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Psychologists Law, 5737-1977

חוק הפסיכולוגים, תשל"ז-1977

Published: 1977-03-29Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2025-04-06 · Last amended 2025-04-03✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter I: Interpretation

Definitions§

1.

In this Law –

"practice of psychology" means professional occupation by way of vocation in the diagnosis and assessment of matters and problems in the mental, intellectual and behavioural domain of human beings, as well as treatment, rehabilitation, counselling and guidance in relation to such matters and problems, as are ordinarily carried out by a psychologist;

"psychologist" means a person registered in the Register of Psychologists or the holder of a permit;

"holder of a permit" means a person who has been granted under this Law a temporary permit to practise psychology;

"dangerous illness", of a psychologist or an applicant for registration – (Repealed)

"Council" means the Psychologists Council established under section 47;

"Registration Committee" means a committee appointed under section 13;

"specialist psychologist" means a psychologist registered in the Register of Psychologists as holding a specialist title in a branch of specialisation recognised under this Law;

"specialist-supervisor psychologist" means a specialist psychologist also registered under this Law in the Register of Psychologists as a supervisor;

"Director" means the Director General of the Ministry of Health or his deputy.

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Chapter II: Practice of Psychology

Exclusivity of Practice§

2.
(a)No person shall practise psychology unless he is a psychologist and in accordance with his registration or in accordance with his permit and its conditions under section 19.
(b)A holder of a "Bachelor's" degree in psychology conferred by an institution recognised as an institution of higher education under the Council for Higher Education Law, 5718-1958, or a holder of a degree in psychology conferred by an institution abroad which the Registration Committee has recognised as equivalent to a "Bachelor's" degree as aforesaid – shall not practise psychology except under the supervision or guidance of a psychologist at a place of employment recognised by the Council or in the Israel Defence Forces, and during the following periods:
(1)a period not exceeding three years from the date of commencement of this Law or from the date of commencement of his practice of psychology, whichever is the later;
(2)the entire period during which he is studying for a "Master's" degree in psychology at an institution recognised as an institution of higher education under the Council for Higher Education Law, 5718-1958.
(b1)A person completing studies as referred to in section 15(3) shall not practise psychology except during the period prescribed for the completion of his studies under that section and subject to the following conditions:
(1)under the supervision or guidance of a psychologist;
(2)at a place of employment recognised by the Council or in the Israel Defence Forces;

provided that the period of practice during the completion of studies shall not exceed 3 years from the date of determination of the programme for the completion of studies as referred to in that section.

(c)An action performed by a person incidentally or in the course of his lawful occupation and in good faith shall not be regarded as the practice of psychology.

Prohibition of Employment§

3.

No person shall employ in activities that constitute the practice of psychology a person who is not entitled to practise psychology as referred to in section 2.

Prohibition of Administering Medication§

4.

A person entitled to practise psychology shall not treat human beings by administering medication or electric shock, unless he is lawfully authorised to do so.

Exclusivity of the Title Psychologist§

5.

No person shall use the title "psychologist", or an expression or abbreviation implying that he is qualified, capable or prepared to practise psychology, unless he is a psychologist and in accordance with his registration in the Register or in accordance with a permit under section 19.

Prohibition of Use of Title, Appellation or Designation§

5a.
(a)A psychologist shall not use, in connection with his practice, any title in psychology other than a recognised title that was conferred upon him under the Council for Higher Education Law, 5718-1958, and where the title was conferred outside Israel, one that the Registration Committee has recognised in respect of the title, the academic institution that conferred it and the studies undertaken towards it; and he shall not use an appellation or designation that is liable to create among the public an incorrect impression of his recognised professional training or his qualifications.
(b)Where a psychologist has used a title, appellation or designation that the Director considers liable to create among the public an incorrect impression as referred to in subsection (a), the Director may direct the psychologist to cease using the title, appellation or designation.
(c)The Minister of Health may, by Order, prescribe that a psychologist shall not use a title, appellation or designation received from a particular institution, which in the Minister's opinion is not appropriate for use of titles conferred by that institution; where such an Order has been published, a psychologist shall not use the title, appellation or designation in connection with his practice of psychology, and if he has used it he shall cease to use it on the date prescribed in the Order.
(d)In this section –

"used" – includes in a notice, sign, letterhead, business card, electronic medium or any other means;

"title", "appellation" or "designation" – includes abbreviations, acronyms and anything implying a title, appellation or designation.

Restrictions on Advertising§

6.
(a)A psychologist shall not, directly or indirectly, advertise his practice in a manner that is liable to mislead, or that constitutes harm to the dignity of the profession, or that is contrary to Regulations made under subsection (c).
(b)The Minister of Health, in consultation with the Council and with the approval of the Health Committee of the Knesset, may prescribe types, forms and methods of advertising –
(1)that are liable to mislead;
(2)that constitute harm to the dignity of the profession.
(c)The Minister of Health, in consultation with the Council and with the approval of the Health Committee of the Knesset, may prescribe prohibitions on types, forms and methods of advertising that constitute harm to the public.
(d)No person shall advertise the practice of psychology or the practice of a psychologist in a manner that, had it been done by a psychologist, would have been prohibited under the provisions of subsection (a).
(e)A psychologist whose practice is being advertised by another person is obliged to do everything possible to prevent that person from acting contrary to the provisions of subsection (d); a person who contravenes this provision is liable to a fine equal to half the fine prescribed in section 61(a)(1) of the Penal Law, 5737-1977.
(f)Where a person has contravened the provisions of subsection (d) in relation to a particular psychologist, it shall be presumed that that psychologist has breached his duty under subsection (e), unless the psychologist proves that he did everything possible to fulfil his duty.
(g)Provisions made under this section are in addition to the provisions of any law.

Professional Secrecy§

7.
(a)Information about a person that has reached a person entitled to practise psychology in the course of or as a result of his professional practice must be kept confidential by him and he shall not disclose it except in one of the following circumstances:
(1)disclosure of the information is required in his opinion for the purposes of treating that person;
(2)there is a legal duty or authority to disclose the information;
(3)the person to whom the information relates has consented in writing to its disclosure, and for as long as he has not revoked that consent in writing.
(b)The provisions of this section apply also to a person who has received information as aforesaid from a person entitled to practise psychology.
(c)For the purposes of this section –
(1)"information" – includes a document containing knowledge;
(2)"treatment" – treatment by a person qualified to give it, including social and educational treatment;
(3)it is immaterial whether the information concerns a person under the care of the person practising psychology or another person.

Recognised Specialisation§

8.
(a)The Minister of Health may, by Regulations, after consultation with the Council –
(1)prescribe in the Schedule that a particular branch of psychology shall be a recognised specialisation;
(2)prescribe for a recognised specialisation conditions in respect of training, examination, title and certificate;
(3)reserve certain activities in psychology exclusively for holders of a recognised specialisation;
(4)direct that holders of a title of recognised specialisation shall be registered in the Register.
(b)Each of the branches of psychology listed in the Schedule is a recognised specialisation.

Reservation of Activities§

9.
(a)From the date on which an activity is reserved exclusively for holders of a recognised specialisation, or from a later date prescribed in Regulations, a psychologist shall not engage in such an activity unless he is registered in the Register as holding that specialisation; nothing in this provision shall prevent an intern from engaging in such an activity under the supervision of a holder of a recognised specialisation.
(b)A psychologist shall not provide psychotherapeutic treatment unless he is a specialist psychologist.

Exclusivity of the Specialist Title§

10.

From the date on which the Minister of Health has prescribed a title of recognised specialisation, or from a later date prescribed in Regulations, no person shall use a title of that specialisation, or an expression or abbreviation implying that he is a specialist in that branch of psychology, except in accordance with his registration in the Register or in accordance with a permit.

Exemption§

11.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter, the Director may decide that a particular psychologist who practised in a branch of psychology before that branch was prescribed as a recognised specialisation shall be entitled to continue his practice, with or without the title, subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Director shall decide, including as to the period during which he shall be entitled to continue his practice and as to training and examination.

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Chapter III: Registration

Register of Psychologists§

12.
(a)A register or card index (hereinafter – the Register) shall be maintained in which those entitled to registration as psychologists under this Law shall be registered; where a psychologist holds a specialist or specialist-supervisor title in a branch listed in the Schedule, the Registrar of the Register shall record that fact in the Register; the particulars of registration shall be prescribed by Regulations.
(b)A person registered in the Register is obliged to give notice within thirty days of any change in the particulars of registration prescribed by Regulations, and he or his employer is obliged to provide the Registrar of the Register, upon request, with any other information relevant to registration in the Register.

Registration Committee§

13.
(a)The Minister of Health shall appoint a Registration Committee of five; notice of the appointment of the Committee and its address shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).
(b)The members of the Committee shall be –
(1)a representative of the Minister of Health, who shall be the chairperson of the Committee and the keeper of the Register of Psychologists;
(2)three psychologists to be selected by the Minister of Health from a list submitted to him by the Council at his request, and if the list has not been submitted to him within sixty days after the delivery of the request – three psychologists whom he deems suitable;
(3)a psychologist from the teaching staff in psychology at an institution recognised as an institution of higher education under the Council for Higher Education Law, 5718-1958.
(b1)The chairperson of the Council or a representative on his behalf, who possesses knowledge and expertise in the matter under discussion, may participate in the meetings of the Registration Committee and shall have an advisory opinion.
(c)The members of the Committee referred to in subsection (b)(2) and (3) shall be appointed for three years and may be reappointed, provided that after two consecutive terms of appointment a committee member as aforesaid shall not be appointed for an additional term for at least three years.
(d)The Registration Committee may appoint from among its members sub-committees empowered to decide in place of the Committee on any matter other than a review under section 17.
(e)The first appointment of the Registration Committee prior to the establishment of the Register shall be for a period of one year, and the psychologist members of the Committee shall be those who, in the opinion of the Minister of Health, satisfy the requirements entitling them to registration as referred to in section 15.
(f)Three members of the Registration Committee, including the chairperson of the Committee, shall constitute a quorum for the meetings of the Committee.

Examining Committee§

14.
(a)There shall be an Examining Committee of three whose members are –
(1)the Head of Mental Health Services in the Ministry of Health or a psychologist authorised by him for that purpose, who shall serve as chairperson of the Committee;
(2)a psychologist selected by the Director from among the teachers of psychology at one of the institutions of higher education in the country;
(3)a psychologist selected by the Council, and if the Council has not selected one within sixty days after the request – a psychologist selected by the Minister of Health.
(b)The subjects of the examinations and their procedures shall be prescribed by Regulations.

Those Entitled to Registration§

15.

An Israeli citizen or resident of Israel who is one of the following is entitled to be registered in the Register:

(1)a holder of a "Master's" degree in psychology or a higher degree, conferred by an institution recognised as an institution of higher education under the Council for Higher Education Law, 5718-1958;
(2)a holder of a degree in psychology conferred by an institution abroad which the Registration Committee has recognised as equivalent to a degree conferred as referred to in paragraph (1);
(3)a holder of a Master's degree in psychology or a holder of a higher degree in psychology, conferred by an institution in a state outside Israel that the Registration Committee has recognised, and who has completed his studies in accordance with the determination of the Registration Committee and to its satisfaction, the Committee having found that the value of the degree conferred upon him is slightly lower than a degree as referred to in paragraph (1); provided that he completed his studies as aforesaid within a period not exceeding 3 years from the date of determination of the study programme by the Registration Committee.

Publication of Rules for Recognition of Degrees from an Institution Abroad§

15a.

The Minister of Health shall publish in Reshumot (Official Gazette) rules for the recognition of degrees in psychology conferred by an institution abroad, under section 15(2).

Rejection of Application for Registration§

16.

The following are the cases in which the Registration Committee may, after having afforded the applicant an opportunity to be heard, reject an application for registration even if the conditions referred to in section 15 have been fulfilled:

(1)the applicant has been convicted of an offence that is capable of showing that he lacks the responsibility required for the practice of psychology, and ten years have not yet elapsed since he served his sentence or since the conditional period expired under section 18(b) of the Criminal Law (Modes of Punishment) Law [Consolidated Version], 5730-1970, as the case may be;
(2)there exists another fact capable of showing that the applicant is not capable of or not fit to practise psychology.

Review§

17.
(a)Where the Registration Committee has rejected an application under section 16, it may, at the request of the applicant if submitted within fifteen days after he received notice of the rejection, review the matter again, not later than the thirtieth day after receipt of the request.
(b)The applicant is entitled to present his arguments before the Registration Committee, and he may be represented at the hearing by his counsel or by a person with professional knowledge and experience in the field of psychology.
18.§

(Repealed — תשס״ה־2)

Temporary Permit§

19.
(a)The Registration Committee may grant a temporary permit to practise psychology, including a recognised specialisation, to a person who is not an Israeli citizen or resident of Israel, without his being registered in the Register, subject to the following conditions:
(1)if he is invited to Israel to fulfil a particular function in psychology – limited to that function;
(2)if he has come to Israel on a visitor's visa – limited to the period of his visa and subject to any additional condition that the Committee sees fit.
(b)A temporary permit shall not be granted in the circumstances of the case except to a person who satisfies the provisions and conditions required for registration in the Register, and he shall be obliged to give notice under section 12(b), all with such modifications as are required by the circumstances.

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