How do I get my specialty recognised?

You’ve come at the right time! As of May 2025, the Health Ministry implemented an exciting new reform, known as The Green Track (מסלול הירוק), which enables specialists from specific countries to have their specilitity recognised without needing to endure the previous headache known as the ‘adaptation period’ (התאמה).

The מסלול הירוק reduces beurocracy (yay) and speeds up recognition of the oleh doctor’s specilisation (double yay), allowing faster integration into the system. And importantly, it shows an increasing willingness and desire by the Health Office to accomodate Olim Doctors, reflecting their appreciation for our roles and their desire to encourage further Aliyah of medical professionals. This is good news! 

So, who is eligible for the ‘Green Track’?

Anyone who meets the following criteria: 

1. You must have been trained in one of the following countries:

   1. United States

   2. France

   3. Canada

   4. United Kingdom 

   5. Australia

   6. New Zealand

   7. South Africa 

2. You trained in a full-time and continuous residency program with a defined curriculum similiar to the equivalent residency in Israel

3. The duration of your residency program was at least 70% of the duration of the same residency in Israel. 

   1. For a detailed blog on Israeli residency tracks, click here

   2. If you don’t meet the 70% criteria - don’t panic. The Scientific Council may consider allowing post-certification work as a specialist to count toward residency requirements.

4. You have practiced continuously in the specialty field up until the application submission.

   1. The Waivers Committee Chair (ועדת הפטור) may also consider applications from doctors who have not practiced for up to 5 years prior to submission.

5. You hold an official specialist certificate from an authorized national body and have passed national-level board exams

**If a doctor trained abroad in a subspecialty but doesn't have certification in the required base specialty (according to Israeli rules), the subspecialty may still be recognized, as long as their training and work experience in that subspecialty equals at least 70% of the total time required in Israel for both the base and subspecialty combined.

Sign me up! How do I submit my application? 

Officially, an application should only be submitted once you have your medical license to practice in Israel. However, it is possible to submit an application for document evaluation even before that, including before making Aliyah. This means you can get on top of providing the documentation that you need, so it won’t hold you up once you’re in Israel and itching to start work. 

Simply, follow the links below and you can get started! 

Submit application in English

Submit application in Hebrew

Which documents do I need?*

• Detailed CV – Please include a current email address, home address, and phone number.

• M.D. diploma – Official certificate of completion of medical studies.

• Israeli medical license (if available).

• Official document detailing the internship – if completed.

• Official document from the authority responsible for specialization in the country of training, or from the institution where the physician trained, detailing the residency program completed.

• Proof of passing specialty board exams, if applicable.

• Specialist certificate issued by an official body authorized to grant specialist titles in the issuing country.

• Official employment records from workplaces after completion of residency, detailing professional experience as a specialist.

• Surgeons must provide a list of surgical procedures performed during residency, signed by the physician responsible for the training.

• Physicians who worked in an accredited residency department in Israel must provide a recommendation letter from the department head.

*You must submit copies of the original documents, together with notarized translations into Hebrew or English. (sigh!) 

What happens next? 

1. Once you have submitted your application, you will be contacted by an employee of the scientific council (the body responsible for approving your speciality license) to clarify details and complete any missing documentations 

2. Your application will then be assessed by the Waivers Committee (ועד הפטור) to decide whether all criteria are met for recognition via the Green Track (מסלול הירוק)

3. Once approved by the Waivers committee (ועד הפטור) the application is forwarded to the Scientific council for final approval 

4. An official decision is then issued via the same online system as used for the submission. 

5. The Scientific Council recommends to the Ministry of Health which doctors are eligible for specialist recognition in Israel. 

6. The Ministry of Health then issues the official specialist certificate.

7. If the green track criteria are not met - then the application is transferred to the standard recognition track and the Scientific Council will review the application and make decisions regarding the need to take speciality board exams or complete additional work periods before being granted a speciality licence. 

בהצלחה