With admissions into internship programs being quite difficult, many students elect to complete their internship in Poland. This internship is equivalent to any internship in Europe and even allows you to apply to Foundation Year 2 in the United Kingdom.

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To gain full qualifications in Poland you must fulfil 2 requirements:

• Pass the Medical Final Examination (LEK)

• Complete the post-graduate 13 month (MD) internship

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The LEK

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A medical exam consisting of 200 multiple-choice questions (A-E). It is possible to sit this exam in English. It is organised and carried out by the Medical Examination Centre in Łódź. Information for the exam can be found on their website. They also have past papers available in English.

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The exam is 4 hours long and 56% is required to pass. The thematic structure of the exam is:​

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Internal Medicine  

Paediatrics

Surgery

OBGYN

Psychiatry

Family Medicine

Emergency Medicine, Intensive Therapy

Bioethics, Medical Law

Medical Certification

Public Health

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There is no recommended handbooks to prepare for the English LEK, therefore, it is recommended to use resources used during the studies.

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To apply for the LEK you must apply via the Medical Employees' Education Monitoring System (SMK).

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You must already hold your diploma to sit this exam

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The Staż

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To commence an internship in Poland you must apply to the Regional Chamber of Physicians and Dentists for a "Right to practice the profession awarded in order to complete the internship". You are granted a period of up to 5 years to complete this internship. 

 

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:

1. 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.

2. A fee is required for any certification issued by the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists upon the request of the holder of the MD or DMD degree concerning the procedure of recognition of the MD or DMD qualifications in the EU countries.

The fee for one certificate is calculated as 3% of the minimum salary in Poland in the year of the certificate issue. In 2016 it was 55.50 PLN

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The Regional Doctor's Chamber in Warsaw details all the recruitment steps for staz in Warsaw for Polish Citizens and other categories here.

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