A medical licence in Israel for a doctor trained abroad is granted by the Ministry of Health's Medical Professions Licensing Division. In most cases the route runs through recognition of the medical degree, the Israeli government licensing exam and an internship, and only then the licence. Doctors with 10 consecutive years of practice abroad are exempt from the exam but must complete 6 months of clinical experience at a recognised Israeli institution instead.
Two further points matter. A full licence is available only to Israeli citizens and permanent residents; a foreign national may be able to practise under a limited permit, requested by the inviting accredited medical centre for specific purposes. And if an application is refused, the law allows 30 days to file an objection. This guide sets out the stages and deadlines as published by the Ministry and stated in the legislation.
Who decides, and what the law requires
Applications go to the Medical Professions Licensing Division (אגף רישוי מקצועות רפואיים). The conditions are set out in the Physicians Ordinance (in Hebrew). An applicant must:
- hold a medical diploma recognised by the Ministry's Director-General;
- pass the examinations set by the Director-General in consultation with the Scientific Council (graduates of Israeli medical schools are exempt);
- complete an internship whose length and conditions the Director-General recognises;
- be an Israeli citizen or permanent resident;
- have a basic knowledge of Hebrew.
Forms, enquiries and application status are handled through the Ministry's medical professionals' portal.
Check the medical school before you enrol
According to a 2024 State Comptroller report (in Hebrew), in January 2019 the Licensing Division issued a directive on foreign medical schools considered below standard. Israeli students who began their studies at one of those schools from 2019 onwards cannot sit the Israeli licensing exam, and therefore cannot practise medicine in Israel. Anyone planning to study abroad should contact the Ministry before enrolling and ask for a written answer on whether the specific school and programme are recognised.
The standard route for foreign graduates
The Ministry's 2026 list of services describes the following sequence:
- Graduation from a recognised university.
- The government medical licensing exam, which must be passed before the internship.
- Completion of the internship.
- Issue of the licence.
The exam also applies to doctors who practised abroad for up to 10 years, and to those who completed an internship abroad. Exam dates and registration are published by the Ministry; it is worth having a complete file ready before registering.
Ten consecutive years of practice: the route without the exam
Doctors who practised medicine abroad for 10 consecutive years are exempt from the licensing exam, according to the Ministry. In its place they must:
- complete a 6-month period of clinical experience at a recognised Israeli medical institution;
- obtain the opinion of the heads of department;
- pass a test before the Ministry's clinical evaluation committee.
Older guidance from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (2019) referred separately to doctors who had practised abroad for 14 years or more. The Ministry of Health's 2026 list of services refers to 10 consecutive years, so check the current publication rather than older guides.
Not a citizen or permanent resident? The limited permit
A foreign national cannot receive a full licence, but may be able to practise under a limited permit. The key rules published by the Ministry:
- The application is submitted by the accredited medical centre that invites the doctor, not by the doctor.
- The permit covers specific purposes, such as training programmes or clinical research, and only at the inviting institution.
- A foreign graduate who will stay more than one year must first pass the Israeli licensing exam or USMLE Step 2 CK.
- The permit is never issued for an internship.
The temporary permit under section 19
Separately, section 19 of the Physicians Ordinance allows the Director-General to grant a temporary permit to practise for up to one year until the licensing procedure is completed, and in other cases where he sees a need. The permit may be renewed. Both the grant and any renewal are at the Director-General's discretion.
Refused? The 30-day objection deadline
Under section 38A of the Physicians Ordinance, an applicant may file a reasoned written objection with the Objections Committee within 30 days of receiving the Director-General's decision. The Ministry's legal adviser may extend the period by a further 30 days for special reasons, at the applicant's request. The committee must decide as soon as possible and no later than 60 days after the objection is filed. Its three members include a public representative who is a physician with at least 15 years' experience.
An effective objection answers each reason for the refusal, rather than repeating the original application, and attaches evidence for each point: curricula, training certificates, employment records, or whatever was missing. Where the deadline has passed or the decision is final, other routes may exist, depending on the type of decision and the circumstances.
Other regulated health professions, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, fall under the Regulation of Health Professions Law (in Hebrew), which provides a similar mechanism: a reasoned objection within 30 days and a decision within 60 days. Appeals on their licensing exam results follow a separate Ministry procedure (in Hebrew) with much shorter deadlines: in most of these professions only candidates scoring 50 to 59 may appeal, registration for the exam review must be made within 7 days of the results message, and the appeal must be filed within 10 days of the review, in Hebrew only.
Documents to prepare
For doctors who practised abroad, the Ministry lists, among other items:
- a photograph, Israeli ID and proof of status in Israel, and a passport;
- the dates on which studies began and ended;
- official employment letters;
- a certificate of good standing;
- USMLE results, if any;
- proof of Hebrew proficiency.
Doctors with 10 consecutive years of practice abroad submit their documents by post or email. For an overview of how we assist in these matters, see our page on legal assistance for foreign-trained doctors in Israel.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign-trained doctor work in Israel without the licensing exam?
Generally no. According to the Ministry of Health, the exam applies to foreign graduates, including doctors with up to 10 years of practice abroad. Doctors with 10 consecutive years of practice abroad are exempt but must complete 6 months of clinical experience at a recognised Israeli institution and pass a test before the clinical evaluation committee.
How long do I have to object to a refusal of a medical licence in Israel?
30 days from receiving the decision, extendable by a further 30 days for special reasons. The Objections Committee must decide within 60 days of the objection being filed.
Can a doctor who is not an Israeli citizen practise in Israel?
A full licence requires Israeli citizenship or permanent residency. A foreign national may be able to practise under a limited permit requested by the inviting accredited medical centre, for specific purposes and only at that institution. It is never issued for an internship, and a stay of more than one year requires passing the Israeli licensing exam or USMLE Step 2 CK.
Is a basic knowledge of Hebrew required for a medical licence?
Yes. The Physicians Ordinance lists a basic knowledge of Hebrew among the conditions for a licence, and the Ministry asks doctors with experience abroad for proof of Hebrew proficiency.
Next step
Have you received a refusal or a request for further documents, or is an objection deadline approaching? Contact the office of Adv. Assaf Peleg to review the decision and documents and identify the appropriate next step at the stage your file has reached. Consultations can be conducted remotely in English. A short description, a copy of the decision if you have one, and the nearest deadline are enough to start.
Contact the office:
- Phone: +972 54 582 9265 | Message on WhatsApp
- Email: [email protected]
Important for health professionals: licensing conditions, exams and their deadlines are set by the Ministry of Health and may change. This article is based on Ministry publications and legislation as of October 2026. Before taking any step, check the Ministry's current instructions and the wording of the decision you received.
Disclaimer: the information in this article is general, educational and informative only. It does not constitute legal advice, a legal opinion, a recommendation or a substitute for an individual consultation with a lawyer suited to the specific circumstances. The information does not create a lawyer-client relationship. The law and case law may change, and some of the information may not be up to date at the time of reading. Any reliance on the content of this article is at the reader's sole responsibility.
הבהרה: המידע במאמר זה הינו כללי, חינוכי ואינפורמטיבי בלבד, ואינו מהווה ייעוץ משפטי, חוות דעת משפטית, המלצה או תחליף להתייעצות פרטנית עם עורך דין המתאים לנסיבות המקרה הספציפי. המידע אינו יוצר יחסי עורך דין-לקוח. הדין והפסיקה עשויים להשתנות; ייתכן שחלק מהמידע אינו עדכני למועד הקריאה. כל הסתמכות על תכני מאמר זה, באחריות הקורא בלבד.
