The government on Sunday approved a plan to ease licensing requirements for immigrant psychologists, allowing officials to be more flexible in evaluating psychology degrees, clinical training and professional experience obtained outside Israel.

Under the decision, put forward by Health Minister Haim Katz and Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer, licensing authorities will be able to consider differences in psychology training programs across countries and recognize foreign qualifications as equivalent to Israeli requirements when they meet legal and professional standards.

About 50 psychologists from around the world have already applied this year to immigrate to Israel and practice their profession, the ministries said. The new policy will allow professional committees to begin reviewing their credentials even before they arrive in the country.

“Today, the State of Israel needs mental health professionals more than ever,” Sofer said. “Immigration brings high-quality and experienced human capital, and it is our duty to remove unnecessary barriers that prevent professionals from integrating into their profession.”

The move follows similar efforts to remove licensing barriers for other regulated professions, and comes amid a widespread lack of........

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