Who needs a certificate of professional competence?
Not every professional driver is required to have a certificate of professional competence. As a rule, this obligation applies only to carriers and decision-makers in companies that provide road freight and passenger transport services – this is part of the requirements for carriers. What other criteria must be met by an entrepreneur who wants to practice the occupation of road transport operator?
- The carrier must be permanently established in one of the EU member states,
- The carrier must have a good reputation;
- The carrier must have the required financial capacity;
- The carrier must have the required professional competence.
It is this last point that directs carriers to obtain a certificate of professional competence. As with any rule, however, there are exceptions to this one as well. So let’s systematize the knowledge of who must have a certificate of professional competence.
First: the carrier
A carrier is a person engaged in a business in which he provides paid services for the transportation of goods or passengers. It is therefore responsible for the company and its operations, including the quality of its services. It is the carrier that must have a CKZ.
Second: other decision makers in the company
The carrier is not the only person who should hold a certificate of professional competence. Every employee of the company who makes important decisions about the operation of the transportation company must also have a CKZ.
Certificate exemption
In some cases, you may be exempted from holding a certificate. Carriers that meet at least one of the following three conditions can take advantage of this opportunity:
- provide sanitary transport services and/or emergency medical services;
- carry no more than 9 people (including the driver), but only for non-commercial transportation;
- the permissible total weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles owned does not exceed 3.5 t.
What are the requirements to obtain a certificate of professional competence in road transport?
If you want to obtain a certificate of professional competence, you must pass an exam organized by the Motor Transport Institute. CKZ exams are held periodically in Warsaw and Katowice, for example, but the list of cities is much longer. On the website of the Motor Transport Institute, there is a table with listed exam locations and dates – it’s worth taking a look.
To take the exam for the first time, you must fill out an application for a certificate and send it, along with proof of payment for the exam and certificate of professional competence, by mail to ITS.
Law of September 6, 2001. on road transport provides for the possibility of exempting from the exam in its entirety persons who have completed second-cycle studies, unified master’s studies or postgraduate studies, the program of which included the subjects listed in Annex I to Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 1071/2009.
The same document indicates the possibility of exemption from part of the test if the person who wants to obtain a certificate of professional competence has completed studies whose program covered only part of the topics listed in the above regulation. The exemption then covers only that part of the test that relates to the areas covered by the study program completed by the exam participant.
If you wish to take advantage of an exemption from all or part of the exam, please attach a copy of your diploma, diploma supplement or postgraduate certificate to the certificate fee.
How much will you pay for a certificate of professional competence and exam?
The total cost of the exam and certificate is PLN 800. This amount includes the value of the certificate – PLN 300 – and the cost of the written exam – PLN 500. In the case of exemption from part or all of the exam, the fee required to be paid is reduced:
- if you enjoy an exemption from the written exam in its entirety, you only have to pay a 300 zloty certificate fee;
- if you take advantage of the exemption from part of the written exam, to the amount of PLN 300 for the certificate you need to add PLN 500 for the exam, and the resulting value should be reduced by PLN 50 for each module from which the examinee is exempted.
Motor Transport Institute exam – what should you know before taking it?
Before taking the exam to obtain a certificate of professional competence in road transport, it is worth noting several important elements.
First
Check the dates and locations of upcoming exams. This is of great importance because you can’t just go to the exam. Places are limited, and you must provide the required documents and fees no later than two weeks before the exam day to be listed.
Second
Make sure you have all the necessary documents. What might you need? Certainly an application for a certificate(click on the link to download the form), confirmation of payment for the exam and certificate (remember the possible reduction in the amount if you enjoy a partial or full exemption from the exam).
Third
If you are using the above. exemptions, attach to the documentation a diploma of graduation with a supplement or a certificate of completion of postgraduate studies (these can also be copies of documents), as well as a completed declaration on the scope of issues covered by the program of study(click on the link to download the declaration).
Fourth
If you only enjoy a partial exemption from the exam, remember that this exemption does not include solving the exam task.
Fifth
If you don’t pass the exam on the first date, you can try again – to do so, you need to submit an application for a make-up exam (click on the link to download the application) and pay the exam fee (PLN 500). In this case, the certificate fee is no longer required, as it was paid at the time of the first appointment.
Sixth
You may find that your certificate of professional competence is damaged, lost or stolen, in which case you can apply for a duplicate. All you need to do is send a statement to ITS along with a request for a duplicate CKZ (click on the link to download a sample statement). The statement should be accompanied by proof of payment for the issuance of a duplicate – 300 PLN.
That’s it – you know when you’ll need a certificate of professional competence, how to get one, how to prepare for the exam, and what to do in various situations you may encounter. For more detailed answers, visit the website of the Motor Transport Institute.
28.01.2026 
