LEK

What is the LEK? And do I need it?

LEK is the exam required to obtain the license to practise medicine in Poland (and other countries who recognise the polish medical license as equal to theirs).

Whether you need it or not depends on the country you want to practise medicine in. Most countries in the EU will need you to have it. 

How do I enroll for the LEK?

You go on the SMK website, create a account, fill out a enrollment form–confirming your student status and eligibility to take the exam (after completed 10th semester), wait for approval by the Dean's office (they did it automatically after a few days for us, no need to contact them). After confirmation, once the exam is available for sign-up on the SMK website, we filled out the form and paid the fee once a personalized account number was sent to us by mail. ATTENTION: do not forget to pay in time after that email reached you. 

Details about the exam (the official invite with your number and the location where you will take it) were only sent to you 2 weeks before the exam via email. Do not expect to hear from them after you paid. You can check your status on the SMK website if you want to know that your payment made it through. If your status says paid, you can expect that you're in.

When can I write the LEK and what are the deadlines?

It is held twice a year, once in September and once in February. Registration for the exam must be done months in advance through the university and the SMK website. 

For the September date you have until July 15th and for the February date you have until November 30th to register. Please confirm those deadlines with the official website.

Does the test cost money?

Yes. 340 pln nonrefundable. Check the details on the website above.

What does the test look like?

It is a multiple choice test (one correct answer) consisting of 200 questions and lasting 4 hours. A passing grade of 56% is necessary (112/200 questions). If you fail, you can just try again. You can take it a unlimited amount of time (til you pass). More information and details are available through the CEM website (link above).

In February 2025, all English Division students were asked to take the exam in a stadium in Gliwice–no matter what location they initially picked in the application form. Other years (all English students) wrote it in Warsaw, for example. 

Nobody struggled for time to complete the test. Most students left as soon as they were able to leave (after 2.5 hours), or slightly thereafter. They asked us to be there 1.5 hours earlier to register, which we found out was not necessary. You can just come half a hour before. Just mind that the queues in front of the toilet are guaranteed to be long, and that you are not able to visit the toilet during the first 2.5 hours of the exam. Also, once you made it through the registery and into the exam room/stadium inside, you were no longer able to leave and could only use the toilets and coat hangers there.

What do I prepare, what do I bring?

There is a question bank for the LEK available (link above) for purchase. The same website also provides access to their mobile application. Our school has refunded this for students in the past but please have your class reepresentative contact the Deans Office about the latest policies.

You must bring the following items to the test on your own:

• your personal code, given by the CEM via email

• your country's ID (or passport, depending with which you signed up)

• sharpened pencil, hardness 2B or 3B

• eraser

• a pen

• optional: drinks and snacks

Topics are listed here: https://www.cem.edu.pl/english_lek_struktura.php

When do we get results?

Results will be uploaded to the CEM website (https://www.cem.edu.pl/lep_results_eng_h.php) Tuesday or Wednesday evening after the exam. It takes a few days. You can check it after entering your personal details on the portal. The certicate (necessary for recognition purposes) will be sent to you by post a few weeks later.

What is Staz? And do I need it?

Staz is a postgraduate internship that allows you to rotate between departments. 

Many countries require you to take all necessary steps to become a licensed doctor in your graduation country before recognizing your license as equal to theirs. 

So, in Poland, this would mean taking the LEK exam and completing the Staz. But check with your home country's policies because some countries do not require this second step.

How is it done?

There are 2 types of Staz available at our university. 

The first is a 13 month Staz in Polish language which you get paid for. Here you must coordinate your schedule on your own with departments. Some departments are mandatory and some you have an option to apply for.

The second option is a 6 month Staz in English which you pay for (around 6'000 €). In this one, you are provided a schedule by UMB that you must follow.

Do I need to have passed the LEK to start my Staz?

Technically, yes. So, we heavily recommend to take LEK during your 6th year, but we know that some have taken their LEK during their Staz, too.

How to apply for it at UMB?

You must request and submit the paperwork through the Deans Office. 

What does the Staz training look like? What do you do?

It honestly looks just like another semester. It's 6 months of rotations between departments such as Internal Medicine, Blood Bank, Pediatrics, Neonatology, General Surgery and Trauma, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Emergency, Psychiatry, and Family Medicine. 

The only difference is now that you have your MD, you will have more responsibilities during your rotations/duties.