Recognition of qualifications for employment

Jan Grodek State Vocational Academy in Sanok, source: Archive of the Academy

Generally speaking, it is the employer who decides at the stage of recruitment on whether to accept your documents. If the employer is not sure about the validity of a diploma/certificate, he/she can ask for a confirmation of your educational qualifications at the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).

Note: a degree awarded by an institution operating in the education system of one of the EU, EFTA or OECD countries, if you have completed:

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.

Source: West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin

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 of nostrification (the procedure of comparing the foreign qualifications to its Polish equivalent).

As described above, scientific degrees awarded by an authorized institution operating in the education system of one of the EU, EFTA, OECD countries are recognised as equivalent to an appropriate Polish scientific degree.

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 ofprofessor may be stated only on the basis of international agreements (nostrification procedure does not apply).

Lazarski University, courtroom, author: Karol Piechocki

REGULATED PROFESSIONS

Regulated professions are those for which you need to have special qualifications or licenses (special training, examinations passed etc.). Examples of regulated professions in Poland are: archeologists, lawyers, doctors, architects, teachers, tourist guides, etc.

More information

Regulated professions database