Post-secondary school for foreigners – a B1 certificate is required
Since 1 September 2025, a foreigner may study at a public or non-public post-secondary school (szkoła policealna) on condition that they submit a certificate of proficiency in Polish at level B1 or higher (Article 165(5a) of the Education Law). The provision refers to the certificate under the Act on the Polish Language, i.e. the state certificate. The requirement is confirmed by the regulation of the Minister of Education of 25 August 2026 (Dz.U. 2026 item 1139). At the same time, since 1 July 2025 a post-secondary school certificate has no longer proved knowledge of Polish for citizenship or for EU long-term residence. Planning vocational training in Poland? At a trial lesson we will check how far you are from B1.
Who the B1 certificate requirement applies to
The requirement covers foreigners who start studying at a post-secondary school after 31 August 2025 – at both public and non-public schools. The provision does not cover people who started earlier. We have collected the other language requirements in our guide to Polish in residence and citizenship matters.
| Issue | Rule | Since when | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studying at a post-secondary school | you must submit a certificate of proficiency in Polish of at least B1 | since 1 September 2025 (studies started after 31 August 2025) | Article 165(5a) of the Education Law; Articles 7 and 31 of the act in Dz.U. 2025 item 622 |
| Admission to a post-secondary school | the B1 certificate is among the documents on the basis of which a foreigner is admitted | since 12 September 2026 | Dz.U. 2026 item 1139 |
| Post-secondary school certificate for citizenship | does not prove knowledge of Polish | since 1 July 2025 | Article 30(2a) of the Act on Polish Citizenship |
| Post-secondary school certificate for EU long-term residence | does not prove knowledge of Polish (the transitional provision expired on 30 June 2026) | since 1 July 2025 | Article 211(3) of the Act on Foreigners |
The conclusion is simple: a post-secondary school is no longer a route to a language document. First you need a B1 certificate, and only then can you study at the school.
Which certificate meets the requirement
The provision refers to the certificate of proficiency in Polish mentioned in Article 11a(2) of the Act on the Polish Language – that is, the state certificate issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (usually after passing the state exam). ECL and telc certificates are on the MSWiA list for EU long-term residence, but this provision does not mention them. So if you are thinking about a post-secondary school, prepare for the state exam. You will find everything about it in the guide to the B1 exam, and you can check the upcoming dates in the session calendar.
Plan ahead: you register for the exam at an exam centre, and the list of centres for a given session is usually published about two months in advance. Choose a session well before you plan to start your studies.
Polish at a post-secondary school – what you will need
B1 is the formal minimum, but learning a profession in Polish also requires school and professional vocabulary. These words and phrases come up from the first week of studies:
| Word or phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| zajęcia praktyczne | classes in which you practise professional skills |
| praktyka zawodowa | training at a workplace |
| zaliczyć przedmiot / semestr | to meet the requirements and get a pass |
| usprawiedliwić nieobecność | to explain why you were absent from classes |
| termin oddania pracy | the day by which an assignment must be handed in |
Przepraszam, nie było mnie na zajęciach, bo byłem chory. Czy mogę usprawiedliwić nieobecność? – ‘nie było mnie’ (genitive), not ‘*nie byłem’.
Czy mogę oddać pracę do piątku? – ‘do’ + genitive.
Example: a conversation at the school office
You usually deal with your first school matters at the school office – and it is a good test of whether your Polish is already at B1 level. This is what the conversation might look like:
– Dzień dobry, chciałbym zapytać o rekrutację na kierunek technik logistyk.
– Dzień dobry. Jakie ma pan wykształcenie?
– Skończyłem szkołę średnią za granicą i mam certyfikat z polskiego na poziomie B1.
– Dobrze. Proszę przynieść oryginały dokumentów i wypełnić formularz.
– Do kiedy muszę to zrobić?
Note the forms: chciałbym zapytać o + accusative, skończyłem szkołę (accusative), na poziomie B1 (locative) and the question about the deadline, do kiedy. If a conversation like this is difficult for you, start with speaking – in the B1 exam a similar conversation with the board awaits you.
From A2 to B1 before school – what to focus on
| Skill | What to practise | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | announcements, phone conversations, short broadcasts | an announcement about a change of classroom or class time |
| Reading | notices, rules and regulations, press articles | an extract from the work placement rules |
| Grammar | cases after prepositions, aspect, conditional mood | Chciałabym zapisać się na kurs. |
| Writing | an email with a request or explanation, a short text about yourself | a request to change the date of a test |
| Speaking | description, narration, an opinion with reasons | why you are choosing this profession |
The most common slip-ups before a post-secondary school
- Enrolling at the school before the exam – without a B1 certificate you cannot start studying, so the exam comes first.
- Counting on a post-secondary school certificate as a document for citizenship or EU long-term residence – since July 2025 such a certificate is no longer accepted; check which documents the office accepts for citizenship.
- Choosing a certificate not covered by the Act on the Polish Language – ECL or telc will be useful for EU long-term residence, but the provision on post-secondary schools specifies the state certificate.
- Preparing only for a test – the B1 exam has a written and an oral part, and each module must be passed separately (at least 50% of the points). You practise writing and speaking on our B1 preparation course.
Certificate first, school second – book a trial lesson, and the teacher will assess your level and help you choose a session before admissions.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ECL or telc certificate enough for a post-secondary school?
The provision refers to the certificate of proficiency in Polish under the Act on the Polish Language, i.e. the state certificate. ECL and telc are on the list for EU long-term residence, but not in this provision.
Does the requirement apply to people who started studying before September 2025?
No. The provision applies to foreigners who started studying at a post-secondary school after 31 August 2025.
Do public and non-public schools have the same requirement?
Yes. Article 165(5a) of the Education Law covers both public and non-public post-secondary schools.
Will a post-secondary school give me a document proving my Polish for citizenship?
No. Since 1 July 2025, a certificate of completing a post-secondary school does not prove knowledge of Polish for recognition as a Polish citizen.
Do I need the B1 certificate before I start at a post-secondary school?
Yes. The provision makes studying at a post-secondary school conditional on submitting the certificate, and the regulation lists it among the documents required for admission – so it is worth passing the exam before the admission process.
Sources
- Act of 4 April 2025 amending certain acts to eliminate irregularities in the visa system, Dz.U. 2025 item 622 – Article 7 (Education Law, Article 165(5a)) and Article 31
- Regulation of the Minister of Education of 25 August 2026 amending the regulation on the education of persons who are not Polish citizens…, Dz.U. 2026 item 1139 – § 1(2)(b)
- Act on Polish Citizenship (Ustawa o obywatelstwie polskim), consolidated text Dz.U. 2025 item 1611 – Article 30(2a)
- Act on Foreigners (Ustawa o cudzoziemcach), consolidated text Dz.U. 2025 item 1079 – Article 211(3)
- Regulation on examinations in Polish as a foreign language, Dz.U. 2025 item 217 – § 23 (B1 pass requirement)
Online B1 course with mock exams and feedback on writing and speaking. Start with a trial lesson and a level diagnosis.
See also
- B1 examWho takes the B1 exam, what it looks like, what it costs, when the sessions are and how to prepare.1 490 PLNRead →
- B1 for citizenshipApplying for citizenship? Check which documents prove B1 and which the office will reject.Read →
- B1 courseA programme covering every part of the state exam and two mock exams marked by the teacher.1 490 PLNRead →