Validating My Nurse BA Degree

A Mixed Neshamot Guide

by: Irmanté Zach

Did you study nursing in your home country and want to work as a nurse in Israel? We got you!

Irmanté, one of our amazing community members, moved from Lithuania and successfully navigated the validation process. This guide is based on her personal experience and is here to help you start your own journey into Israeli nursing.

Before Moving to Israel

Make sure to prepare all your documents before arriving:

Statement of Work – Ask past employers to provide proof of your experience

Diploma Translation – Translate your diploma into Hebrew or English (if it's not already)

University Transcript – Must show dates of start and end of studies

University Statement – Confirming start and end of your academic program

High School Diploma – Not always required, but better to have it

Apostille/International Stamps – All documents must be internationally validated

Once in Israel

You’ll need to upload scanned copies of the following to the Ministry of Health's portal:

• Entry/Exit Form from Misrad Hapnim

• Copy of your visa and passport

• Copy of your Teudat Zehut (if you have one)

• Marriage certificate (if applicable)

• University diploma + transcript

• Approval letter from Ministry of Education

• High school diploma (optional)

Be patient – it can take 3 to 6 months to get a response.

The Course & Licensing Exam

Once approved, you’ll need to take a Transition-to-Practice Program designed for foreign-trained nurses.

• Gather all the materials provided during the course.

• Study hard—there’s no limit to how many times you can take the final exam.

• Exam dates: April and September

• Sign up at least 1 month in advance

• Most people recommend using Prognoza notes for practice questions.

  
  

Proof of Hebrew – Part I

To receive your temporary nursing license, you must pass both the nursing exam and prove Hebrew proficiency.

Accepted forms of proof include:

• Passing the nursing license exam in Hebrew

• Bagrut exam in Hebrew (score of 60+)

• Completing Ulpan Gimmel (final score of 70+ — not a medical ulpan!)

Private ulpans without a government voucher often don’t include final exams—so be sure to ask before enrolling.

Proof of Hebrew – Part II

Other options to prove Hebrew:

• TYAEL Exam – Score of 110+, taken multiple times a year. Results take up to 40 days.

• Ministry of Education Proficiency Test – Score of 65% or above. Offered twice a year.

Easiest and most common routes:

1. Ulpan Gimmel (with exam)

2. Ministry of Education test

Final Step

After passing both tests, upload your Hebrew proof and pay the required fee via the same portal.

You’ll usually receive your official license within a few days to a month, depending on processing time.

Tip: Make sure to pay the fee when you upload the final documents.

Validating a Master’s Degree (if applicable)

Documents to upload:

Entry/Exit Form from Misrad Hapnim

Copy of visa + passport

Copy of Teudat Zehut

Master’s degree diploma

Transcript of studies

First degree (BA) approval

Already working as a nurse? Ask your employer for a letter—it might speed up the process.

Without it, validation can take 6 to 12 months.

We hope you found this guide useful and encouraging! Have more questions or want to share your own journey?