Every request from an immigrant physician for exemption from exams shall be reviewed individually. The decision shall be based upon the following criteria.

Criteria for exemptions from Stage I examinations:

1. A physician who undergoes residency overseas and who fulfills all of the following criteria shall be exempt from stage I examinations:

1. The residency was performed in a department or institution accredited for the purpose of residency from a national body authorized to issue such accreditation.
2. The residency was performed full-time and consecutively, according to guidelines and requirements for clinical activity similar to those required in Israeli residency.
3. The residency has a defined syllabus, including activity that is not fundamentally different from that required in the syllabus for the same field in Israel.
4. The period of residency in the primary field is not shorter than the period required in Israel for stage I examinations (i.e, half the residency period).
5. The physician passed a national exam during his residency that is similar in quality and level to stage I examinations in Israel, and is recognized by the official body granting specialty certification in that country.
6. The physician worked consecutively in his field of specialization until the time of submitting the application for recognition.

Notwithstanding the above, the committee shall consider granting an exemption to a physician who did not work in his field of specialization up to 5 years before submitting the application (added 26.10.15)

Criteria for exemptions from Stage II examinations:

1. A physician who completes his residency overseas and who fulfills all of the following criteria shall be exempt from stage II examinations:

1. The residency was performed in a department or institution accredited for the purpose of residency from a national body authorized to issue such accreditation.
2. The residency was performed full-time and consecutively, according to guidelines and requirements similar to those required in Israeli residency.
3. The residency has a defined syllabus, including activity that is not fundamentally different from that required in the syllabus for the same field in Israel.
4. The residency track was supervised by a central body.  The period of residency in the main field and the entire of length of the residency is not shorter than 70% of that required for the residency in Israel.
5. Note: An exemption from stage II examinations does not exempt the physician from the need to complete any required periods of residency in accordance with the length and curriculum of residency in Israel.
6. The applicant holds a certificate of specialization from an official body (such as a board, college, etc.) authorized to issue such certificates in the relevant country.
7. The physician passed a national exam during his residency that is similar in its quality and level to stage II examinations in Israel.
8. The physician worked consecutively in his field of specialization until the time of submitting the application for recognition.

Notwithstanding the above, the committee shall consider granting an exemption to a physician who did not work in his field of specialization up to 5 years before submitting the application (added 26.10.15)

1. A physician who has specialized in a country where there is no national examination at the end of the residency (an examination similar to the Phase B examination of the residency held in Israel) will be examined by the designated Exemption Committee according to the threshold requirements.

Any exemption from examinations in accordance with this section shall be subject to a positive recommendation from the head of the department in which the resident performed his or her period of adaptation or the completion of residency.

The information contained here has been translated from the Hebrew in order to assist those for whom Hebrew is not their native tongue. In case of any discrepancy between the original and the translation, the original, Hebrew version is binding.