A regulated profession a profession which may be practised only after fulfilling conditions laid down in the law of a given member state (e.g. passing an examination, completing the required period of professional practice, being entered into a professional register, completing appropriate education or training). Each Member State decides which profession will be added to the list of regulated professions. The same profession may belong to the regulated professions in one country while it is not a regulated profession in other ones. List of the regulated professions is available on the website of the European Commission.
If – apart from the degree – you have professional qualifications obtained in one of the EU countries, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland you can apply for recognition of the professional qualifications. For more information please visit the website of Polish contact point for the recognition of professional qualifications under Directive 2005/36/EC.
Qualifications obtained in countries other than EU member states or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are recognised in Poland in accordance with the national legislation. This means that if you wish to practice a regulated profession you should first have your degree 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 employment belongs to the employer. The latter may require confirmation of the equivalence of your educational qualification with the relevant Polish award or a written information on recognition of your degree issued by NAWA.
The most frequently performed regulated professions and competent authorities:
- Teacher – Ministry of National Education (Departament Kształcenia Ogólnego)
- Psychologist – Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy (Departament Dialogu i Partnerstwa Społecznego)
- Social worker – Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy (Departament Pomocy Społecznej)
- Speech and language therapist – Ministry of Health (Departament Rozwoju Kadr Medycznych)
- Doctor of medicine / Dental Practitioner – Naczelna Izba Lekarska
- Pharmacist – Naczelna Izba Aptekarska
- Nurse / Midwife – Naczelna Izba Pielęgniarek i Położnych
- Veterinarian – Krajowa Izba Lekarsko-Weterynaryjna
- Physiotherapist – Krajowa Izba Fizjoterapeutów
- Bio-medical analyst – Krajowa Izba Diagnostów Laboratoryjnych
- Paramedic/Ambulance nurse/Other ambulance professionals – Ministry of Health (Departament Rozwoju Kadr Medycznych)
- Other medical professions
- Mining professions – Wyższy Urząd Górniczy
- Firefighter – Komenda Główna Państwowej Straży Pożarnej
- Civil engineer – Polska Izba Inżynierów Budownictwa
- Electrician – Urząd Regulacji Energetyki
- Surveyor – Główny Urząd Geodezji i Kartografii
- Geologist – Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska
- Architect – Izba Architektów RP
- Sworn translator – Ministry of Justice (Departament Zawodów Prawniczych)
- Advocate, attorney-at-law, notary – Ministry of Justice (Departament Zawodów Prawniczych)
- Conservator-restorer – Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Departament Ochrony Zabytków)
