Nursing is a regulated profession in most countries. Every country has its own rules and laws governing regulated professions, including the right to practice in a given country on the basis of a degree obtained abroad. The university offers education leading to a given degree certified by a higher education diploma. Graduates of our 3-year Nursing programme in English receive a higher education diploma which opens the door to their professional career, but does not have to automatically give them the right to practice. If you wish to pursue professional career in a country other than Poland, you should first check the regulations on the recognition of Polish nursing diplomas in the country of your choice.
Our graduates can also choose to practice the nursing profession in Poland. It is of course possible. The institution responsible for issuing the licence to practice nursing in Poland is the National Chamber for Nurses and Midwives (https://nipip.pl/) and its regional branches (Bydgoszcz: http://www.oipip.bydgoszcz.pl/). Graduates of our 3-year Nursing programme in English receive a higher education diploma which allows them to practice the profession in Poland, provided that they complete the formal licencing procedure, i.e. register at the relevant Chamber for Nurses and Midwives and submit all the required documents.
In accordance with art. 35 of the act of 15 July 2011 on the nursing and midwifery profession (consolidated text Dz.U. [Journal of Laws] of 2020 item 562, 567), a foreign national can be granted a permanent or temporary license to practice in Poland provided that they hold/demonstrate the following:
- a residence permit;
- an official confirmation of knowledge of Polish in speech and writing at the level necessary for nursing or midwifery practice, issued in accordance with the act of 7 October 1999 on the Polish language (Dz.U. [Journal of Laws] of 2011 item 224 and 455, of 2015 item 1132, and of 2017 item 60) – more information available here: http://certyfikatpolski.pl/;
- a license to practice the nursing or midwifery profession issued in accordance with regulations of the country where the person has practiced the profession (applies to persons who have already practiced the profession in their country of origin);
- a confirmation issued by the relevant government institution of their country of citizenship stating that their right to practice the profession has not been revoked or suspended (applies to persons who have already practiced the profession in their country of origin);
- a certificate of graduating from a nursing or midwifery school (including medical universities offering higher education programmes in nursing or midwifery), provided that education provided in those schools meets the minimum educational requirements specified in relevant European Union regulations (diplomas issued by NCU Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz to nursing graduates fulfil this requirement);
- full capacity to perform acts in law;
- a medical certificate confirming their ability to practice the nursing or midwifery profession issued by an occupational medicine physician;
- a certificate of confirmation of a 6-month introductory internship in a specified healthcare institution (does not apply to foreign nationals who graduated from a nursing or midwifery school in Poland);
- immaculate ethical conduct.
