Recognition of foreign qualifications for professional purposes
- Recognition of higher education / professional qualifications obtained in the EU and EFTA member states, and Switzerland
- Recognition of higher education / professional qualifications obtained outside the EU and EFTA member states or Switzerland
- Recognition of foreign scientific degrees / employment at a Polish higher education institution
Recognition of higher education or professional qualifications obtained in the EU and EFTA member states, and Switzerland.
The way in which your qualifications will be recognised depends mainly on whether the profession you wish to pursue is regulated in Poland. If you would like to view the list of Polish regulated professions and find out more about the recognition of qualifications in these, please, visit thewebsite of the Polish Information Centre for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the EU and EFTA member states and Switzerland.
If the profession you wish to practice is not regulated in Poland, the decision on the recognition of your foreign qualifications belongs to the employer. The latter may require confirmation of the equivalence of your educational qualification with the relevant Polish award or an opinion on the level of education obtained abroad.
A degree awarded by an institution operating in the education system of one of the EU, EFTA or OECD countries, upon completion of:
- 3-year studies or first cycle studies with the nominal duration of min. 3 years – confirms possession of a first cycle degree in Poland;
- second cycle studies or long cycle studies with the nominal duration of min. 4 years – confirms possession of a second cycle degree in Poland.
The equivalence of a foreign school certificate or higher education diploma may be stated either on the basis of international agreements or (if there are no such agreements) by means ofnostrification.
NOTE: Diplomas confirming the completion of higher education abroad cannot be recognised in Poland if:
- institutions which issued them or institutions in which the education was provided:
a) were not accredited higher education institutions on the date of issuing the diploma or implemented a study programme which did not have accreditation on the date of issuing the diploma or
b) do not operate within a higher education system of any country or - a higher education programme or its part was implemented against provisions of the country in which the education was provided.
Recognition of higher education / professional qualifications obtained outside the EU and EFTA member states, or Switzerland
Qualifications obtained in countries other than EU member states or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland will be recognised in Poland in accordance with the national legislation. This means that a person wishing to practice a regulated profession should first have the foreign certificate or higher education diploma recognised, and only then apply for the professional rights in accordance with the regulations pertaining to the exercise of a given profession in Poland.
If the profession you wish to practice is not regulated in Poland, the decision on the recognition of your foreign qualifications belongs to the employer. The latter may require confirmation of the equivalence of your educational qualification with the relevant Polish award or an opinion on the level of education obtained abroad.
A degree awarded by an institution operating in the education system of one of the OECD countries, upon completion of:
- 3-year studies or first cycle studies with the nominal duration of min. 3 years – confirms possession of a first cycle degree in Poland;
- second cycle studies or long cycle studies with the nominal duration of min. 4 years – confirms possession of a second cycle degree in Poland.
The equivalence of a foreign school certificate or higher education diploma may be stated either on the basis of international agreements or (if there are no such agreements) by means ofnostrification.
NOTE: Diplomas confirming the completion of higher education abroad cannot be recognised in Poland if:
- institutions which issued them or institutions in which the education was provided:
a) were not accredited higher education institutions on the date of issuing the diploma or implemented a study programme which did not have accreditation on the date of issuing the diploma or
b) do not operate within a higher education system of any country or - a higher education programme or its part was implemented against provisions of the country in which the education was provided.
Recognition of foreign scientific degrees / employment at a Polish higher education institution
A scientific degree awarded by an authorized institution operating in the education system of one of the EU, EFTA, OECD countries is recognised as equivalent to an appropriate Polish scientific degree, pursuant to the Law on scientific degrees and titles and degrees and titles in the area of art of 14th March 2003.
The equivalence of a foreign academic degree with the relevant Polish academic degree may be stated either on the basis of international agreements or (if there are no such agreements) by means of nostrification. The equivalence of a foreign academic title with the Polish academic title of professor may be stated only on the basis of international agreements. Academic titles do not come within the regulations on nostrification.
Pursuant to Art. 109.3a of the Act of 27 July 2005 Law on Higher Education (Journal of Laws of 30 August 2005), a holder of an academic degree or of a postgraduate university degree obtained abroad may be employed at a Polish higher education institution without the requirement ofnostrification.
For more information contact the Unit of the Development of Research and Teaching Staff at theDepartment of Supervision and Organisation of Higher Education.