Why an internship is important for doctors in Europe

Passing an internship by a foreign specialist does not relieve him of the need to nostrify (confirm) a diploma, take the final LEK exam and confirm knowledge of the Polish language at a free conversational level C1. The postgraduate internship should not be confused with the internship, which is a similar procedure in Ukraine and other former republics of the Soviet Union.

Passing an internship will allow the doctor to deepen previously acquired theoretical knowledge in practice. Unlike an internship, the specialist is fully responsible for his actions, and the mentor should only guide him on the right path. Without a postgraduate internship, a specialist can only obtain a so-called “limited license”. She gives him the right to work as a doctor only under the supervision of a mentor and receive a much lower salary.

Internships for doctors abroad

Internships for doctors abroad are available to foreign citizens in Poland under various programs. At the same time, it will not be possible to simply transfer from a Ukrainian internship to a Polish internship – a mandatory confirmation of the diploma is required. Qualification issues are dealt with by a special body – Departament Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego Ministerstwa Zdrowia.

Internship in Poland on affordable public and private programs includes the following sections:

• therapeutic, general surgical, pediatric training;
• acquisition of knowledge in emergency, family medicine and intensive care;
• the choice of three additional disciplines to choose from at the discretion of the student – these can be gynecology, psychiatry, oncology and other areas of professional interest;
• study of the treatment of patients with HIV / AIDS, infectious diseases, oncology.

It will take several months to study each module, the practice takes place in various therapeutic departments of hospitals. According to the standard procedure, the internship abroad for doctors starts on October 1 or March 1 and lasts for 13 months (dentists are trained for exactly 12 months).

The internship will be completed only after the student receives confirmation signatures in the internship booklet from the mentor for each module studied. Also, do not forget that citizens of Poland, as well as foreigners with a Pobutu Card or a Pole’s Card, must receive payment for an internship in the amount of 1.5-2 thousand zlotys per month. However, migrants and settlers without these documents cannot receive such payments or will negotiate their receipt with the clinic management in a separate order.

Free internships for doctors in Europe

A free internship for doctors in Poland is available to every specialist who wants to get a good postgraduate practice. However, it is worth remembering that the number of free places is limited, so only specialists with high scores will receive budget places. If a foreigner needs a place to live for the period of internship, then he pays for housing from his own pocket.

Also, the trainee will need to pay for public transport, meals and other expenses. If it is necessary to confirm knowledge of the Polish language, then classes with a tutor will also be paid in accordance with the tariffs set by him. However, one should not forget that an intern with a Pobutu Card or a Pole’s Card receives PLN 1.5-2 thousand monthly, which should be enough to cover basic needs.

The start of the internship is possible only after the nostrification (confirmation) of the previously received diploma. This procedure is paid. So free internships for doctors can be called such only conditionally, because the intern will have to pay for various services. However, communication with the mentor and the provision of the necessary medical equipment are entrusted to the internship base (medical institution).

Obtaining theoretical and practical knowledge will allow the doctor to more narrowly choose the specialty in which he wants to continue his professional activities and develop an independent career. Therefore, without this procedure, it is impossible to open a private medical center in Poland.

Internship for doctors in Europe

A doctor on an internship at a clinic after a Ukrainian internship must pass the LEK qualification exam and score at least 56% of correct answers on it in order to pass successfully. Only after that he can be enrolled in one of the free internship programs in Poland.

After completing the postgraduate internship, the doctor has the right to find a job in one of the private or public medical institutions in Poland. However, it will be necessary to complete a specialization or residency in order to be able to work without the support of a mentor.

Also, an internship opens the door to opening your own medical center. But it will still be necessary to go through a number of business legalization procedures in order to start actually engaging in private medical practice. This is not an easy path, but the reward for completing it will be worthy.

Immediately, starting to work as a full-fledged physician in Poland, having a diploma from one of the Ukrainian or other medical institutions of the former USSR, will not work. In addition to the internship, you will have to confirm your qualifications and diploma, undergo a certain practice. It may take several years and some more material investments to solve all these problems.

However, taking into account the high salary of a full-fledged Polish doctor, these material and time costs will more than pay for themselves. You will be able to actively develop, have a highly paid specialty and a constant stable income. Polish doctors are respected in society, because they are important and sought-after specialists.

So after completing the internship, you definitely will not be left without a job. If you want to become a doctor in Poland, then do not delay it and apply now to start an internship. After all, the procedure starts only twice a year, so you need to catch it before the next date.