Establishing professional status in clinical psychology for people who have completed their studies and specialization training outside of Israel

1. Registration in the "listing of psychologists" (Pinkas HaPsychologim): One may approach the Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists with the request to be licensed in Israel only after registration in the "listing of psychologists." The Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists will not relate to any request without certification of registration in the listing, or any other document giving permission to practice psychology.
2. The Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists will determine if the foreign course of study is comparable to that of an Israeli MA in clinical psychology. If the course of study is equivalent, the committee can permit the beginning of specialization training in clinical psychology. If courses or fieldwork are lacking, these will have to be made up by the applicant in a recognized academic setting/practicum in a recognized setting before clinical specialization training may begin.
3. Based on professional experience, the Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists will determine if the applicant may begin or continue the clinical specialization training process, or if the applicant may take the final ‘hitmachut’ (specialization) exam, or if the applicant may be recommended to receive a degree in clinical psychology.

Course of Study

1. At least one course in psychopathology.
2. At least one year long course in psychodynamic psychotherapy.
3. At least two courses in psychodiagnostics (including at least the following tests: Wechsler, Bender, HTP drawings, TAT, Rorschach).
4. A practicum in clinical psychology, meaning field work as part of a recognized institution with an expertise in clinical psychology. The practicum must be 16 hours per week for a period of at least 10 consecutive months. The practicum must include training in interviewing, psycho diagnostics, testing using a battery of tests (including at least Wechsler, Bender, HTP drawings, TAT, Rorschach), and psychotherapeutic treatment, all under the supervision of clinical psychologists.
   The Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists must receive documentation regarding the time period of the practicum, the type of work done during the practicum, the content of the practicum (the patient population, number of treatments performed, amount of tests given, names of the tests in every battery), and an evaluation by the supervising psychologists regarding the type and quality of work done.
   If the applicant took a course of clinical study where no practicum was necessary, or if the practicum did not meet the above criteria, the Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists will require the applicant to complete l whatever elements are missing in order for the applicant to have completed a practicum involving 16 hours a week for at least 10 consecutive months in a clinical setting.
   
   Please note that the only authority who decides whether the course of study of the applicant is commensurate with the course of study in Israel is the Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists.

1. The official beginning of the specialization training is only after the MA is formally recognized in accordance with the above criteria.
2. Residency must be done in a recognized institution of clinical psychology for a period of two years full time or four years half time .. At least one year of part time must be done in a hospital setting in a psychiatric hospital/psychiatric ward in a hospital/day patient psychiatric ward in a hospital. In order to be considered part of residency, a specialization training position must last for at least 12 consecutive months in one particular institution.
   Note that an institution recognized for residency in clinical psychology in Israel is an institution that fulfilled all the criteria needed for recognition and is officially recognized as a place where residency in clinical psychology can be done.
   Regarding institutions outside of Israel, specialization training is only acceptable in an institution where the proper professional standard of clinical psychology is practiced and meets all the criteria for Israeli institutions which are:
• The institution provides supervised practice in these areas: interviews, evaluation, clinical diagnosis, psychodiagnostics using batteries of tests (including at least Wechsler, HTP drawings, TAT, Rorschach), and the various forms of psychotherapy.
• The institution employs a (part or full time) clinical psychologist to guide residents in psychotherapy and psychodiagnostics.
• The institution provides opportunities for training with various types of pathologies, has an ambulatory and/or inpatient department, includes an interdisciplinary staff, regular staff meetings, training and supervision, discussion/review of cases, theoretical discussions, etc.
• The institution allows the resident regular participation in staff meetings and in all the activities noted above.
• The residency program operates under the professional responsibility of a clinical psychologist.
• The institution must have a professional library or access to one.
3. The applicant must present certification on the scope and length of the work done in each of the institutions where s/he did his/her specialization training. (This needs to be a part time position, at least 50% for 4 years, or full time for 2 years, and one should have worked for at least one consecutive year).
4. The applicant must present certification of supervision including at least:

• 30 hours of supervision over clinical interviews
• 160 hours of supervision over psychotherapy
• 160 hours of supervision over psychodiagnostic evaluation
• The writing and submitting of reports on at least 15 batteries of psycho diagnostic tests, where each battery includes at least the following tests: Wechsler, Bender, HTP drawings, TAT, Rorschach.

1. A psychologist who received his MA outside of Israel whose studies were recognized based on section B above and whose residency was approved based on section C above and who worked for three years in a full time position outside of Israel or five years in a part time position will be obligated to take an end of residency exam.
2. A psychologist who received his MA outside of Israel whose studies were recognized based on section B above and whose residency was approved based on section C above and who worked for three years in a full time position outside of Israel or five years in a part time position will be obligated to take an end of residency exam OR may choose to complete a year working at an Israeli institution recognized for residency in clinical psychology in a position that is at least half time for one year. At the completion of this year, the applicant will have to present a report attesting to his/her ability and aptitude to work as an independent clinical psychologist. Only a clear positive report will allow the committee to recommend that the applicant be exempted from the final residency exam.
3. A psychologist who received his MA outside of Israel whose studies were recognized based on section B above and whose residency was approved based on section C above and who worked for FIVE years in a full time position outside of Israel or SEVEN years in a part time position, and presents a positive report regarding his/her professional ability as a clinical psychologist from the supervising clinical psychologists who know him/her from their work as a clinical psychologist, may receive a recommendation by the Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists to receive professional certification without any further conditions.

1. Whoever is required to complete all or part of his specialization training in Israel is considered a resident in all aspects and must act in accordance with the guidelines for all clinical psychology residents.
2. Completing all of the above requirements is a prerequisite for sending in a request for professional recognition that will be brought up for discussion in the Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists. Presenting the documents alone in no way demonstrates that the applicant will be accorded professional status. This is entirely up to the Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists. Therefore, it may be that the Professional Committee of Clinical Psychologists will require completion of certain aspects of clinical training even if documentation was provided regarding the completion of these matters if the committee is not satisfied that the documentation reflects the necessary level of professional ability.