that granting practice licenses aims to improve the efficiency of work in fertilization laboratories in the Kingdom and ensure the qualifications of the staff working in this precise field, in addition to enhancing principles of biological safety, quality control, and adherence to medical ethics within a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework.
She said that granting the license by the Ministry of Health is based on clear professional standards that include academic qualifications, practical experience, specialized training, and passing the official licensing requirements.
She added that this regulatory step is part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to elevate the healthcare sector and enhance medical competitiveness at the regional and international levels.
The Council of Ministers approved the practice system for embryology technicians for the year 2025, considering the profession of embryology technician as a healthcare profession, which necessitated establishing a legislative framework to regulate the practice of this profession and determining the conditions required for its practitioners.
The system, published on the Legislation and Opinion Bureau website, will come into effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, and aims to regulate the work of embryologists and embryology specialists working in external body fertilization laboratories and assisted reproduction.
The system clarified that the profession is concerned with fertilization laboratories and assisted reproduction, and that its provisions apply to all those working in this field.
Professional Requirements
The system required that the profession can only be practiced inside licensed fertilization and assisted reproduction laboratories, either within the Kingdom or abroad, and allowed holders of bachelor’s degrees in life science disciplines to work or train in these laboratories for the purpose of obtaining a practice license.
The system specified the qualifications required for individuals allowed to practice the profession, including those who have obtained a bachelor's degree in life sciences such as life sciences, biology, and biotechnology, as well as in biotechnology specializations, genetic engineering, and medical laboratory sciences. It also permitted practice for anyone who has obtained a technical laboratory permit and possesses the required experience.
The system also required that those granted a practice license must be Jordanian nationals or children of Jordanian mothers, not convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that breaches honor or public morals, and must hold the scientific qualifications accredited according to the provisions of effective legislation.
The system divided the licensing categories into an embryology specialist category and an embryology technician category, where it required the specialist to have obtained both a bachelor’s degree and a master's or doctorate in embryology or related fields, with no less than five years of experience, or to hold a bachelor's degree with no less than ten years of experience, or to be a licensed technician with ten years of experience in licensed fertilization units.
The category of embryology technician requires a bachelor's degree in one of the specified specializations with no less than three years of experience, or a technical lab permit with three years of experience, provided that the experience is from licensed centers within or outside the Kingdom and certified appropriately.
The system authorized the minister, based on the recommendation of the committee, to cancel the granted license in cases of submitting incorrect information, loss of a licensing condition, or conviction of a crime that breaches honor and public morals.
The system also stipulated that the fees are 20 dinars for licensing the practice of the profession for the category of embryology technician, and 30 dinars for licensing the practice of the profession for the category of embryology specialist.
