MEDICAL LICENSE in EU countries or Poland
Please note that graduates are no longer subject to the University and all queries
regarding obtaining a license should be addressed to the Polish Chamber of Physicians
and Dentists (http://www.nil.org.pl/english/the-polish-chamber-of-physicians-and-
dentists).
Since the requirements may differ among countries, it is strongly advised for each
student to consult the Medical Chamber in their home country to obtain accurate
information regarding this matter.
For more information, please see Directive 2005/36/EC.
The Supreme Medical Council (Naczelna Rada Lekarska; NIL) issues certificates in
exceptional cases where the doctor/dentist has never been a member of the chamber.
This applies to graduates of Polish medical universities who do not apply for the right
to practice the profession in Poland.
The Supreme Medical Council issues a certificate (the so-called certificate of conformity)
confirming that the studies leading to the award of the medical/dental diploma in Poland were
in conformity with training requirements laid down in art. 24 (for medical graduates) or 34
(for dental graduates) of the Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional
qualifications, and that the awarded diploma is an evidence of basic formal qualifications of
medical/dental practitioners listed for Poland in Annex V, point 5.3.2 of the Directive
2005/36/EC.
To issue the Certificate confirming that the studies leading to the award of a Polish
medical/dental diploma were in conformity with the requirements laid down in the Directive
2005/36/EC (art. 24 or 34 respectively), the graduate must submit the following documents
required by the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists to the School email address:
1. a copy of the diploma in Polish (both pages);
2. supplement in Polish or in English (all pages);
All the documents (together with the Cover sheet) must be scanned and sent in ONE
PDF file, in the order listed above. Once they are received by the School Office, they will
be verified and forwarded to NIL for further processing. NIL issues the certificate within 2-3
business days of the receipt of the application and sends it to the postal address indicated
by the applicant on the Cover sheet. The certificate is issued in Polish only.
The payment of the fee for issuing the certificate is 63 PLN (as of 2018, and subject
to change). It should be made in advance by bank transfer to the Supreme Chamber’s account:
BENEFICIARY: Naczelna Izba Lekarska, ul. Sobieskiego 110, 00-764 Warszawa
BANK: Pekao S.A.
SWIFT, BIC: PKOPPLPW
IBAN: PL 47 1240 1109 1111 0000 0516 2660
DESCRIPTION: EU certificate – name of the person
License in Poland (the following requirements apply only for practicing in
Poland):
obtaining full qualifications allowing the access to practice a profession of a physician /
dentist in Poland the holder of the Lekarz ( MD) or Lekarz Dentysta ( DDS) degree diploma
has to fulfill 2 additional requirements:
1) pass the Medical/ Dental Final Examination – LEK/LDEK, which may also be
taken in English. It is organized and carried out by the Medical Examination
Centre in Łódź
2) complete the post-graduate, 13 months (MD) or 12months (DDS) internship
A foreign national who holds a diploma of physician/dentist) issued by a Polish medical
university and intends to complete internship in the territory of Poland shall submit the
following documents to an appropriate ORL (regional chamber of physicians and dentists,
Okręgowa Izba Lekarska):
1. motion of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare for granting the limited license to
conduct professional activities;
2. application of the physician for granting the limited licence to practise the profession
of a physician / stomatologist, membership of and entering into the register of regional
chamber of physicians and dentists (form to be obtained from OIL);
3. copy of a passport and visa or a permission to stay in Poland;
4. copy of the diploma of physician (stomatologist);
5. certificate of health issued by a II degree specialist of internal diseases or specialist of
occupational medicine being a member of the chamber within which territory the
physician intends to complete his internship;
6. statement of capacity to perform acts in law;
7. acceptance for the internship issued by the training institution;
8. financing conditions of the internship.
All graduates from Polish medical university, who completed the studies in English and
want to practice in Poland as a medical or dental doctor, have to pass the exam of Polish
language conducted by the Polish Chamber of Physician and Dentists. It is obligatory for all
graduates including Polish and EU citizens.
INTERNSHIP
The post- graduate internship is a vocational training of a postgraduate nature; it is an
additional requirement that applies after graduation, if a graduate wants to practice in
Poland.
It is not part of the medical or dental studies and it is not under the supervision of the Medical
University.
To commence the internship in Poland a graduate should apply to the Regional Chamber of
Physicians and Dentists for a “Right to practice the profession awarded in order to complete
the internship”. This authorization to practice as an intern is granted for a period of maximum
5 years – during this period the internship should be commenced and duly completed.
To commence the internship in Poland a graduate has to speak Polish. Under the Polish Act
on the profession of doctor and dentist (Dz.U.2017.125 -j.t.) and the Regulation of the
Minister of Health from September 26, 2012 on the postgraduate internship of a doctor and
dentist in force starting from January 1st, 2017:
All graduates, who completed the studies in English and want to practice in Poland as a
medical or dental doctor, have to pass the exam of Polish language conducted by the
Polish Chamber of Physician and Dentists. It is obligatory for all graduates including
Polish and EU citizens.
Alternatively, it is possible to undertake an equivalent internship abroad.
Information on Medical Final Examination (LEK) and Medical-Dental Final Examination
(LDEK)
In accordance with the Act of 28 April 2012 amending the Act on Doctor's and Dentist's
Profession, LEP and LDEP were replaced by the Medical Final Exam (Lekarski Egzamin
Koncowy - LEK) and the Medical-Dental Final Exam (Lekarsko-Dentystyczny Egzamin
Koncowy - LDEK). LEK and LDEK were held completing the first time in February 2013.
Similarly to previous exams, only those who graduated from Polish Medical Universities after
studies in English are entitled to take LEK/LDEK in English. In contrast to LEP/LDEP it is
no longer necessary to obtain the limited license to practice. Only the university diploma is
obligatory. LEK and LDEK are test examinations organized twice a year. Each consists of
200 multiple choice questions. LEK includes questions on:
internal medicine - 39 questions
pediatrics (incl. neonatology) - 29 questions
surgery - 27 questions
family medicine - 20 questions
obstetrics and gynaecology - 26 questions
emergency medicine, intensive therapy - 20 questions
psychiatry - 14 questions
bioethics, medical law - 10 questions
medical certification - 7 questions
public health - 8 questions
There are at least 20 questions on oncology among questions on internal medicine, pediatrics,
surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as family medicine. There is no list of
recommended handbooks to prepare for LEK in English. Therefore, it is advisable to use
handbooks used during the studies.
LDEK includes questions on:
endodontics and restorative dentistry - 46 questions
pedodontology - 29 questions
surgical stomatology - 25 questions
prosthodontics - 25 questions
periodontology - 20 questions
orthodontics - 20 questions
emergency medicine - 10 questions
bioethics, medical law - 10 questions
medical certification - 7 questions
public health - 8 questions
There are at least 20 questions on oncology among questions on endodontics, pedodontology,
surgical stomatology, periodontology, and orthodontics.
Passing LEK or LDEK is necessary to obtain license to practice respectively medicine or
dentistry in Poland, for those who graduated from a Polish medical university. Thus, as there
is a considerable group of doctors who have completed their studies in English, it is possible
to take LEK or LDEK also in English. Notice: only those who graduated from Polish medical
universities after studies in English can take LEK or LDEK in English. In contrast to previous
exams (LEP/LDEP) it is not necessary to obtain limited license to practice medicine (or
dentistry) before taking LEK or LDEK.
The first step to take LEK or LDEK is filling the application form on SMK system. The
form can be found on http://smk.ezdrowie.gov.pl/. After successful submission, a
confirming message is sent. Please, do not send the application to the Regional Medical
Chamber or CEM. The invitation letter with all details on the place of the exam will be sent
by e-mail at least 14 days before the exam.
The deadline for applications is June 30th for September session and November 30th for
February session.
Please note that questions from LEK or LDEK will not be published.
If you have any questions concerning LEK or LDEK in English please send us an e-mail:
[email protected].
