To practice nursing in Israel, you must obtain recognition from the Nursing Administration in Israel for your nursing studies and the profession in which you qualified abroad.
Welcome to Israel! We are delighted and excited that you want to join the nursing community in Israel and wish you the best of luck in the process.
In order to practice nursing in Israel, you must obtain recognition from the Nursing Administration for your nursing studies and the profession in which you qualified abroad, and register in the "Registry for Licensing to Practice Nursing" in Israel according to the following:
- Public Health Protection Regulations (Nursing Staff in Clinics), 1981
- Public Health Protection Regulations (Nursing Practitioners in Hospitals), 1988
The conditions for professional recognition as a nurse in Israel:
These are the conditions you should meet:
- Israeli citizenship or residency.
- Age 18 or above.
- Professional nursing experience in the country of origin: at least 18 consecutive months during the previous 10 years, or completion of nursing studies within the last 10 years.
- Proof of Hebrew proficiency.
- Absence of criminal record.
- A signed health declaration.
Stages of registration in the Israeli Nursing Registry:
- Submitting a request for recognition for professional status on the Healthcare Professionals Portal.
- Preparing the required documents.
- Submitting the documents.
- Reviewing eligibility to take the Governmental Licensure Examination.
- Log into the Healthcare Professionals Portal using an Israeli ID number. Alternatively, registration using a passport number is available for potential immigrants.
- Initial entry into the portal by filling out your personal information.
- Make sure to provide updated contact information (email and telephone number).
- Log into the website with a username and an initial password you received by SMS or an email, according to your preference.
- Create a permanent, personal password.
- Complete a personal details questionnaire.
You must submit the following documents in Hebrew or English only according to the guidelines:
- A nursing work permit from your country of origin where you studied.
- Official confirmation of employment (for individuals who worked as nurses in their country of origin) including:
- Start and end dates of employment.
- Job description.
- Employer's contact details. - A matriculation certificate from the country where you studied, or a confirmation from the Ministry of Education in Israel that the certificate is equivalent to a matriculation certificate, or an academic degree equivalence certificate. If you have an academic degree from abroad, there is no need to apply on your own – the degree will be evaluated for you by the Nursing Administration with the appropriate authority at the Ministry of Education.
- An official transcript detailing the courses and subjects from all institutions where you studied, organized by academic year, including grades, credits, and study hours.
- Graduation diploma.
- A photocopy of Israeli ID card, including the appendix indicating your status in Israel (citizenship or residency), or a foreign passport.
- A photocopy of your Immigrant Visa/Certificate, Returning Resident Certificate, or Returning Minor Certificate, in accordance with your status.
Please note: Distance learning programs (online studies) will not be recognized.
Translation and certification of documents
- In the event of a discrepancy between the name on the documents and your current name, a document certifying the name change must be provided.
- Licensed notaries in Israel must certify true copies of original documents using either a red ribbon or an electronic notary signature.
- Any document not issued in Hebrew or English requires translation to Hebrew or English by an authorized translator in Israel. Both the original copy and the translation must be submitted.
- The notary must be selected from the official Notary Registry authorized by the Ministry of Justice.
- Documents may also be submitted with an Apostille endorsement or verification from an Israeli consular representative abroad.
Important notes:
- Do not send original documents, submit only copies.
- Keep copies of all documents sent to the Ministry of Health.
- Submitted documents will not be returned, and no copies will be issued to the senders.
Submitting the documents is through the Healthcare Professionals Portal.
Submission method
You may submit the documents using one of the following options:
- Documents with an original notary certification (with a red ribbon): Upload on the Healthcare Professionals Portal and send them to the Nursing Administration at the address: Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiyahu Street, POB 1176, Jerusalem, 9101002 by registered mail.
- Documents with an electronic notary signature: Upload onto the Healthcare Professionals Portal without sending it by mail.
Upon completion of the submission, confirmation of receipt and transfer to "under review" status will be sent to you.
Please note:
- Transferring documents directly from the educational institution to the Nursing Administration eliminates the requirement for notarial certification.
- Uploading the documents in full is your responsibility.
Upon receipt of the application documents, the foreign training program will be evaluated for compliance with the training curriculum and professional standards required in Israel. Following this evaluation, a notification regarding the review results and the decision made will be sent to you. If needed, a summons for a personal interview will be sent to you, or a request to submit additional documents.
The duration of the process: 45 working days (in accordance with the Service Charter).
For your information: At any stage during the evaluation of your eligibility and thereafter, if any information is obtained that raises doubts regarding the authenticity of your submitted documents or information, your eligibility for professional recognition in nursing will be cancelled.
Further information and questions
You may contact the Nursing Administration – Certification Department via email at: asmacha.hull@moh.gov.il. Please include identifying details with your inquiry, including: first and last name, ID number.