Situated in Central Europe, Poland is home to an established higher education sector and a growing number of English-taught study options. In addition to exchange programs, many students choose Poland for full degrees and long-term career plans.
Medicine is one of the fields that attracts international interest. Poland has English-taught medical programs, but anyone who wants to practice medicine in Poland must also meet Polish licensing, language, internship, and, where applicable, immigration requirements. Below are the main steps to becoming a doctor in Poland.
How to Become a Doctor in Poland
Step 1. Meet the Language Requirements
Doctors who want to practice in Poland must be able to communicate in Polish at the level required by the Polish authorities. Current guidance recognizes several forms of proof, including passing the Polish-language exam conducted by the Supreme Medical Council, passing certain medical examinations in Polish, or presenting a Polish-as-a-foreign-language certificate at B1 level or higher.
However, you should not be discouraged by this. Although Polish is often considered a difficult language to learn, it is possible to build proficiency with consistent study, medical vocabulary practice, and day-to-day exposure. Students who plan to practice in Poland should begin learning Polish early, especially because clinical work and patient communication require strong language skills.
Medical students are not always required to be fluent in Polish before starting their studies. Poland has several medical programs taught in English, and these programs usually require proof of English proficiency instead. While studying medicine, students can use the immersive environment to improve their Polish before applying for the right to practice in Poland.
Step 2. Practitioners Need to Hold a Medical Degree
To become a doctor in Poland, you need a recognized medical degree. A Polish medical degree can be especially practical for students who intend to remain in Poland because it gives them time to learn the language, complete clinical training in the Polish setting, and become familiar with the country’s health care system.
Several Polish medical universities offer medicine in English. For example, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin lists a six-year Medicine English Program, a five-year Dentistry English Program, and a six-year English/German Asklepios medicine program. However, English-taught programs still set admission requirements, such as science prerequisites and proof of English proficiency.
Furthermore, Polish medical programs can be attractive to international students because of their English-taught options and location within the European Union. Applicants should check each university’s current tuition, language, and admission requirements directly before applying.
Step 3. Obtain a Polish Medical License
After graduation, you are not automatically a fully licensed doctor in Poland. You must apply for the Polish right to practice, known as Prawo wykonywania zawodu, through the competent medical chamber and meet the applicable documentation requirements. Documents issued outside Poland may need official recognition and Polish translation.
In addition to a medical degree, doctors following the standard Polish route must pass the LEK (Lekarski Egzamin Końcowy), or Medical Final Examination. The LEK is administered through the Medical Examinations Center, and registration is completed through the SMK/SMK2 system. The exam is held in Polish and English, and the application deadlines are tied to the February and September exam sessions.
Graduates also need to complete the required postgraduate internship. For physicians, the Polish right to practice is obtained after passing the LEK and completing the required postgraduate internship; official university guidance describes the medical internship route as 13 months, while some English-language practical training routes may require recognition by the Ministry of Health.
Step 4. Foreign Medical Doctors will Need to Meet a Few Additional Requirements
Poland distinguishes between doctors trained in the EU/EEA/Switzerland and those trained elsewhere. EU professional qualification rules make recognition more straightforward for doctors whose qualifications fall under automatic recognition, but applicants still need the Polish right to practice and must meet Polish language requirements.
Non-EU doctors usually face additional steps. Depending on the diploma, route, and legal status, these may include recognition of the medical qualification, the LEK or LEW route, a Ministry of Health decision in a simplified procedure, proof of Polish language ability, and the relevant immigration permission. If employment authorization is required, a work permit is normally requested by the employer, while a temporary residence and work permit is requested by the foreign national.
Although the process can seem daunting, Poland continues to need health care workers, especially nurses, and current OECD data show that Poland has fewer practicing nurses per 1,000 people than the OECD average. Because rules for non-EU doctors have changed in recent years, applicants should verify the latest requirements with the Ministry of Health and the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists before making plans.
FAQs: How to Become a Doctor in Poland
Is There an Entrance Exam for Medicine in Poland?
Yes, many medical programs in Poland use an entrance exam, interview, qualification test, or university-specific assessment, but the requirement varies by institution. For example, Jagiellonian University Medical College scheduled an online entrance exam for its English-language medical admission process, while the Medical University of Lublin lists a subject-specific entrance examination, qualification test, and interview for certain medicine applicants. Always check the admission page of the university you are applying to.
Can International Students Study Medicine in Poland?
Yes. International students can study medicine in Poland, and several universities offer Medicine and related degrees in English for international students. These universities offer Medicine and related degrees in English for international students. Admission requirements vary by university and may include secondary-school science subjects, English proficiency, entrance exams, interviews, or document recognition. Examples of English-taught medical options in Poland include programs at Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, the Medical University of Lublin, the Medical University of Warsaw, and the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.
Poland can be a strong option for qualified people who want to build a career in medicine, but the steps to becoming a doctor in Poland require careful planning. Applicants need the right medical degree, Polish language proof, the required licensing exam and internship route, and, for non-EU citizens, the correct immigration and work authorization. You can start by studying for a degree in medicine from the best medical schools in the world. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank to achieve this. There are several free medical schools around the globe to help you pursue your medical degree. Additionally, we have compiled a list of fully funded scholarships to help pay for your medical degree anywhere in the world.
We hope you found this article on the steps to becoming a doctor in Poland informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Poland and Available Programs for International Students in Europe!
