Government approves initiative to streamline licensing for psychologists who make aliyah

July 6, 2026 - 22:47

The Israeli government has approved a new initiative designed to simplify the licensing process for psychologists who immigrate to the country. The proposal, submitted jointly by the Minister of Aliyah and Integration and the Health Minister, seeks to expand the recognition of foreign academic degrees without compromising the nation's professional licensing standards.

Under the current system, many immigrant psychologists face lengthy bureaucratic hurdles and must repeat significant portions of their training before they can practice in Israel. This has led to a shortage of mental health professionals in certain communities, particularly those with large populations of English-speaking immigrants. The new plan aims to address this gap by creating a more direct path for qualified professionals to enter the workforce.

Officials say the initiative will focus on verifying the equivalence of foreign degrees and clinical experience, rather than requiring applicants to start their education from scratch. The goal is to bring experienced therapists into the system faster, especially for treating patients in their native languages. The move is expected to benefit both new immigrants seeking familiar care and the broader Israeli healthcare system, which has faced increased demand for psychological services in recent years. Specific implementation details are still being developed by the relevant ministries.