Nursing
In order to be recognized as a nurse in Israel, one must hold a license issued by the Nursing Division (Minhal HaSiud) of the Ministry of Health (Misrad HaBriut).
The process
- Open a file at the Ministry of Health Nursing Division and submit your documents. After submission, you will be informed if there are any additional educational requirements to complete.
- Your file gets approved.
- Sit for and pass the government licensing exam. The exam is administered four times a year, with at least one session being a practical-style exam designed for Olim nurses with more than three years of clinical experience.
- Provide proof of Hebrew proficiency
Once you have successfully completed all of these steps, you will be issued a valid license.
Please note: If you have completed steps 1–3 but have not yet fulfilled the Hebrew requirement, you may be issued a temporary license. This allows you to work for up to three years while improving your Hebrew in a real-world setting. You must complete the Hebrew requirement within this three-year period in order to obtain your permanent license.
After obtaining a temporary license, you are required to work full-time for a year before you can apply for a permanent license. For additional information regarding this process, click here.
Documents to Submit to Misrad Habriut
Now you can submit your documents via the nursing division’s online portal, even if you’re pre-Aliyah. Please note that as of now, you still need to verify your original documents and submit them at some point during the process. You can and should send in verified copies of your documents to the nursing division for review via registered mail. Do not send in your originals! Documents can be submitted in Hebrew or English only (as long as they were originally issued in English).
All official documents must be verified. You have 3 verification options:
- Verified with an apostille after having the original document notarized (recommended).
- Bring it to an ISRAELI notary and have them notarize it. American notarization alone is not acceptable.
- A verified copy (אימות העתק, Imut He’etek) at the Israeli consulate.
List of required documents
- Medical Licensing – Questionnaire.
- Diplomas.
- An official transcript (or transcripts), listing course topics, grades, and hours of study in both academic and practical work.
- Official confirmation of employment following nursing school, including start and end dates, and a description of your exact position. This needs to be an official letter on letterhead, signed by your supervisor/HR representative.
- Teudat Oleh if you have one.
- Teudat Zehut if you have one. Please note that an ID number alone is not sufficient – the applicant must have a Teudat Zehut. NOTE: If you are applying pre-Aliyah please send a copy of your passport instead of the Teudat Oleh and the Teudat Zehut.
- An official document stating a change of name (if applicable).
- A valid nursing license.
- If you do not have a BA, you must submit an official copy of your high school diploma.
- If you intend to take the licensing exam as a tourist, please make sure to submit this affidavit.
Please note: if relevant coursework was completed at multiple institutions, the official transcript from each institution must be provided.
The Ministry of Health Nursing Division reviews all applications on an individual basis to make sure that your credentials meet Israeli standards. At the end of this process, the nursing division will determine your individual licensing process, please note, that Olim are sometimes asked to take classes in Israel to make up a difference in missing coursework. Olim can contact the nursing division at [email protected]. The address is the Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiahu St. Jerusalem, 9446724
Please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected] with any questions!
