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Architect – recognition of qualifications under the general system

Do you wish to work as an architect in Poland? If you are a citizen of one of the EU Member States, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Lichtenstein and you have obtained your qualifications to practise the profession of architect in one of those countries, you need to apply for recognition of qualifications in Poland. Read below to find out about the procedure.

How to proceed

This procedure can be completed:

  • at an office
  • by post
  • electronically
Complete the procedure online

Complete the procedure online. You will need your Trusted Profile or a qualified electronic signature.

What you should know and who can use this service

You may apply for recognition of qualifications under the general system if you are a citizen of one of EU Member States, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Lichtenstein and you have obtained your qualifications to practise the profession of architect in one of those countries, and you do not meet the requirements specified in the Act of 15 December 2000 on professional self-government of architects and construction engineers.

The procedure will be conducted under the general system if the applicant’s diploma or other documents are not listed in:

  • Notice of the Minister for Transport, Construction and Maritime Economy of 20 August 2013 on the list of diplomas and other documents issued by the European Union Member States other than the Republic of Poland, Swiss Confederation, Members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, confirming qualifications to practise the profession of architect and the periods of education

and

If your diploma is listed in one of the above-mentioned documents, you may apply for automatic recognition of your qualifications.

Representative for service of documents

If you live abroad and you have not appointed a representative residing in Poland to act on your matter, you are required to name a representative for service of documents in Poland, unless all documents are to be delivered by means of electronic communication. If you do not appoint such a representative, all documents addressed to you will remain in your case file as if they have been delivered to you.

When you should complete this procedure

At any time

Where you can complete this procedure

IZBA ARCHITEKTÓW RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ POLSKIEJ W WARSZAWIE ul. Stawki 2A, 00-193 Warszawa

What to do step by step

  1. Submit an application for recognition of qualifications under the general system to practise the profession of architect

Documents

You can submit a document as:
Kopia
You can submit a document as:
Uwierzytelniona kopia, Uwierzytelnione tłumaczenie
You can submit a document as:
Kopia, Uwierzytelnione tłumaczenie
You can submit a document as:
Kopia, Uwierzytelnione tłumaczenie
You can submit a document as:
Kopia, Uwierzytelnione tłumaczenie
You can submit a document as:
Kopia, Uwierzytelnione tłumaczenie
You can submit a document as:
Kopia, Uwierzytelnione tłumaczenie
You can submit a document as:
Kopia, Uwierzytelnione tłumaczenie
You can submit a document as:
Kopia, Uwierzytelnione tłumaczenie
You can submit a document as:
Oryginał, Uwierzytelniona kopia
  1. Formal analysis of the application and its attachments

The National Council of the Chamber of Architects performs the initial analysis of the application to verify whether the applicant has submitted all documents necessary to conduct the procedure of recognising qualifications under the general system. If the documentation is complete, it is forwarded to the National Qualifications Commission (KKK).

The National Council of the Chamber of Architects notifies the applicant of the receipt of the application no later than one month of the date of receipt. Such notice states the date of filing the application and the case number.

Documents

You will receive a document as:
Oryginał

Time limit

Within 1 month

  1. Request to correct any formal defects

If the application is found incomplete, the National Council of the Chamber of Architects requests the applicant to correct the formal defects within the indicated time limit. If the defects are not corrected within the indicated time limit, the National Council notifies the applicant that the application will not be considered.

Time limit

The time limit to correct the defects in the application is given in the notice.

  1. Examination of the application in terms of statutory requirements

The National Qualifications Commission submits the application to the team appointed from among the members of the National Qualifications Commission, who verifies whether the applicant meets the requirements for the recognition of qualifications to practise the profession of architect under the general system.

If the application is found incomplete or the required attachments have not been submitted, the applicant will be requested to correct such defects. If the applicant does not correct such defects within the indicated time limit, he/she will be informed that the application will not be considered.

If any doubts arise, the National Council may apply to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to issue an opinion on whether the higher education programme completed by the applicant may be recognised in Poland as equivalent. In the event of justified doubts as to whether the documents confirming the applicant’s qualifications to practise the profession of architect are authentic, or as to whether the education requirements specified in the EU regulations have been met, the National Council requests such bodies to certify the authenticity of the documents or to certify whether such documents indeed confirm that the applicant has met the education requirements.

Once the applicant corrects any defects in the application, the team of the National Qualifications Commission issues its opinion and presents it to the National Council.

  1. Decision requiring the applicant to complete an adaptation period and take the aptitude test

The National Council of the Chamber of Architects, after reading the opinion of the National Qualifications Commission and re-examination of the application and the submitted documents, may make its decision on recognising the applicant’s qualifications tied to a condition that the applicant completes an adaptation period or takes an aptitude test if:

  • the period of education or training completed in the applicant’s country was shorter by at least year from the period of education or training required under the regulations;
  • there is a significant discrepancy in the education or training programme, or
  • the scope of profession practised in the applicant’s country is significantly different from the scope of profession in the Republic of Poland, and that difference is related to a specific education or training programme in the Republic of Poland.

The choice whether to complete an adaptation period or take an aptitude test is made by the applicant. The cost of the adaptation period or the aptitude test are borne by the applicant.

The applicant is required to submit, within a specified time limit, a statement on the choice of the adaptation period or the aptitude test.

If the applicant decides to take the aptitude test, the applicant should also submit a statement on the chosen regional chamber of architects of the Republic of Poland where he/she intends to take the test.

The aptitude test, in the form of a written test, may be conducted within the time limits and according to the rules regulating written exams for unlimited building licence in specialty of architecture.

The duration of the adaptation period is established by the National Council for each applicant separately, based on the skills and experience evidenced by the applicant. The National Council’s decision on making the recognition of qualifications conditional upon completion of an adaptation period specifies the scope and duration of such adaptation period.

If the applicant does not choose between the aptitude test or the adaptation period within the specified time limit, the National Council of the Chamber of Architects will consider that the applicant does not meet the conditions for recognising his/her qualifications under the general system and will issue its decision based on the documents already submitted by the applicants.

If the applicant has decided to complete the adaptation period or take the aptitude test, the time limits for the procedure of recognising qualifications are suspended until the National Council receives an evaluation of the applicant’s skills acquired during the adaptation period or an evaluation of the skills demonstrated in the aptitude test.

  1. Decision on the recognition of qualifications to practise the profession of architect under the general system

Having read the opinion of the National Qualifications Commission (KKK), and after re-examination of the application and the submitted documents, the National Council of the Chamber of Architects issues its decision on recognising or refusing to recognise the professional qualifications of the architect under the general system.

If the applicant has completed the adaption period or has taken the aptitude test based on the earlier decision of the National Council, the National Council decides whether to recognise or refuse to recognise the professional qualifications of the architect under the general system once it has received an evaluation of the applicant’s skills acquired during the adaptation period or an evaluation of the skills demonstrated in the aptitude test.

The National Council of the Chamber of Architects issues its decision to recognise qualifications to practise the profession of architect under the general system to the applicant.

At the same time the National Council obliges the regional chamber of architects indicated by the applicant to enter the applicant in its register of members, provided that the applicant has written and oral command of the Polish language necessary to practise the profession of architect.

Documents

  1. Submitting the decision on the recognition of qualifications to practise the profession of architect under the general system to the competent bodies

Once the decision becomes final, the National Council of the Chamber of Architects submits its decision on the recognition of qualifications to:

  • the Main Inspector for Building Supervision (GINB), in order for a relevant entry to be made in the Central register of persons holding construction licences (CRUB)
  • the regional chamber of architects indicated by the applicant, in order for a relevant entry to be made in the register of its members

  1. Entry in the Central register of persons holding construction licences

Based on the decision of the National Council of the Chamber of Architects on the recognition of qualifications, the Main Inspector for Building Supervision:

  • makes a relevant entry in the Central register of persons holding construction licences (CRUB)
  • sends to the applicant its decision on making a relevant entry in the Central register of persons holding construction licences (CRUB)

Documents

Time limit

After receiving the final decision on the recognition of qualifications.

  1. Resolution of the regional chamber of architects on making a relevant entry in the register of its members

In relation to the decision on the recognition of qualifications and the obligation imposed by the National Council of the Chamber of Architects, the regional chamber of architects adopts a resolution on making a relevant entry in the register of its members.

The documents confirming the recognition of qualifications and that the applicant is accepted as a member of the regional chamber of architects are handed to the applicant during a special open meeting with the members of the regional chamber and invited guests.

Documents

How much you will have to pay

735 zł

The payment for the procedure of recognition of qualifications should be paid to the bank account indicated by the Polish Chamber of Architects.

How long you will have to wait

No longer than 3 months from submitting all the necessary documents. In specific cases the time limit for issuing the decision may be extended by one month. If the applicant completes the adaptation period or takes the aptitude test, this time limit is suspended until the date when the National Council of the Chamber of Architects receives the document evaluating the adaptation period or the aptitude test.

How can you appeal

The applicant is entitled to apply for re-examination of his/her application following the decision of the National Council of the Chamber of Architects, within 14 days of the date of receipt of such decision. If the applicant wishes to appeal against the decision of the National Council of the Chamber of Architects issued as a result of such re-examination, he or she should file a complaint to the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw, within 30 days of the date of receipt of such decision. The complaint is filed through the National Council of the Chamber of Architects.

Good to know

A citizen of a Member State holding professional qualifications to practise the profession of architect or construction engineer is entitled to use in the territory of the Republic of Poland his/her original title indicating his/her education completed in the Member State, or its abbreviation in the language of such Member State.

The documents related to the procedure of the recognition of qualifications are kept in the office of the National Council of the Polish Chamber of Architects.

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