[Stages in the licensing process for immigrant physicians in Israel]

Area of Science:

• Medical licensing
• Immigration and healthcare workforce
• Physician integration

Context:

• Recent immigration wave from the former Soviet Union.
• Significant number of immigrant physicians seeking to practice in Israel.
• Established licensing procedures for foreign medical professionals.

Purpose:

• To outline the licensing process for immigrant physicians in Israel.
• To detail the stages from arrival to medical license issuance.
• To analyze the progress of physician integration into the Israeli healthcare system.

Summary:

• Between September 1989 and December 1991, approximately 9,800 immigrant physicians arrived, with 7,000 applying for licenses.
• Physicians with 20+ years of experience require 6 months of supervised practice; others must pass licensing exams.
• By December 1991, 2,900 physicians had obtained licenses, indicating a substantial number still in the process.

Impact:

• Highlights the challenges and progress in integrating foreign-trained physicians.
• Provides data on the scale of physician immigration and licensing outcomes.
• Informs policy and support systems for immigrant healthcare professionals.