Licensing Overview
To work as a psychologist in Israel you must be registered in the Pinkas Hapsychologim at Misrad Habriut (obtain your Israeli psychology license). We recommend starting the licensing process up to a year before you make Aliyah.
Documents to Bring
- Ministry of Health Licensing – Questionnaire.
- If you are Israeli, a Teudat Zehut (Israeli identification card) including its Sefach (the paper addendum). If you are applying pre-Aliyah, a copy of your passport. Bring the original and a photocopy.
- If the name on your Teudat Zehut differs from the name on your diplomas, you must provide either a marriage license or a document from Misrad Hapnim (Ministry of Interior) confirming a change of name.
- 2 passport pictures.
- Diplomas (photocopies and verified as described below): BA, MA/Ph.D/PsyD.
- Original, detailed university transcripts (both undergraduate and graduate programs) noting the courses for all degrees. For each course, you must list the number of course hours and/or the number of academic credits.
- Previously, academic degree recognition was handled by the Ministry of Education; however, this responsibility has now been transferred to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. The hope is that this will significantly streamline the process for this recognition. In some cases, medical professionals will require this degree recognition for purposes such as eligibility to work in the public sector (for example, occupational therapists seeking employment in schools), salary classification, and in specific situations also for licensing. For more information, please click here.
- Course Syllabi, especially courses in the field of psychology, research methods, and statistics.
- A detailed professional curriculum vitae from graduation to application.
- A Professional Integrity Certificate, or letter of good standing, from the applicant’s state of license is required. This document must confirm the absence of disciplinary, malpractice, or ethics complaints against the applicant as a psychology practitioner. The certificate must be sent directly from the professional board of the state in which you are licensed to the Israeli Ministry of Health.
- For PsyD/PhD: Confirmation from the university that the doctorate was completed within the framework of the School of Psychology.
DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. Photocopy your original documents, get the photocopies notarized, and submit the original notarized copies. Official documents written in English do NOT need to be translated. In the letter, please indicate your full name, passport number, file number (if available), and Teudat Zehut number (if applicable).
Please note: If your degree is called anything other than “psychology” please see Misrad Habriut to better understand your situation. Psychotherapy, mental health therapy, and counseling are not licensable professions in Israel, but you can work based on your foreign credentials in the private sector.
For additional information, contact the Vaadat Harishum B’Pinkas Hapsychologim by phone at 02-670-5866 or fax at 02-679-0846. You can also fax the Tel Aviv branch at 03-515-1180 or call 03-515-1166, Sunday through Thursday between 8 am and 4 pm.
Verification of Documents
- Verify your documents with an apostille after your original documents have been notarized. For more information, including NBN discount options, please read here. Note that this article primarily addresses Aliyah documents; academic documents follow a slightly different process. For academic documents, it’s the Notary’s signature that needs to be apostilled. This entails notarizing the necessary academic documents, and if required, an apostille agent can handle county certification with an apostille.
- Bring it to an ISRAELI notary and have them notarize it as a true copy.
- A verified copy (אימות העתק, Imut He’etek) at the Israeli consulate.
For more information Please see the current eligibility requirements at the Misrad Habriut’s website.
You can contact the overseas graduates’ coordinator office at [email protected]
You can also try to call 03-5151127 or *5400 (from Israel) and ask for Pinkas Hapsichologim.
Olim should mail their verified documents, via registered mail, to:
Licensing Department, Ministry of Health , Yermiyahu 39, Jerusalem, 9446724
Documents to Submit to Misrad Habriut
The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration is offering a retroactive reimbursement of up to 4000 NIS to Olim who were required to translate and/or notarize documents for the purpose of transferring their professional license in Israel. Please contact your local Misrad Haklita office for more information.
Please note the following conditions:
- This can be done ONLY AFTER completing your Aliyah.
- The reimbursement is only retroactive for 2 years prior to your date of Aliyah.
- Only Olim who have not yet reached retirement age are eligible.
- Reimbursement can be made only for Israeli notary/consulate verification with original receipts (or verified copy) . Apostille is not reimbursable!
* Last updated on February 23, 2026
