The government bill on the amendment of acts governing the conditions for access to certain professions (third tranche of deregulation) stipulates a series of changes and facilitating measures for obtaining, among others, geological qualifications.
According to the bill, the obligation to hold professional competence to execute, supervise and manage geophysical works other than seismic works and well logging will be waived.
In addition, the bill stipulates revoking the X category and merging categories XI and XII – into category XIII, which includes the performance of geological supervision activities over geological works, with the exception of research mentioned in category IX, as well as managing field geological works performed outside the mining area, without using blasting materials, or when the planned pit depth is not bigger than 100 metres. The above changes will result in reducing the number of exams and enhancing the rights of persons who hold only one of the currently existing qualification categories (XI or XII).
Based on the planned changes, qualifications in categories I-VIII will entitle holders to execute and manage geological works in the area of regional studies of geological structure of the country and deep ground boreholes, which are not related to documenting mineral deposits. The above regulation will replace the currently applied provisions restricting the performance of such projects only for the holders of qualifications in I-V and VIII categories.
The proposed regulations also specify the criteria used for documenting the scope of completed university level education and contain the specific information that the studies enabling to acquire the knowledge and skills in the area of geological science are studies involving at least two geological sciences.
According to the bill, it will be possible to undergo practical training at an earlier stage. In compliance with the new regulations, the professional training can be started after successfully completing the fourth semester of the first cycle of higher education programme or of long-cycle programme, or after starting second cycle of higher education programme, whereas for candidates wishing to obtain the XIII category – also after completing secondary education ending in awarding a professional title.
The planned changes also include procedures conducted to verify the qualification. In this respect, the bill does not stipulate an obligation of written notification by the examination board about admission to the examination. A clause was also withdrawn, according to which candidates seeking to have their geological qualifications confirmed, who did not pass the examination, may only take another examination after 6 months from the first one. Another facilitating measure is the introduction of a rule, according to which candidates seeking to be awarded category XIII qualification will be able to take examinations before boards not only depending on their place of residence, but also depending on the place where the candidate executes their geological works.
Although the changes concerning the access to profession meet the expectations of stakeholders, the fact that legislative works have come to a standstill at an advanced stage is disturbing. The bill has gone through the first reading in the Sejm. Public hearing was held on 24 June 2014 and from that moment there was no progress of works in the Sejm. For the legislative process to be completed, it is also necessary to conduct two readings in the Sejm, to adopt the act by the Senate, to have the act signed by the President and to publish it in the Journal of Laws.