A course funded by the labour office: training, a learning voucher and an education loan under the new act

Who can use it

The 2025 Act on the labour market and employment services lets the starost (in practice the powiat labour office, PUP) help unemployed people and jobseekers gain knowledge, skills or qualifications. Jobseeker status (poszukujący pracy) can also be obtained by people who work but want to change jobs — ask your local office whether you qualify.

The aim is to improve the chance of getting or keeping a job or running a business, so the office expects you to explain how the training will help you find work.

Forms of support

The act lists several ways of funding learning from the Labour Fund:

• training you choose — if you justify it; the office covers up to 300% of the average wage;
• training ordered by the office for a group, based on a labour-market diagnosis or an employer's request — also up to 300% of the average wage per participant;
• paying for an exam or a document confirming skills — up to the average wage;
• a learning voucher (bon na kształcenie ustawiczne) — a guarantee to pay for training, postgraduate studies or exams you choose, up to the average wage;
• an interest-free education loan (pożyczka edukacyjna) — up to 400% of the average wage (not for bachelor's or master's degrees);
• fees for diploma recognition (nostryfikacja) or recognition of professional qualifications for a regulated profession.

Key deadlines and limits

Office-funded training is delivered by providers listed in PARP's register of training services and may last up to 24 months. Learning paid by a voucher must start within 6 months of its award and end within 30 months. In total the office may spend no more than 450% of the average wage per person on these forms over three consecutive years (the education loan does not count towards this limit).

If you don't finish the course

A person who, through their own fault, does not start or finish the training or postgraduate studies, or does not sit the exam, must repay the costs. The exception: if the reason was taking up a job or business lasting at least a month. An unemployed person taking part in training funded by someone other than the office must notify the office at least 7 days before it starts.

How to prepare for the meeting at the office

An application stands a better chance when it is specific. Before seeing your client adviser, gather information showing the course makes sense in the local job market.

• Pick a specific course and check that the provider is in PARP's register.
• Collect 3–5 local job ads that require this skill or certificate.
• If an employer declares they will hire you after the course, attach it — it is a strong argument.
• Check whether the course ends with an external exam or a recognised document.
• Ask about timing: some offices allocate funds in calls and the pool may run out.