Applying for Professional Credentials Evaluation of Internationally Educated Nurses
All about the process of assessing the professional credentials of internationally educated nurses
Are you an internationally educated nurse seeking to work in Israel? You must successfully pass the Israel State Nursing Board Licensure Examination.
To improve the process of evaluation of credentials of nurses who are new immigrants (Olim), we made it simpler. Here are the main changes:
- The evaluation of education that is equivalent to a recognized academic degree in Israel will be done by a representative of the Nursing Division with the Israel Ministry of Education Evaluation of Foreign Academic Credentials Committee.
- We simplified the process of receipt of a permanent permit for nurse practitioners and obstetricians with experience of at least one year.
- We shortened the document that must be filled by the educational institution and redesigned it to make it clearer.
Study program form - You can log into the Healthcare Professions Portal without an Israeli identity document.
Modifications made to the document submission procedure from nursing schools to the Nursing Division
As of July 1 2023, nursing schools shall directly send the following documents to the Ministry of Health Healthcare Professions Portal:
- Diploma.
- Transcripts specifying the courses completed including scores in the entire study program divided by semester.
- Curriculum form.
Only documents in English will be recognized.
A document in English explaining the submission procedure employed by the nursing school
The nursing applicant is responsible for making sure that all documents are found on the Healthcare Professions Portal after the nursing school completes the submission procedure (log in to the Healthcare Professions Portal to check this).
Are you an internationally educated nurse?
Please note, effective September 1st, 2022, the evaluation process is digital:
- All documents submitted for verification must have a digital signature of a notary licensed in Israel. For your convenience, here is a link to the licensed notary registry on the webpage of the Division for Professional Regulation, Ministry of Justice.
- To upload documents to the Healthcare Professions, scan them directly into the portal.
As of the afore-mentioned date, the Nursing Division will not accept documents sent over the mail.
Applications received before 1.9.22 and require completion of documents, the applicant must upload these documents to the portal, and also send them by registered mail, faithful to the original and with a notarized translation (including red ribbon).
Basic requirements from internationally educated nurses
Internationally educated nurses must meet certain basic requirements in order to be allowed to work as a nurse in Israel and they must be entered to the Healthcare Professionals Licensure Registry*:
- You are required to have an Israeli citizenship or residence permit (permanent or temporary residence permit);
- You must graduate from an accredited nursing education program in your country of education within the last ten years;
- You must practice as a nurse in another country for at least 18 months within the last ten years, or you graduated nursing school in the last ten years; and
- You must pass the Israel State Nursing Board Licensure Examination administered by the Nursing Division.
If the licensure examination is not in Hebrew, you will have to demonstrate your proficiency with the Hebrew language by taking an exam.
* Practical and registered nurse must be listed on the Nursing Licensure Registry, if practicing.
Required documents
Please find below the documents required to verify your professional credentials.
Please send all documents according to instructions, so that the applications can be processed promptly.
- Your nurse work permit from the country where you worked.
- You need an employment authorization document that you had a job as a nurse after you graduated. The authorization document must include the date you started your employment as a nurse, the date you stopped working as a nurse, job description, and your employer's contact information.
- One of the following documents:
- Israeli high school matriculation certificate ('bagrut')
- Certificate attesting to the obtainment of an academic degree abroad. The evaluation will be done by a representative of the Nursing Division with the Israel Ministry of Education Evaluation of Foreign Academic Credentials Committee.
- Endorsement of your high school diploma from Israel Ministry of Education Evaluation of Foreign High School Credentials Committee.
- A photocopy of your Israeli I.D. card, or passport with a valid work permit in Israel.
Regarding the ID card: please take a photo of both sides; include the appendix and mention whether you are a citizen or resident. - A photocopy of your I.D. card, or repatriate card, if this your legal status.
If the name on these documents is different from your current name, submit official name change documentation, too. - Documents to be submitted in Hebrew or English only:
- Nursing program transcripts (from all institutions if applicable).
Note: Remote learning or online studies transcripts are not accepted. - A course transcript form: fill out all the sections (course topics, academic and practical courses' duration, details of the places where clinical experience was acquired).
- A nursing program graduation certificate (diploma).
Another way to submit these three documents only: the educational institution can deliver them directly to the Nursing Division through the Healthcare Professionals Portal; you must check that the documents are indeed sent.
- Nursing program transcripts (from all institutions if applicable).
- Your application must include a document with your contact information:
- Home address,
- A mobile phone number with text messages enabled (SMS),
- A valid e-mail address.
*Note: Due to technical issues, messages from the Nursing Division cannot be sent to email addresses with the suffixes ru or fr. Create an account with an email service without such suffixes in order to receive text messages from the Nursing Division.
Translation and verification of certificates and documents
The Nursing Division accepts documents in Hebrew or English only.
If an original document is not in English, attach:
- The original document in the foreign language.
- Authentication with a digital signature of an Israeli-licensed notary affirming the translation is complete and accurate.
The notary must be selected from the registry of notaries licensed by the Ministry of Justice.
Aliya' applicants may submit documents with an apostille certificate.
How to submit the documents
Log into the Healthcare Professionals Portal. Choose the form of document submission according to the instructions.
Keep copies of all documents. Documents are not sent back.
The Nursing Division will create a file and start its evaluation only after all documents are received.
Submitting an application at the Healthcare Professionals Portal
First, you must sign in to the Healthcare Professionals Portal:
- Fill out your personal details, make sure the details are identical to the ones on your I.D. card, and enter current and valid contact information (e-mail and phone number).
- Log in to the website with your username and initial password that will be sent to you.
- Change password.
- Answer the questionnaire.
Now you can upload the documents to the portal.
It is important to make sure that the documents are fully uploaded.
When complete, a confirmation will be sent to you that all documents have been received, as well as a notification that your application is under review.
Evaluation
The Nursing Division will review your application: it will evaluate whether what you have learned is comparable to the practical training program and nursing standards required in Israel. A notification with the decision will be sent.
Duration: 45 working days (in accordance with the service agreement).
If deemed necessary, you will be invited for an in-person interview or asked to provide additional documents.
Note: If a suspicion of falsification of your academic or professional credentials arises during or after the evaluation process, the right to a license or the given license will be revoked.
If you have any question, contact the Nursing Division – Certification Department via e-mail:
hasmacha.hull@moh.gov.il
Include identification information whenever you contact the Nursing Division: first and last name, I.D. number.
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- FAQ Regarding Immigrants and Internationally Educated Nurses
- Registered Nurses Credential Evaluation – Internationally Educated Nurses
- Apply to Evaluate Credentials and Licenses of Practical Nurses Educated and Licensed Outside of Israel
- Licensure of International Nurse Practitioners
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You Might Find Interesting
- Israel Nursing Board State Licensure Examination – Internationally Educated Nurses
- Licensure Examination for Internationally Educated Nurses - Practical Nurses Licensure
- FAQ Regarding Immigrants and Internationally Educated Nurses
- Registered Nurses Credential Evaluation – Internationally Educated Nurses
- Apply to Evaluate Credentials and Licenses of Practical Nurses Educated and Licensed Outside of Israel
- Licensure of International Nurse Practitioners
- Hebrew Language Proficiency
- Healthcare Professionals Portal