licensing
Exam

 

Licensing
Exam

Licensing
Exam

Licensing Examination

If you are required to complete one year of residency in Israel (staj), you will be required to pass the Israeli medical licensing exam – or receive an exemption from the licensing exam – in order to enter the staj lottery. For more information regarding staj and applying to sit for the licensing exam, please click here.

Exemptions

If you have completed USMLE step 1 and step 2 CK you may be exempt from the exam.

Physicians who hold a Ministry of Health recognized foreign MD from Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, South Africa, the US, or the UK, and have completed a recognized internship should be exempt from the Israeli licensing exam – provided they passed all sections of the USMLE.

If you did not receive your MD diploma from one of the abovementioned countries, please contact us to discuss which documents you’ll need to submit in order to further round out your application.

Graduates of foreign medical programs in Israel must go through the process detailed above.

If you, unfortunately, didn’t pass the exam and think that you have cause to appeal, please follow the instructions here.

Exam Fee Reimbursement

  • The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration may offer a reimbursement (up to 500 NIS) for Olim who sat for the licensing exam.
  • Your eligibility lasts for 10 years from your date of Aliyah.
  • Reimbursement requests can only be made after sitting for the exam, AND making Aliyah.
  • Please contact med_aliyah@moia.gov.il for more information on applying for reimbursement.

If you didn’t participate in a Ministry of Aliyah and Integration preparatory course for the licensing exam, you may be entitled for reimbursement for up tp 2 exam registrations.

Information on the Licensing Exam

Relevant for:

  • New graduates who did not take the USMLEs
  • Those who were not eligible for an exemption from the licensing exam on the basis of country of study
  • The exam is conducted twice a year, during summer/autumn and winter/spring.
  • Registration opens two months before the exam date.
  • You can request to take the written exam in Arabic, English, French, Russian, or Spanish.
  • The oral exam will only be administered in Hebrew.

Things to Note about the IMA

The IMA evaluates everyone on a case-by-case basis. Whether you sat for specialty exams, length of residency, amount of time working in your field, etc. can all contribute to the IMA’s final decision. The IMA may request that you sit for Israeli specialty exams, for further observed work, or additional residency time. Be in touch with your IMAP representative if you have any specific questions regarding your IMA application.

The IMA may also request that you sit for written and oral exams (similar to residency exams). These exams are referred to as Stage I (written) and Stage II (oral) exams, and they are held in Hebrew only. Many people receive exemptions from these exams.

Please contact us at medpro@nbn.org.il if you need further guidance or information.