For graduates from outside the European Union
Your medical diploma recognised in Poland. Step by step.
Nostrification of diplomas of doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, veterinarians and other medical professionals: rules, universities, the LEW and LDEW exams and how to prepare for them.
- 28universities in the catalogue
- 18cities on the map
- 90days for the university to decide
FileNostrification
Documents you will need
- Application for nostrification
- Diploma, often with an apostille
- Course of studies: subjects, hours, learning outcomes
- School certificate on which you were admitted to the studies
- Statement of your place and date of birth
- Translations into Polish
What is your profession?
Each profession has its own route to the right to practise in Poland. Start with yours.
- Doctor Nostrification at a medical university or the LEW exam
- Dentist Nostrification or the LDEW exam
- Nurse Nostrification, then the right to practise from the regional council of nurses and midwives
- Midwife Nostrification, then the right to practise from the regional council of nurses and midwives
- Veterinarian Nostrification at a veterinary faculty and the Polish exam at the veterinary chamber
- Pharmacist Nostrification or the FEW exam
- Physiotherapist Nostrification and the Polish exam at the National Council of Physiotherapists
- Other professions Paramedic, laboratory diagnostician and others
From a foreign diploma to work in Poland
The usual order of steps. Details differ between professions and universities.
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Choose the route
Doctors, dentists and pharmacists can choose between nostrification at a university and a verification exam at CEM. Other professions need nostrification.
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Prepare documents
Diploma, documents on the course of studies, the school certificate you were admitted on and translations into Polish. Many universities also ask for an apostille.
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File the application
Submit it to a university entitled to nostrify in your field. It compares your studies with the Polish programme.
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Fill the gaps
If the programmes differ, the university may require exams or placements. The time they take does not count towards the 90 days.
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Get the right to practise
With a recognised diploma you apply to your professional chamber and prove your Polish. Doctors and dentists also complete an internship and pass LEK or LDEK.
Map of nostrifying universities
Choose your profession to see which universities can recognise your diploma.
Ranking of nostrifying universities
Based only on published facts: scientific category, fee, information available to applicants and range of professions.
All professions
| # | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wroclaw Medical University Wrocław | 90.7 |
| 2 | Medical University of Silesia in Katowice Katowice | 90.3 |
| 3 | Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznań | 86.0 one criterion without data |
| 4 | Medical University of Lodz Łódź | 83.8 |
| 5 | Medical University of Bialystok Białystok | 83.2 |
Exams at the Medical Examinations Centre
CEM in Łódź holds the verification exams that can replace nostrification for doctors, dentists and pharmacists, and the final exams LEK and LDEK.
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LEW
Medical Verification Exam
For doctors with a diploma from outside the EU. Passing it replaces nostrification on the way to the right to practise.
About LEW -
LDEW
Dental Verification Exam
The same route for dentists with a diploma from outside the EU.
About LDEW -
FEW
Pharmaceutical Verification Exam
For pharmacists with a diploma from outside the EU. Like LEW, it replaces nostrification.
About FEW -
LEK · LDEK
Final medical and dental exams
Needed for the full right to practise, also after nostrification, LEW or LDEW.
About LEK and LDEK
News
All news-
LEW, LDEW and FEW: next dates and applications for spring 2027
LEW and LDEW take place on 4 November 2026 and FEW on 7 November. Applications for the spring session are due by 28 February 2027.
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LEK and LDEK: autumn 2026 results and applications for February 2027
About 95% of candidates passed the autumn LEK and about 91% passed LDEK. You apply for the February session in SMK by 30 November.
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New scientific categories and the right of universities to nostrify
The minister has published the planned categories after the 2022–2025 evaluation. A university that ends up with B or C will lose the right to nostrify…
Partners
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Partner
Edumetric
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Exam dates and rule changes in your inbox
New LEW and LDEW sessions, changes in the law and university requirements. About twice a month, in your language.