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Israel, a small country in the Middle East, has made a name for its diversity and is a leader in bioscience and medical technologies. They have worked hard to build a highly developed and world-renowned medical infrastructure. It’s a highly regarded education system. But did you know that they need doctors more than ever? Due to the increase in the retirement of doctors, and the decrease in the immigration of doctors from the former Soviet Union, Israel needs skilled doctors. If you are eligible, you can immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor. This page of the Visa Library will bring all the information you need and answer all of your questions.

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Immigrate to Israel as a Doctor

How to immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor?

You are a foreign national and want to immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor. You should know that the Ministry of Health, Division of Medical Professions, is the responsible organization for licensing doctors or physicians in Israel.

How to immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor

You have to meet the eligibility principles to immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor. Here they are; 

  1. You must be an Israel PR citizen or a citizen.
  2. You must have graduated from one of the approved medical schools.
  3. Have a clean record certificate.
  4. Be in good physical and mental health.

If you have graduated from a foreign country, you will have to take a test that is held twice a year in Israel. It’s in Hebrew and a multiple-choice question exam. In case there are at least 10 applicants who want to take the test in another language, the officials will translate the exam into that language.

The first requirement is to be an Israeli citizen, but what if foreign doctors want to move to Israel? There are some exemptions for foreign doctors, and if you qualify, you can immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor while you have got your degree abroad. These people are exempt from the medical licensing exam provided by the Israle officials;

  1. You have graduated from one of the following countries and have passed a one-year residency; 
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Great Britain
  • France
  • South Africa
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  1. You are a certified physician in your home country, and the Israeli Medical Association Scientific Council has recognized your degree and qualification.
  2. You are a psychic, and the Israeli Medical Scientific Council has recognized your residency. You need to pass the Stage II specialist exam in Israel to get your specialist certification in Israel.
  3. You have graduated from a foreign medical school, you are a legal physician, and you have worked legally for at least 14 years.

If you fall into this category, you will have to pass an observation period in Israel which gets called “Histaklut,” It consists of two parts; 

  1. You will work for 6 months in an accredited medical department of an accredited hospital in Israel. You will receive a special permit from the Division of Medical Professions to complete this stage.
  2. You will meet a special committee, and they will evaluate your knowledge, experience, and skills in medicine.

If you pass one of the above options, you will receive a temporary permit to work as a doctor in Israel.

If one of the above options is right for you, you can use it to immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor. You need to visit the related authority website to apply and find more information.

You need to apply to the Israel Health of Ministry to get approval and a license for your document to practice medicine in Israel.

The section responsible for the evaluation of documents and certificates is the Association Medical Israeli Council Scientific.

Documents you have to gather to immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor.

You need to send them this list of documents to get the license; 

  1. A letter to the Association Medical Israeli Council Scientific that indicates your request for evaluation of documents and ask for a license to practice medicine in Israel. You have to start clearly with what specialty or specialties you are requisitioning.
  2. CV.  it must be detailed and include all of your background and work experience plus;
  • Home address.
  • Email address
  • Current phone number.
  1. Your medical school graduation diploma.
  2. If you have any licenses achieved in Israel, submit a copy of them.
  3. Proof of taking an Internship. (If applicable).
  4. An official document from the organization that is responsible for granting specialization in the country you have passed your residency. It must explain in detail the residency period you passed.
  5. Your complete residency syllabus.
  6. Document to prove you have successfully completed the residency exams.
  7. A specialist certification from the responsible person or organization that is responsible for issuing such a certificate in that country.
  8. Proof of work experience from the center or place you have worked after completing your residency. It must detail your work experience and duties you have had as a specialist.
  9. If you are a surgeon, you have to submit a list of the surgeries you have performed during your residency. The responsible physician for your residency must sign it
  10. If you are a specialist in one of the following fields, you have to complete a table that details your residency and experience compared with the required track in Israel.
  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
    Psychiatry Pediatrics
    Family Medicine

13. If you have worked in Israel, you can submit a recommendation letter from the director of the department.

You need to send your documents to the following address;

The Scientific Council, Israel Medical Association.

2 Twin Towers, 35 Jabotinsky St

PO Box 3566

Ramat Gan 52136

Residency and adaptation period (observation period).

Israeli officials will evaluate your application and decide whether you can work as a doctor in the country or not. There are different stages of examination, and you might be qualified to pass one or two of them by your conditions. For instance, if your residency was full-time and continuous, and it was according to the rules and regulations for clinical activities in Israel, you might be exempt from the phase 2 examination.

After evaluation, the Israeli officials might require you to take an adaptation period in the country. It’s to verify that you can work as a physician in Israel and have enough training, clinical approach, work experience, knowledge, and interpersonal skills, and you are familiar with the Israeli medical system to work with them.

The duration of the adaptation period is 3 months, and you have to take it full-time. The committee will pick a department, clinic, or institute for you to pass the adaptation period. The decision is with them. You will have to perform all the duties that are in your specialty during the adaptation period.

When your adaptation period is over, the director of the clinic or department will send a letter to the Scientific Council. He/she will mention the beginning and ending dates of your adaptation period. Then describe the tasks and work you have done with his/her evaluation of your work and recommendations. So you have to work hard during this period and do your best.

If the director of the department is not satisfied with your work and his/her recommendation is negative, the Scientific Council will ask him/her to recommend another period so you will work again to get a positive result. The committee will determine another adaption period by your specialty to pass and get the required certificate.

After you complete the residency, the Scientific Council guides you on the rest of the process and how to receive your certificate for working as a doctor.

Then, you have to find a job to work as a doctor with them.

Study medicine in Israel.

International students can study medicine in Israel, and it’s the other way to immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor. Here is the way you can follow to study medicine in Israel.

There are three ways for you to study medicine in Israel. The first one is to follow a 7 year of a medical program that these universities offer; 

  • Hebrew University,
  • The Technion,
  • Tel Aviv University
  • Ben Gurion University.

You need to pass a psychometric exam to qualify for a7 year of the medical program. Then, you have to pass a special entrance exam.

A 4-year program.

The second way is to study in a 4-year program. It’s for people who have a BA degree, and they can follow this route in one of these universities; 

  • Tel Aviv University,
  • Bar-Ilan University
  • Ariel University.

The requirements for a 4-year program are as follows; 

  • Having a BA degree with a GPA of at least 80.
  • Pass the GRE.
  • Mini psychometric test.
  • Have credits in this first degree in 7 courses in biology and receive a certain grade for each of them.
  • Biography questions.

There are 12 questions that you have to answer in 45 min. They are general questions, and you need to describe something, an event, or a situation such as; 

  1. Have you ever had the chance to lead a group of people?
  2. How do you prefer to work: as a member of a team or as its leader?
  3. Have you taken part in volunteer work?
  4. Have you had the opportunity to look after an ill person?
  5. Tell us about a time that you hurt someone and how you did it.
  6. etc.

There are three international schools of medicine in Israel as well. But the application for them will be closed for good from Fall 2023. You just can apply and receive admission from them before this deadline.

You need to visit the university’s website to find out the requirements and eligibility principles. You have to figure them out yourself and fulfill them to get admission.

The language requirement is the YAEL Hebrew proficiency test. You need to get the required score from the university and submit the fluency certificate.

Some universities might require an entrance exam as well. Determine which one requires it and find out how you can prepare yourself for it. Also, you might have to pass a face-to-face interview with one or a group of people.

Internship in Israel.

After you complete your education, you need to pass one year of residency or internship in Israel. You do not get to choose the internship. The officials will hold a draw, and you will get picked in it. Your internship is divided into the cycles:

  • therapy,
  • surgery,
  • pediatrics,
  • emergency room,
  • two additional departments(your choice).

After completing the internship, the person receives a Master’s Degree in Medicine (M.D.) and immigrates and work in Israel as a doctor. 

How to get an Israel student visa?

You need a student visa or A2 visa to study in a university or educational center in Israel. The main requirement for a student visa is to get an admission letter from a university or school in Israel.

First, you need to gather the slit of the supporting documents. Here is a list of them; 

  • Admission letter from the university or school in Israel.
  • Application form. 
  • Proof to have enough funds.
  • Passport.
  • Proof of paying visa application fees.
  • Resume/CV.
  • Proof of Accommodation
  • Proof of scholarship
  • Etc.

This is a sample list of the documents you have to gather. Visit the Israel student visa article on the Visa Library page to learn more about the requirements you have to gather. Also, the Israeli embassy might ask for further documents by your nationality.

After you collect all the documents, schedule a meeting with the Israeli embassy/consulate in your home country. Visit them in person and bring all the documents. You have to submit the documents to the officials and pay the fee for visa processing. It’s up to your nationality and embassy services. The embassy officials will also ask questions about the purpose of your visit, which is studying. You should be honest and give true answers.

After you are done with the embassy, wait for visa processing. The embassy will inform you when your visa is ready.

How much does it cost to study medicine in Israel?

The cost is up to the university and the program you pick. You should know that the cost of studying medicine in Israel is a bit high, but you can work part-time jobs and get scholarships or funds.

The first 2-3 years of your studies cost about $ 2700, and the second part costs about $ 3700, which is more expensive than the first period.

Immigrant doctor’s salaries in Israel.

Your salary as a doctor in Israel is up to various factors, and different sources have mentioned various figures for your salary. But this section will bring you some of these figures so you can get an understanding of your income in the country.

According to Salary Expert, the average salary of a doctor in Israel is about 500,555 (ILS) or ($138.258). This source says that a person with 1-3 years of work experience earns about  338,220 ILS, while a doctor with +8 years of work experience earns about 647,917 ILS.

According to ERI Economic Institute, the average salary is about ILS 500,729 per year.

According to the Tymes of Israel, “doctors are the biggest salary earners in Israel’s public sector.” this source says that the average salary of a doctor is about NIS 33,087 ($8,000) a month.

Is there a doctor shortage in Israel?

Yes, there is a shortage of doctors in Israel and its because the immigration of doctors from the former Soviet Union countries has decreased. Also, a large number of Israeli doctors are becoming retired. The Israeli government knows this, so they welcome doctors from foreign countries. But you need to be eligible and pass the required stages.

Let’s sum up how to immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor

You can immigrate and work in Israel as a doctor. The Visa Library brought you the requirements and the ways you can do it. This is your comprehensive guide to becoming a doctor in Israel.

If you have questions, write them down in the comment section. The Visa Library team will answer them.

Frequently asked questions about immigration to Israel as a doctor.

Are doctors needed in Israel?

Yes, they are needed in the country as there is a shortage of skilled doctors due to doctors’ retirement.

Can I study a medical course in Israel?

Yes, you need to get admission to a university and then apply for a student visa. Look at the article.

Are doctors well-paid in Israel?

Yes, they are among the highest jobs, and the Times of Israel says that doctors are the highest-paid group in the country.

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2 Comments

  1. Dr.B.Mahesh says:

    Hi , shalom I am an indian, studied my medicine in Kyrgyzstan Russian Soviet country medicine co urse of 5 years didn’t complete my internship , I want to work as doctor in Israel because I love god of Israel and serve in that country , can you help me how should approach or whom should I approach and how should I do internship and work in Israel the blessed country

    • Max says:

      If you aspire to work as a doctor in Israel, there are several steps to consider. Begin by having your medical degree from Kyrgyzstan recognized by the Ministry of Health in Israel. Proficiency in Hebrew is essential for effective communication in medical settings. Following this, you’ll need to complete an internship under the supervision of a medical board, which will guide you through practical training in Israeli hospitals. Once your internship is completed, you can apply for registration and licensing to practice medicine legally. Seek job opportunities in hospitals and clinics, while also ensuring you have the appropriate work and residence visa. Stay updated with medical advancements through continuous learning, and make efforts to adapt to Israeli healthcare practices and culture. Consulting Israeli authorities and experts will provide you with accurate and personalized guidance as you embark on this journey.