For a doctor who graduated from a medical school outside Israel, registering for the licensing exam is not a single registration form. First the Ministry of Health must review your education and documents and confirm that you are eligible to sit the exam. Only then can you pay the exam fee and complete registration through the Israeli Medical Association — IMA (הר"י).
The most common mistake is starting with the IMA website. The correct order is:
First: Determine Your Pathway
The Ministry of Health considers several categories of candidates separately:
- graduates of foreign medical schools who have not completed a recognised internship;
- doctors who graduated from a medical school abroad and practised medicine for up to 10 years;
- foreign doctors with 10 or more years of professional experience.
The candidate's pathway affects requirements and the subsequent procedure. The specific pathway is determined by the Ministry of Health — it is not an automatic decision or one the candidate makes independently.
Official MoH guide on general medicine licensing ↗Step 1. Verify Recognition of Your Medical Education
Holding a foreign degree does not in itself mean automatic recognition of the medical programme in Israel. The Ministry of Health verifies the foreign medical school and study programme.
Step 2. Gather Documents in Advance
The exact official set depends on the candidate's pathway. However, a doctor with a foreign education would be wise to prepare in advance:
- passport / identity document and documents on status in Israel;
- medical degree certificate;
- diploma supplement;
- official certificate of study period;
- academic transcript with subjects, grades, hours or credits;
- internship / residency documents — if applicable;
- foreign medical licence — if held;
- specialist certificate — if held;
- official employment certificates confirming work as a doctor with specific dates;
- documents evidencing a name change — if applicable.
Step 3. Prepare Copies, Translations and Certifications
Do not send irreplaceable original documents without an explicit requirement to do so. Some procedures use certified copies: a notary certifies a copy as matching the original, for which they will need to see the original document.
Step 4. Register on the Healthcare Professionals Portal
The Ministry of Health uses the Healthcare Professionals Portal (פורטל עוסקים במקצועות הרפואה). Through it you can manage licensing, exam matters and other professional procedures. For foreign graduates, initial registration and provision of education information is available.
Before registering, verify the accuracy of:
- first and last name (must match documents);
- Teudat Zehut / passport;
- telephone number;
- email address;
- status in Israel.
Step 5. Submit Documents to the Ministry of Health
A foreign graduate first undergoes the Ministry of Health procedure. The MoH verifies documents, education and the applicable licensing pathway.
Step 6. Wait for Eligibility Confirmation
This is the key point of the entire procedure. After reviewing documents, the Ministry of Health must confirm the candidate's right to sit the exam. IMA explicitly states that without such confirmation, registration for the exam is not possible.
Step 7. Check Current Exam Dates
State exams are held in two sessions. Final dates are published by IMA. Below are the dates current at the time this article was updated:
IMA publishes registration deadlines on the exam page. The final exam date is published at least 30 days in advance.
Check current dates on the IMA website ↗Step 8. Pay the Exam Fee
The first stage of actual registration is payment through the Ministry of Health. According to IMA data at the time this article was updated, the licensing exam fee is:
After payment the candidate receives a payment confirmation number. Keep it safe — you will need it for registration with IMA.
Step 9. Wait 48 Hours
IMA states that the second stage of registration becomes available only 48 hours after payment. Being unable to register immediately after payment is not itself an error — this wait is standard.
Step 10. Register with IMA
After 48 hours, complete the second stage of registration — online through IMA. Registration is not automatic: the candidate must register independently within the published registration window. IMA publishes registration deadlines on the exam page. You will need:
- identity document or passport number;
- Ministry of Health payment confirmation number.
Step 11. Select Your Exam Language
The IMA page lists four exam language options: Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian.
Step 12. Payment ≠ Completed Registration
After payment you must:
- wait 48 hours;
- register on the IMA website;
- receive registration confirmation.
Step 13. Receive IMA Confirmation
After completing registration IMA sends a confirmation. IMA explicitly states that this confirmation is evidence that the registration procedure has been correctly completed. IMA sends venue and exam-day details to registered candidates who have received exam eligibility. You can also check registration status in the exam personal area.
Special Situations
If you paid for a previous exam but did not attend
If a previous exam was paid for but the candidate did not attend, IMA states that re-payment to the MoH is not required. However, you still need to register with IMA for the new session — this is not an automatic transfer of registration.
If you are waiting for an appeal decision
IMA states: a candidate waiting for an appeal decision pays and registers for the next session after receiving the result. If the appeal result comes too close to the end of the registration period, IMA provides additional time.
If you have 10+ years of medical experience
If you already hold a foreign specialist qualification
Final Checklist
- Determine your licensing pathway
- Verify recognition of your medical education
- Gather documents
- Prepare required copies / translations
- Register on the MoH Healthcare Professionals Portal
- Submit documents
- Receive eligibility confirmation (אישור זכאות)
- Check the registration window
- Pay the exam fee
- Save the payment confirmation number
- Wait 48 hours
- Register with IMA
- Select your exam language
- Receive IMA registration confirmation
- Check registration status
Related Guides
To understand the full journey from a foreign degree to an Israeli licence, read the guide on the licensing process for graduates of foreign medical schools.
For more on who must take the exam and what exemptions exist, see "Who needs the Israeli medical licensing exam".
For information on the exam format, subjects, passing score and the post-exam procedure, see "How the Israeli medical licensing exam works".
On building a systematic study plan and using exam questions effectively, see "How to prepare for the Israeli medical licensing exam".