Polish language certificate without an exam
A person who has completed education in Polish – university studies, a doctorate, some schools or other forms of teaching listed in the Polish Language Act – can receive a certificate of proficiency in Polish without taking an exam. Since 9 June 2026 the level of the certificate depends on the education completed: doctorate – C2, second-cycle or long-cycle master's studies – C1, first-cycle studies – B2, some schools – B2, other forms – B1. The application is submitted to the State Commission through NAWA. If this route is not open to you, we will help you prepare for the exam – start with a trial lesson.
Who can receive a certificate without an exam
A certificate without an exam is intended for people who already have a document confirming that they completed education in Polish. The Polish Language Act (art. 11a ust. 4) lists a closed set of grounds – it covers the doctoral degree, university studies, certain types of schools and other forms of teaching. Before you submit an application, check in the text of the Act whether your diploma or school certificate is on this list. If it is not – the road to a certificate leads through the state exam.
At what level the certificate is issued
The level of a certificate issued without an exam depends on the education you completed. The current rules have applied since 9 June 2026 – they came into force 14 days after the amendment to the Act was published (it was published on 25 May 2026).
| Education completed | Certificate level |
|---|---|
| doctoral degree | C2 |
| second-cycle studies or long-cycle master's studies | C1 |
| first-cycle studies | B2 |
| some of the schools listed in the Act | B2 |
| other schools and forms of teaching from the Act | B1 |
A certificate issued without an exam is a State Commission certificate – the same kind of document that is received after a passed exam, only issued on the basis of a diploma or school certificate.
How to submit the application
The application for a certificate without an exam is submitted to the State Commission through the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). Prepare in three steps:
- Check the ground. Establish which point of art. 11a ust. 4 of the Polish Language Act matches your diploma or school certificate, and on that basis read the level from the table above.
- Prepare the documents. Personal data and a document confirming that you completed the education. Check the current form and the list of attachments on the NAWA or State Commission website before sending.
- Pay the certificate fee. Until 31 December 2026 the fee for issuing a certificate without an exam is the equivalent of 20 €, and from 1 January 2027 – 100 zł.
Note: the procedure is changed by the amendment in force from 1 January 2027 – from that day NAWA takes over wider handling of applications and fees. See what else is changing.
When a certificate without an exam is useful
A certificate without an exam is useful when an institution asks for a certificate of a particular level and you have a diploma that confirms that level. Examples of situations in which it is worth checking this route:
- A graduate of first-cycle studies wants to continue studying in Polish, and the university requires at least B2 – see what the B2 requirement for university studies involves.
- A graduate of master's studies needs a document for an employer confirming a high level of Polish – read what the C1 level confirms.
- A person who finished a school with Polish as the language of instruction abroad wants one widely recognised document instead of a certificate issued in another system.
Remember that in some matters an office accepts a school certificate or university diploma directly – then a certificate is not necessary. Which documents are accepted in residence and citizenship matters is explained in our guide to Polish in residence and citizenship matters.
Examples: what level you will get
The examples below show how to read the table of levels in typical situations. We assume in them that the education completed is on the list in art. 11a ust. 4 of the Act.
| Situation | Certificate without an exam | What next |
|---|---|---|
| Completed first-cycle studies, need a document for master's studies in Polish | B2 | check whether the university requires a higher level |
| Completed master's studies, the employer asks for confirmation of very good Polish | C1 | submit an application instead of registering for the C1 exam |
| Defended a doctorate | C2 | this is the highest level – an exam is not needed |
| Several years of study in language courses | not available | the state exam at the chosen level |
Certificate without an exam or an exam – comparison
Both routes end with a State Commission certificate, but they differ in what you have to do and at what level you get the document.
| Without an exam | State exam | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | a diploma or school certificate from the list in the Act | the exam result – at least 50% (B1) or 60% (B2–C2) in each part |
| Level | results from the education completed | you choose it yourself at registration |
| Where you arrange it | an application to the State Commission through NAWA | an exam centre in the chosen session |
| Fee | for issuing the certificate: 20 € until the end of 2026, 100 zł from 2027 | the exam fee within the limit (from 2027 also 100 zł for the certificate) |
When a certificate without an exam is not an option
If you learned Polish in courses, with a teacher or on your own, you obtain a certificate only through the exam. If you studied in a language other than Polish, check the conditions in the Act before submitting an application. When you are not entitled to a certificate without an exam, start with a placement test to assess how far you are from the required level, and then plan an exam session. At a trial lesson we will help you choose a session you can realistically be ready for.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get a C1 certificate after a bachelor's degree in Poland?
No. After first-cycle studies a certificate without an exam is issued at level B2. Level C1 is due after second-cycle or long-cycle master's studies.
Does a language course at a school give the right to a certificate without an exam?
No. A certificate of attendance from a language school course is not a ground for a certificate without an exam – in that case you have to pass the state exam.
Can I take the exam if I am entitled to a certificate without an exam?
Yes. The exam makes sense, for example, when you want to confirm a higher level than the one that results from your diploma.
Sources
- Ustawa z 30 kwietnia 2026 r. o zmianie ustawy o języku polskim oraz ustawy o Narodowej Agencji Wymiany Akademickiej (Act amending the Polish Language Act and the Act on the National Agency for Academic Exchange), Dz.U. 2026 poz. 676 – art. 1 pkt 2 lit. d (levels of a certificate without an exam, from 9.06.2026), certificate fee from 1.01.2027
- Ustawa o języku polskim (Polish Language Act), t.j. Dz.U. 2026 poz. 81 – art. 11a ust. 4 (grounds for a certificate without an exam), art. 11aa (application through NAWA), art. 11g ust. 6 (fee of 20 €)
50 minutes with a teacher: a level diagnosis and a study plan tailored to your goal.
See also
- Exam changesWhat the amendment to the Polish Language Act changes for candidates: age groups, fees, the certificate, NAWA and exam centres.Read →
- B2 for universitySince July 2025, a university cannot admit a candidate with a level below B2 to a degree taught in Polish.Read →
- C1 examLevel C1 for professionals: requirements, exam parts, the 60% threshold, sessions and preparation in individual lessons.Read →