Social Workers Law, 5756-1996

חוק העובדים הסוציאליים, תשנ"ו-1996

Published: 1996-03-08Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2025-04-06 · Last amended 2025-04-03✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28

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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: Purpose of the Law

Purpose of the Law§

The purpose of this Law is to regulate engagement in the social work profession for the purpose of:

(1)advancing the welfare of the individual and of society in Israel while preserving human dignity and the principle of equality;

(2)maintaining a professional standard and appropriate conduct on the part of those engaged in the social work profession.

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Chapter II: Interpretation

Definitions§

In this Law –

"engagement in social work" means professional engagement, as an occupation, in improving the personal and social functioning of the individual, the family and the community by means of treatment, rehabilitation, counselling and guidance, carried out generally by a social worker and by professional treatment methods customary in social work;

"social worker" means a person who is qualified to be a social worker under this Law and who is registered in the Register of Social Workers;

"Registration Committee" means the Registration Committee appointed under section 13;

"the Council" means the Council for Social Work appointed under section 51;

"endangering illness" – (Repealed)

"Register" means the Register of Social Workers referred to in section 10;

"Registrar" means a person appointed as Registrar of Social Workers under section 12;

"the Minister" means the Minister of Labour and Welfare.

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Chapter III: Engagement in Social Work

Exclusivity of Engagement§

(a)A person shall not engage in social work unless that person is a social worker.

(b)A person whose registration in the Register has been suspended pursuant to the provisions of this Law shall not be entitled to engage in social work during the period of suspension.

(c)A social worker in respect of whom restrictions have been recorded in the Register under this Law shall be entitled to engage in social work subject to those restrictions.

(d)An act carried out in good faith by a person who is not a social worker, in the course of an occupation or calling that does not constitute engagement in social work, shall not be regarded as engagement in social work.

(e)Nothing in the provisions of this Law shall prevent a student at an institution of higher education as referred to in section 9(a)(1) from engaging in social work within the framework of that student's studies.

Prohibition of Employment§

A person shall not employ in social work a person who is not a social worker.

Impersonation of a Social Worker§

A person shall not impersonate a social worker and shall not use the title of social worker or a title similar thereto to the extent of causing misrepresentation, unless that person is a social worker.

Positions Partly Constituting Social Work§

(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 3 and 4, the Minister, after consulting the Council, may determine that a position or post only part of which constitutes engagement in social work may also be performed by a person who is not a social worker, and an employer shall be entitled to employ a person who is not a social worker in a position or post so determined.

(b)The Minister, after consulting the Council, may determine, with respect to a position or post referred to in subsection (a), that only a social worker shall be entitled to engage therein, and once so determined, only a social worker may be employed therein; engagement in a position or post determined under this subsection shall be regarded as engagement in social work.

Receipt of Information§

(a)A person is entitled to receive from a social worker information concerning the social worker's treatment of that person's affairs, except for information relating to another person and the personal records of the social worker.

(b)A social worker may refrain from furnishing, in whole or in part, information as referred to in subsection (a) if, in that social worker's opinion, the disclosure of the information is liable to cause serious harm to the person requesting the information or to another person.

(c)A refusal to furnish information under subsection (b) requires the approval of the social worker's supervisor, if the supervisor is a social worker, and in the absence of such a supervisor – the approval of a social worker to be designated by the Minister generally or in respect of a particular matter.

(d)A person who considers himself or herself aggrieved by a decision of a social worker not to furnish information under this section may apply to the Information Committee appointed under section 54(b), which shall be empowered to order a social worker to furnish such information, in whole or in part.

(e)The Minister of Justice, after consulting the Minister, shall prescribe the rules of procedure before the Information Committee; until such Regulations have been made, or in respect of a matter for which no provision has been made in the Regulations, the Committee shall act in the manner it considers most just and beneficial.

Professional Confidentiality§

(a)Information about a person that has come to a social worker in the course of that social worker's professional capacity must be kept in confidence by the social worker, and the social worker shall not disclose it except in one of the following:

(1)the person to whom the information relates has consented in writing to its disclosure after the significance of the consent was explained to that person, unless the social worker is convinced that the disclosure is likely to harm that person or a member of that person's family;

(2)the disclosure is of information that was conveyed to the social worker not by the person to whom the information relates, provided that the social worker is convinced that the information is required for the purpose of treating that person or a member of that person's family;

(3)the disclosure is of information that was conveyed to the social worker by the person to whom the information relates, provided that the social worker is convinced that the information is required for the purpose of treating the minor children of that person;

(4)the disclosure is required for the purpose of preventing harm to the person to whom the information relates or to another person;

(5)there exists in law a duty or authority to disclose the information or to collect the information;

(6)the disclosure is required by the Disciplinary Committee within the meaning of this Law;

(7)the disclosure is required for the purpose of professional supervision of the work of social workers or their guidance, provided that the information is furnished only to persons in relevant positions and in accordance with rules prescribed by the Minister after consulting the Council;

(8)a court before which the need for disclosure of the information has arisen has permitted the disclosure of the information, having been satisfied that special circumstances exist that justify it.

(b)The provisions of subsection (a) apply also to any person who has received information under that subsection.

(c)In this section, "family member" means spouse, parent, brother or sister, son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter.

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Chapter IV: Qualification and Registration in the Register

Qualification for Social Work§

(a)A person in whom one of the following is fulfilled is qualified to be a social worker:

(1)that person holds a bachelor's degree in social work from an institution of higher education in Israel recognised under the Council for Higher Education Law, 5718-1958, or from an institution of higher education that has been recognised or granted a permit as referred to in section 28a of that Law, or holds another degree in social work from such an institution and the Minister has recognised the degree after consulting the Council;

(2)that person holds a bachelor's degree or another degree in social work from an institution of higher education for social work studies outside Israel, and the Minister has recognised the institution and the degree after consulting the Council;

(3)that person holds a graduation certificate issued by an institution for social work studies outside Israel that confers upon its holder the right to work or to be registered as a social worker in that country, and the Minister has recognised the institution and the certificate after consulting the Council;

(4)that person was qualified, immediately before the commencement of this Law, for social work under the Welfare Services Law, 5718-1958, and was registered by virtue of that Law as qualified for social work before the commencement of this Law, and if not so registered – the Registrar, in consultation with the Registration Committee, has confirmed that the person was qualified under that Law.

(b)For the purposes of subsection (a)(2) and (3), the Minister may recognise an institution for social work studies, with a distinction between types of certificates issued by that institution or between degrees, different study programmes or different study tracks at that institution.

Registration in the Register of Social Workers§

10.

(a)A person who is qualified to be a social worker is entitled to be registered in the Register of Social Workers under this Law.

(b)The Minister shall prescribe rules concerning the manner of registration in the Register, the particulars of registration therein, the particulars that the applicant is required to submit, the particulars of the application form for registration and the manner of its submission.

(c)The Register shall be open for public inspection.

Furnishing of Information§

11.

Every person registered in the Register is required to notify the Registrar, within 30 days, of any change that has occurred in that person's registration particulars, and that person or that person's employer is required to furnish the Registrar, upon demand, with any information relating to the matter of registration.

The Registrar§

12.

The Minister shall appoint an employee of the Ministry of Labour and Welfare who holds an academic qualification to serve as Registrar of Social Workers.

The Registration Committee§

13.

(a)The Minister shall appoint a Registration Committee of five members whose functions shall be as set out in this Law.

(b)The members of the Committee shall be –

(1)an employee of the Ministry of Labour and Welfare who is qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Magistrate's Court, and that person shall be the chairperson of the Committee;

(2)two members to be elected by the Council from among its members, and if not so elected within 45 days from the date of the Minister's request, they shall be appointed by the Minister;

(3)a social worker, as a representative of the workers' organisation of which the greatest number of social workers in Israel are members (hereinafter – the Social Workers' Association);

(4)a director of a school of social work or a member of the teaching staff in social work at an institution of higher education under the Council for Higher Education Law, 5718-1958, to be proposed by the Board of Directors of the schools of social work, and if not so proposed within 45 days from the date of the Minister's request, that person shall be appointed by the Minister.

(c)The members of the Committee referred to in subsection (b)(2), (3) and (4) shall be appointed for three years and may be reappointed.

(d)The Committee may act if at least two of its members are present at the sitting.

(e)The Registrar may participate in sittings of the Registration Committee without the right to vote.

Functions and Powers of the Registrar§

14.

(a)If the Registrar finds that a provision of section 9 is fulfilled in respect of an applicant for registration, the Registrar shall register that person in the Register.

(b)The Registrar may refrain from registering an applicant in the Register, even if a provision of section 9 is fulfilled in respect of that applicant, if the Registrar finds one of the following –

(1)the applicant for registration has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude or of an offence which, by reason of its gravity or circumstances, renders the applicant unfit to be a social worker, and five years have not yet elapsed from the date of conviction, or even if five years have elapsed – if there are special circumstances by reason of which the applicant should not be registered in the Register;

(2)there are other circumstances by reason of which the applicant for registration is not capable of or fit to engage in social work.

(c)If a person has been registered in the Register through the furnishing of false particulars or by concealing facts which, had they been known to the Registrar, there would be reasonable grounds to assume that the Registrar would not have registered that person, the Registrar may delete that person's registration.

(d)If it is determined under this Law that a person's registration in the Register is to be deleted, suspended or restricted by conditions, this shall be done by the Registrar.

Proceedings in respect of Refusal to Register in the Register or Deletion from the Register§

15.

(a)The Registrar shall not give a decision under section 14(b) or (c) unless the Registrar has done all of the following –

(1)given the applicant for registration or the person registered in the Register, as the case may be, an opportunity to present arguments;

(2)consulted with the Registration Committee.

(b)The Registrar shall notify the applicant for registration or the person whose registration has been deleted of the decision and the reasons therefor.

16.§

(Repealed — תשס״ה)

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Chapter V: Disqualification on Health Grounds

Medical Examination§

17.

If the Registrar has reasonable grounds for concern that an applicant for registration in the Register or a person registered in the Register has an impaired capacity, including due to illness, which is liable, in the circumstances of the matter, to deprive that person, entirely, temporarily or partially, of the ability to engage in social work, or which is liable, in the circumstances of the matter, to harm the health of persons in that person's care, the Registrar may require them to appear before a medical committee as referred to in section 18 for the purpose of examining their medical fitness, at the place and time to be set by the Committee.

Medical Committee§

18.

(a)The Minister shall appoint for the purposes of this Chapter a medical committee of three members, being: two specialist physicians as defined in the Physicians Ordinance [New Version], 5737-1976, and a social worker (hereinafter – medical committee); the appointment of a medical committee may be general or for a specific case.

(b)The medical committee shall submit its findings and conclusions, with reasons, to the Registrar.

Prevention or Deletion of Registration for Refusal to Appear§

19.

(a)If an applicant for registration refuses to comply with the Registrar's requirement under section 17, the Registrar shall not register that person in the Register as long as that person has not appeared and been examined.

(b)A person registered in the Register shall be exempt from the obligation to appear before a medical committee if that person has notified the Registrar in writing that that person requests to have that person's name deleted from the Register; if that person has done so, the Registrar shall delete that person's name from the Register.

Date of Appearance§

20.

The medical committee shall not set a date for appearance before it except after the expiry of 30 days from the date on which notice of the Registrar's requirement under section 17 was given to the applicant for registration or to the person registered in the Register.

Suspension of Registration Pending Examination§

21.

The Registrar may suspend the registration of a person registered in the Register who was required to appear before a medical committee and did not appear at the time and place set, until that person is examined.

Suspension§

22.

(a)If the Registrar is satisfied that the impaired capacity of a person registered in the Register, including by reason of illness, gives rise to an imminent danger such that it is not possible to await the conclusion of proceedings under this Chapter, the Registrar may suspend that person's registration until the final decision is given, but for no more than three months, provided that the Registrar shall, promptly upon giving the decision, refer the matter to the Medical Committee for handling.

(b)If the Medical Committee has not concluded the proceedings by the end of the period prescribed in subsection (a), the Registrar may, with the consent of the Medical Committee, extend the period of suspension by up to three additional months.

(c)If the proceedings have not been concluded by the end of the second period referred to above, the Registrar may, with the consent of the Medical Committee, and if the urgency of the suspension still subsists, again extend it for one additional period of up to three months.

Receipt of Evidence§

23.

(a)If a Medical Committee has grounds to assume that information or a document capable of attesting to the impaired capacity, within the meaning of section 17, of a person registered in the Register or of an applicant for registration is held by a medical institution, a physician, or another person, the Committee may, notwithstanding anything in any law, require the holder of the information or document to deliver it to the Committee, and upon such a requirement the holder of the information shall deliver the document or information.

(b)Information or a document as referred to in subsection (a) shall not be required except to the extent necessary for the purposes of the matter.

Duty of Confidentiality§

24.

A person who has received information pursuant to this Chapter is obliged to keep it confidential and not to disclose it, except in one of the following cases—

(1)to the extent that disclosure is necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Chapter;

(2)if authorised to do so by a court before which the need to disclose the information has arisen.

Powers of the Registrar upon a Finding of the Committee§

25.

If the Medical Committee has determined that an applicant for registration or a person registered in the Register has impaired capacity within the meaning of section 17, by reason of which that person is not fit to engage in social work, or by reason of which that person is fit to engage in social work subject to certain restrictions, whether absolutely or temporarily, the Registrar may refuse to register that person in the Register, strike that person's name from the Register, or record restrictions on that person's practice as a social worker in the Register, or suspend that person's registration in the Register, all in accordance with the decision of the Medical Committee.

26.§

(Repealed — תשס״ה)

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LawHealthWelfare & Social Security

חוק העובדים הסוציאליים, תשנ"ו-1996

Social Workers Law

Social Workers Law 1996

Hoq HaOvdim HaSotzialyim

social work regulation

social worker licensing

social work profession law

social worker registration

professional social work

social welfare workers law

Social Workers Law, 5756-1996

Chapter I: Purpose of the Law

Purpose of the Law§Cite ✦

Chapter II: Interpretation

Definitions§Cite ✦

Chapter III: Engagement in Social Work

Exclusivity of Engagement§Cite ✦

Prohibition of Employment§Cite ✦

Impersonation of a Social Worker§Cite ✦

Positions Partly Constituting Social Work§Cite ✦

Receipt of Information§Cite ✦

Professional Confidentiality§Cite ✦

Chapter IV: Qualification and Registration in the Register

Qualification for Social Work§Cite ✦

Registration in the Register of Social Workers§Cite ✦

Furnishing of Information§Cite ✦

The Registrar§Cite ✦

The Registration Committee§Cite ✦

Functions and Powers of the Registrar§Cite ✦

Proceedings in respect of Refusal to Register in the Register or Deletion from the Register§Cite ✦

Chapter V: Disqualification on Health Grounds

Medical Examination§Cite ✦

Medical Committee§Cite ✦

Prevention or Deletion of Registration for Refusal to Appear§Cite ✦

Date of Appearance§Cite ✦

Suspension of Registration Pending Examination§Cite ✦

Suspension§Cite ✦

Receipt of Evidence§Cite ✦

Duty of Confidentiality§Cite ✦

Powers of the Registrar upon a Finding of the Committee§Cite ✦

Purpose of the Law§

Definitions§

Exclusivity of Engagement§

Prohibition of Employment§

Impersonation of a Social Worker§

Positions Partly Constituting Social Work§

Receipt of Information§

Professional Confidentiality§

Qualification for Social Work§

Registration in the Register of Social Workers§

Furnishing of Information§

The Registrar§

The Registration Committee§

Functions and Powers of the Registrar§

Proceedings in respect of Refusal to Register in the Register or Deletion from the Register§

Medical Examination§

Medical Committee§

Prevention or Deletion of Registration for Refusal to Appear§

Date of Appearance§

Suspension of Registration Pending Examination§

Suspension§

Receipt of Evidence§

Duty of Confidentiality§

Powers of the Registrar upon a Finding of the Committee§