Do I need a licence or degree recognition, and what help can olim get?
Who this helps: Olim in regulated professions, anyone applying to public bodies, and anyone looking for training or employment support.
Last reviewed · 18 sources
The short answer
Check the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration's list of regulated professions first: if yours is on it, the named authority decides what you need, and many accept enquiries before aliyah. Official degree evaluation is needed mainly for public-sector jobs and pay grading. For support, the ministry's training voucher is current, its employment centres were listed as not operating when we checked, and several non-profits offer help with different eligibility and costs.
Is my profession licensed in Israel?
The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration publishes a list of regulated professions, grouped by the authority responsible for each, with details of the licensing process (updated 22 September 2026)[1]. It includes, among others:
- Health (Ministry of Health): physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists, dietitians, optometrists, medical lab staff and more.
- Law (Israel Bar Association): lawyers.
- Finance (Ministry of Finance): investment advisers and portfolio managers, pension advisers and insurance agents, tax advisers.
- Accounting and appraisal (Ministry of Justice units): accountants, real-estate appraisers, private investigators.
- Engineering and trades (Ministry of Labor): engineers and architects, practical engineers and technicians, electricians.
- Education (Ministry of Education): school and kindergarten teachers.
- Others: veterinarians, social workers, tour guides, drivers of public transport or heavy vehicles, land surveyors, athletes.
Many entries give an email address that aliyah candidates can write to before arriving[1]. Rules differ a great deal between professions. Engineers and architects, for example, register with the Ministry of Labor, and architects and civil engineers need a supervised internship and an exam for a full licence, with up to two years of internship abroad recognised[1].
Use the official page for your profession rather than summaries elsewhere, including ours. When we compared sources, an olim organisation's description of one profession's exam exemption did not match the conditions on the official list.
Does my foreign degree need official recognition?
- The Department for Evaluation of Academic Degrees from Abroad at the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration evaluates degrees for olim. Olim who received oleh status from 1 January 2025 apply there; those who received it earlier, or applied to the Ministry of Education before that date, are handled by the Ministry of Education[3][1].
- Its purpose is mainly public-sector employment: salary grading in bodies such as ministries, local authorities and government companies, and access to public tenders[3].
- You apply online through your personal area on the ministry's site. Documents need a "certified true copy" stamp from an Israeli lawyer, or free of charge from a ministry absorption adviser[3].
- Documents in English, Spanish, French, Russian or Ukrainian don't need translating; others must be translated into Hebrew or English. A doctorate needs separate evaluations of each degree and an expert-committee interview, and the process is lengthy[3].
Nefesh B'Nefesh says recognition matters mainly in the public sector, where it affects rank and pay, and is not generally needed by private employers[4]. Separately, licensed professions such as teaching have their own recognition steps on top of degree evaluation[1].
If you are aiming at the public sector, start the evaluation early: civil-service applications ask for it (see below).
Applying to the civil service as a new oleh
- For civil-service appointments, a "new oleh" is someone who came to Israel as an adult fewer than 12 years ago[5].
- Mark your country and date of aliyah in your recruitment profile and tick the "new olim" option, attaching your oleh certificate or at least an ID card showing your country of birth[5].
- Foreign degrees need an equivalence certificate (אישור שקילות). New olim may submit education documents up to 48 hours before the examining committee[5].
- If you can't get letters from former employers abroad, a lawyer-signed affidavit describing your experience can be submitted instead[5].
- Where candidates from under-represented groups show similar ability to the leading candidates, the committee may consider affirmative preference. The page lists further accommodations, such as a test in a foreign language and designated tenders; read their conditions on the page[5].
Government employment support
The ministry's Employment Division lists guidance and counselling, vocational ulpan, licensing and retraining courses, the voucher programme and help with job placement[6]. Your absorption adviser is the starting point; the ministry's information line is *2994[3].
The Israel Employment Service, part of the government, also runs a Hebrew job board[10].
Non-profit support
| Organisation | What it offers | Who and cost (as stated) |
|---|---|---|
| Nefesh B'Nefesh | An employment department with career guidance and rights information[11]; a job board for olim[12]; a CV-submission recruitment service (page last updated 2021)[13]; short UpGrade courses[14]. | Courses are paid, with prices listed per course; some may qualify for the ministry voucher[14]. No cost is stated for guidance. |
| Gvahim | A career programme with consulting, weekly job-search sessions, mentoring, workshops and employer meetings[15]; a free three-week online Career Kickstart course before aliyah[16]. | The programme is for highly educated olim (its page description says up to 10 years in Israel); it is paid, but no price is published[15]. |
| Telfed | Integration services for olim, with employment listed as a service area[17]. | Founded as the South African Zionist Federation in Israel; also serves Australians through Aliyah centres there. Integration services after arrival are free[17]. |
| AACI | Counselling that includes employment rights and limited job-search help[18]. | Linked to membership[18]. |
Organisations we checked (1 October 2026)
Nefesh B'Nefesh
- What it offers
- An employment department with career guidance and rights information[11]; a job board for olim[12]; a CV-submission recruitment service (page last updated 2021)[13]; short UpGrade courses[14].
- Who and cost (as stated)
- Courses are paid, with prices listed per course; some may qualify for the ministry voucher[14]. No cost is stated for guidance.
Gvahim
- What it offers
- A career programme with consulting, weekly job-search sessions, mentoring, workshops and employer meetings[15]; a free three-week online Career Kickstart course before aliyah[16].
- Who and cost (as stated)
- The programme is for highly educated olim (its page description says up to 10 years in Israel); it is paid, but no price is published[15].
Telfed
AACI
Ask any organisation, before you commit, what the service costs, who is eligible and what support continues after a course ends.
Your next step
Find your profession on the official list of regulated professions and email the address it gives with your questions, or book a meeting with your absorption adviser.
Open the official list (opens in a new tab)Related guides
Sources
We read each source on the date shown. “Source date” is what the source itself displays; our own review of this guide was on 1 October 2026. Hebrew sources are summarised in English.
- [1]A list of regulated professions and how to obtain a license (opens in a new tab)
Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (gov.il)
Source date: Published 11 Dec 2024, updated 22 Sep 2026 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Which professions need a licence and which authority handles each; that many entries give an email address for aliyah candidates; that profession-specific rules (e.g. engineers' internship, lawyers' exam exemptions) are set out per profession.
- [2]Israel to ease immigration red tape with faster professional licensing (opens in a new tab)
The Times of Israel (Zev Stub)
Source date: 17 Feb 2025 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: In February 2025 the government approved a reform letting olim in several licensed professions start licensing before arrival, with profession-specific changes; law was excluded.
- [3]Evaluation of Academic Degrees and Certificates from Abroad (opens in a new tab)
Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (gov.il)
Source date: not shown · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Degree evaluation for olim moved to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration for olim from 1 Jan 2025; its purpose (public-sector salary ranking and public tenders); online application; certified copies (free stamping by absorption advisers); translation rules; doctoral evaluation includes an interview and is lengthy; information line *2994.
- [4]Degree Transfer and Recognition (opens in a new tab)
Nefesh B'Nefesh
Source date: Hub stamped 14 May 2026; articles dated 26 Jul 2021 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Degree recognition matters mainly in the public sector, where it affects rank and salary, and is not generally needed by private employers.
- [5]עולים חדשים (New olim) (opens in a new tab)
Civil Service Commission, Recruitment and Selection Division (govextra.gov.il) · In Hebrew
Source date: not shown · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Legal definition of a new oleh for civil-service appointments (arrived as an adult, fewer than 12 years ago); how to mark oleh status in the recruitment profile; degree-equivalence certificate required for foreign degrees; education documents accepted up to 48 hours before the examining committee; a lawyer-signed affidavit can stand in for foreign employer letters; affirmative preference may be considered; further accommodations listed.
- [6]Employment Division (opens in a new tab)
Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (gov.il)
Source date: not shown · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Services the ministry's Employment Division lists: guidance and counselling, vocational ulpan and licensing/retraining courses, the Voucher Project, job-placement help; some professions need only Hebrew, others a preparatory period.
- [7]ואוצ'רים (שוברים) - השתתפות בעלות הכשרה מקצועית (Vouchers: help with the cost of vocational training) (opens in a new tab)
Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (gov.il) · In Hebrew
Source date: Published 1 Dec 2020, updated 27 Aug 2026 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Voucher covers up to 80% of a course's cost, capped at ₪7,000; Hebrew at Ulpan Aleph level required (with an exception for documented learning difficulties); who qualifies; documents needed; aid depends on budget.
- [8]רשימת מרכזי תעסוקה בפריסה ארצית (List of employment centres) (opens in a new tab)
Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (gov.il) · In Hebrew
Source date: Published 11 Apr 2021, updated 27 Aug 2026 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: The page states the employment centres for olim are not operating until further notice.
- [9]מרכז תעסוקה לעולים ותושבים חוזרים (Employment centre for olim and returning residents) (opens in a new tab)
Kol Zchut (כל זכות) · In Hebrew
Source date: Updated 10 Dec 2025 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Who the centres serve when operating (olim up to 10 years from aliyah, returning residents up to 2 years, who are not working in their field or are underemployed) and what they offer.
- [10]שירות התעסוקה – לוח דרושים (Israel Employment Service job board) (opens in a new tab)
Israel Employment Service · In Hebrew
Source date: not shown · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: The government Employment Service runs a Hebrew-language job board organised by field and job title.
- [11]Employment in Israel (opens in a new tab)
Nefesh B'Nefesh
Source date: Page stamp 29 Jun 2026 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: NBN's Employment Department offers career guidance, job-search help and information on rights; links to its job board, recruitment service and UpGrade courses.
- [12]NBN Israel Job Board (opens in a new tab)
Nefesh B'Nefesh
Source date: not shown · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: A job board aimed at olim, searchable by keyword, region and category, where candidates can submit a CV to employers looking for olim.
- [13]NBN Recruitment Services (opens in a new tab)
Nefesh B'Nefesh
Source date: Page stamp 4 Nov 2021 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Candidates can upload a CV to NBN's recruitment service, which lists fields such as CPA, hi-tech, marketing, sales, corporate law and office management.
- [14]NBN Career UpGrade (opens in a new tab)
Nefesh B'Nefesh
Source date: Page stamp 2 Sep 2026 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Short paid training courses for olim with dated sessions in autumn 2026; some courses may qualify for the ministry voucher.
- [15]Gvahim Career Program in Israel (opens in a new tab)
Gvahim
Source date: Modified 1 Sep 2026 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: A paid career programme for highly educated olim (page description: up to 10 years in Israel): career consulting, weekly job-search sessions, mentoring, workshops, employer meetings; payment after an intake meeting; no price published.
- [16]Career Kickstart: An Introductory Course (opens in a new tab)
Gvahim
Source date: Modified 27 Jul 2026 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: A free three-week online course for English speakers planning aliyah within the next year, covering the Israeli market and interview process.
- [17]Aliyah & Klita (opens in a new tab)
Telfed
Source date: not shown · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: Telfed (the South African Zionist Federation in Israel) assists olim, including through Aliyah centres in Australia, and says its integration services after arrival are free of charge. Employment appears as a separate service area on its site.
- [18]AACI Counseling Services (opens in a new tab)
AACI
Source date: Modified 30 Sep 2024 · Accessed 1 October 2026
Used for: AACI counselling lists employment rights and (limited) employment search help, linked to membership.
This guide is general information, not legal, immigration or financial advice. Where it describes a rule, the official source decides; check your own circumstances with the authority before you act.