We have over 3 million visitors from Ukraine in Poland, including pharmacists, technicians and students of pharmacy. Perhaps it would be worth starting to collect data on how large this group of people is. I was once taught outside of Poland that in a situation of mass migration, occupations or other data useful in the wise relocation of guests are registered.

The Russians have an idea in their political doctrine that if they go somewhere, they stay as long as possible. History confirms it, a quick war in Afghanistan, for example, lasted in the blink of an eye, that is 10 years.

I wish our neighbors the best of everything, a quick return home, but as a realist I have to be prepared for all sorts of other scenarios that life will write in the future.

Everyone needs the community they live in.

Every person working, multiplies welfare by having a positive impact on the GDP of a given country.

Poland, taking care of its guests individually and collectively, should be prepared to acclimatize them in such a way that they can get back on their feet, i.e. start working, support themselves and pay off their debts with the host through their professional activity, also for the good of the country in which they are currently are located.

It will be possible to start work by pharmacists from Ukraine after obtaining the Practice of Work License ("PWZ") and after meeting all the requirements necessary for employment in Poland.

Currently, in order for a Ukrainian pharmacist to practice in Poland, he must undergo one of the two recognition procedures:

a/award recognition

b/or Pharmaceutical Verification Examination "FEW".

Work is possible after completing any of the two procedures listed. But obtaining academic degrees is possible only after the recognition of the diploma.

The FEW can be joined by a person who obtained a pharmacist diploma in a non-EU Member State, entitling him to practice the profession of a pharmacist in that country, after completing at least five years of study ( legalized by a consul or bearing an apostille ). Obtaining a positive result confirms the recognition of professional qualifications.

FEW is held twice a year:

in the period from May 15 to June 15 - the application must be submitted by February 28 of the calendar year in which the exam is conducted,

in the period from October 15th to November 15th - application must be submitted by July 31st of the calendar year in which the exam is being conducted.

FEW consists of 200 test questions with 5 answers, only one of which is correct. The candidate who obtained at least 60% of the maximum number of points is awarded a positive result.

The examination fee is PLN 650.

A person who has obtained a positive FEW result, the director of the Medical Exams Center issues a FEW submission certificate (within 21 days from the date of the examination).

The right to practice the profession of pharmacist with respect to a person who holds a pharmacist's diploma issued in a country other than a Member State, attesting to the completion of at least five-year studies and a certificate of FEW submission, is granted by the Supreme Pharmaceutical Council ("NRA"), if this person :

has full legal capacity,
has a health condition that allows to practice the profession of pharmacist (confirmed by a medical certificate),
demonstrates an impeccable ethical attitude and by his behavior to date guarantees the proper performance of the profession of pharmacist and compliance with the principles of ethics and deontology,
has not been legally convicted of an intentional offense under public prosecution or a deliberate fiscal offense,
has knowledge of the Polish language in speech and writing to the extent necessary to practice the profession of a pharmacist,
enjoys full civil rights.

In order to confirm the knowledge of the Polish language, one should take an examination organized and conducted by the NRA. The exam fee is PLN 1696.63.

When you obtain a positive result, apply to the NRA for a license to practice as a pharmacist. After granting PWZ, pharmacists gain the full right to practice in Poland.

Legal basis:

Act of 10 December 2020 on the profession of pharmacist (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 184)

Regulation of the Minister of Health of 2 July 2021 on the Pharmaceutical Verification Examination (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 1254).

Mr. Marcin Tomasik - Tomasik Jaworski Partnership of Kancelaria Adwokata i Radcy Prawnego

Leszek Borkowski, PhD in farm science - Together in Disease Foundation

Together in Disease Foundation, informing interested parties about the methods of obtaining a work permit in the profession of pharmacist, receives requests to describe the rules of the Pharmaceutical Verification Examination, which we do thanks to the courtesy of the Medexpress Editorial Office.