Becoming a seafarer in Poland as a career change

Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.

Age limits

Your profession on shore	Role at sea	Course	Where and on what terms
Cook (vocational qualification)	Ship's cook	Sea practice as junior ship's cook and the ship's cook exam	A ship's cook certificate is open to people with vocational education and a cook qualification (cook, catering technician and similar). Source: Regulation on training and qualifications of crew members of sea-going ships (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2023 item 1383), § 27 They also need 6 months of sea practice as a junior ship's cook and must pass the exam for the certificate. Source: Regulation on training and qualifications of crew members of sea-going ships (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2023 item 1383), § 27 A master cook diploma shortens the sea practice to 3 months as a junior ship's cook. Source: Regulation on training and qualifications of crew members of sea-going ships (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2023 item 1383), § 27
Any profession, no maritime education	Deck watch rating	Support-level deck course at a recognised maritime training centre (MJE type D)	An adult can become a deck watch rating through a support-level course at a recognised training centre plus 6 months of sea practice in the deck department. Source: Regulation on training and qualifications of crew members of sea-going ships (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2023 item 1383), § 14

Minimum to start as a junior deck rating: basic safety training certificates, a valid seafarer medical certificate and a seaman's book.
Source: Regulation on training and qualifications of crew members of sea-going ships (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2023 item 1383), § 13
A seaman's book can be issued to a person who has completed basic safety training.
Source: Maritime Office in Szczecin — information card: documents required for a seaman's book

Without a maritime school, a deck officer certificate is possible after 36 months of deck sea service in international shipping as a deck trainee or rating, plus an operational-level course and exam.
Source: Regulation on training and qualifications of crew members of sea-going ships (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2023 item 1383), § 30

Recruitment and placement agencies must not charge seafarers for finding them a job; the seafarer pays only for the medical certificate, the seafarer's book and a passport.
Source: ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended — Standard A1.4
New-design seaman's books are better protected against forgery.
Source: Maritime Office in Szczecin — information card: documents required for a seaman's book
Training counts only at maritime education units recognised by the Minister of Infrastructure — check the official list before you pay for a course.
Source: Ministry of Infrastructure — maritime education units (MJE)