How to Open a Physiotherapy Practice 2026 - Guide

1 April 2026Michał Nowak

Opening a physiotherapy practice is an exciting career step, but also an administrative challenge.

Opening a physiotherapy practice is an exciting career step, but also an administrative challenge. In Poland the requirements are clear but complex -- if something is missing, you risk fines, being struck off the register, or a visit from a sanitary inspector.

Below you'll find exactly 10 steps you need to take to open your practice legally and safely. Each step includes concrete legal requirements, figures, and links to the tools you'll need.

Let's get started.

Step 1: Physiotherapist licence -- confirming your PWZ

Before you do anything else, you need a PWZFz (physiotherapist licence number) -- the professional licence to practise as a physiotherapist. It's a document issued by the National Chamber of Physiotherapists (KIF -- the professional self-governing body for physiotherapists in Poland) based on a completed degree and a passed state examination.

If you hold a diploma from abroad (Germany, Czechia, or another EU country), you'll need to go through a recognition (nostrification) procedure -- this takes 2-4 weeks.

What to check:

Whether you have an active PWZFz with KIF (check on KIF's website in the physiotherapists' register)
Whether you have no ban on practising the profession
Whether your KIF membership fee is paid (mandatory since 2017, ~200 PLN/year)

If all three conditions are met, you can move on to step 2.

Step 2: Choose your legal form -- individual practice vs group practice

This is the most important business decision. Your legal form determines who is liable, how you settle taxes, and what the administrative requirements are.

Solo physiotherapy practice (individual medical practice)

This is the simplest and most common form. You're the owner, and you're responsible for everything.

Requirements:

Lease agreement or right to the premises
RPWDL (the Register of Healthcare Entities) registration
Liability insurance
Medical documentation
GDPR compliance

[SP] Example -- Solo practice:
Magda, a physiotherapist from Wrocław, opens a 40 m² practice in a tenement building in the Old Town district. She registers as an individual medical practitioner and rents the premises from the owner. All legal liability falls on her. Opening cost: ~4,500 PLN (RPWDL approx. 175 PLN + liability insurance 1,200 PLN + document printing 600 PLN + premises fit-out 2,500 PLN).

Group practice (healthcare entity)

If you're working with colleagues or want to build a team, you register as a healthcare entity (in the form of a limited liability company, civil partnership, or cooperative).

Additional requirements:

Organisational regulations (required by the Medical Activity Act)
Health and safety procedures for the team
Lease agreement or cooperation agreements
Medical director (usually you)

[GR] Example -- Group practice:
Artur and Karolina, two physiotherapists, set up "PhysioKlinika" Ltd in Gdańsk. They rent 120 m² across four treatment rooms. They register as a healthcare entity and hire a third physiotherapist. Artur acts as medical director. Opening cost: ~12,000 PLN (company registration 2,000 PLN + RPWDL entity registration 1,500 PLN + liability insurance 2,500 PLN + documentation and procedures 3,000 PLN + premises fit-out 3,000 PLN).

Recommendation: If you're just starting out, choose a solo practice. It's cheaper and faster. You can always move to a group form in a year or two.

Step 3: Find the right premises -- requirements and common pitfalls

The premises are the heart of your business, but also a source of many compliance requirements.

Minimum size and sanitary requirements

Treatment room: min. 20 m² per patient plus space for staff
WC and washbasin: separate for patients and staff
Ventilation: natural or mechanical
Power supply: sufficient number of electrical sockets
Lighting: min. 300 lux in treatment rooms
Accessibility for people with disabilities: at least a ground-floor entrance and WC (a legal requirement since 2019)

Checks before signing the lease

Occupancy permit from the building owner (check it exists)
No prohibitions on running a medical business in the lease agreement
Building insurance (usually required by the landlord)
Parking -- minimum one space for staff, ideally 2-3 for patients

Premises cost: 1,500-3,500 PLN/month depending on the city and floor area.

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Step 4: Register your business with CEIDG or the National Court Register

Solo medical practice

Register: CEIDG (the Central Registration and Information on Business)
Form: CEIDG-1 (available online at CEIDG.gov.pl)
Business description: "86.90.Z -- Other human health activities" or "86.90.1Z -- Medical, dental and paramedical practice"
Time: ~24h after submission
Cost: 0 PLN (online), 50 PLN (in person at the office)

Group practice (Ltd, civil partnership)

Register: KRS (the National Court Register)
Requirements: articles of association, partnership agreement, notary, registration fee
Time: 2-3 weeks
Cost: 500-2,000 PLN (notary + KRS fee)

After registering you'll receive a NIP (Tax Identification Number) -- you'll need it for the RPWDL.

Step 5: Register with the RPWDL -- the Register of Healthcare Entities

RPWDL stands for the Register of Healthcare Entities (Rejestr Podmiotów Wykonujących Działalność Leczniczą). It's mandatory for every physiotherapist in Poland.

What is the RPWDL?

A national register of all authorised medical practices, clinics and facilities
Managed by the Ministry of Health
Available online at https://rpwdl2.ezdrowie.gov.pl

How do you register?

Prepare your documents:

A copy of your PWZFz (certified true copy)
A certificate of no criminal record (from the district court's criminal division)
A document confirming your right to the premises (lease agreement or ownership)
Proof of paid KIF membership fee
Proof of liability insurance (see Step 6)

Go to the rpwdl2.ezdrowie.gov.pl portal and complete the online form
Submit the documents by scan or in person at the voivodeship office
Wait for activation (usually 7-14 days)

Cost and fees in 2026

Practice registration: approx. 175 PLN in 2026 -- 2% of the average monthly salary (approx. 166 PLN in 2025)
Change of entry (e.g. change of address, resuming activity after suspension): 50% of the entry fee, i.e. approx. 87 PLN

[SP] Example -- Solo practice:
Magda, a solo-practice physiotherapist, logs into the RPWDL portal on the first Thursday of April. She fills in the form in 40 minutes. She prepares the documents within 3 days. She submits scans from home. After 10 days she gets a text confirming activation. Cost: approx. 175 PLN.

[GR] Example -- Group practice:
Artur and Karolina's "PhysioKlinika" has to register as a healthcare entity. They additionally submit organisational regulations and safety procedures. The entry fee for a healthcare entity is higher than for a practice -- 10% of the average monthly salary, i.e. approx. 875 PLN in 2026. The manager (Artur) changes once every 3 years -- each such change of entry costs 50% of the entry fee. Initial cost: approx. 875 PLN + 500 PLN for drawing up the documentation.

Important: Without an RPWDL entry you cannot work legally. Inspectors from the sanitary inspectorate, the Supreme Audit Office, or the data protection authority will see you're missing from the register, and things can get ugly.

Step 6: Take out mandatory liability insurance

Professional liability insurance protects you in case you cause harm to someone's health.

Minimum insurance limits

30,000 EUR per single event
150,000 EUR for all events in a year

This is a requirement of the Act on the Physiotherapist Profession. Without it you won't be entered in the RPWDL.

Where to buy it?

Liability insurance for physiotherapists is offered by:

PZU (Professional Liability Insurance)
Allianz (Professional Liability)
Ergo (Medykus Sapphire)
Generali (Medic Package)
AXA (Liability Insurance for Medical Practices)

Cost

Solo practice: 1,000-1,500 PLN/year
Group practice: 2,000-4,000 PLN/year (depends on number of staff and claims history)

Comparison: Call three insurers, compare prices. The difference can be as much as 500 PLN.

[SP] Example -- Solo practice:
Magda buys liability insurance from Allianz. She searches for "Professional liability -- physiotherapy." Price: 1,200 PLN/year. The policy arrives by email within 24h. She prints the confirmation and submits it to the RPWDL.

KIF's group insurance scheme

KIF (the National Chamber of Physiotherapists) also offers group liability insurance for members -- sometimes cheaper. Check KIF's website.

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This is only step 6 of 10, and it's already cost you approx. 175 PLN (RPWDL) + 1,200 PLN (liability insurance) = approx. 1,375 PLN. All the remaining documents (GDPR, hygiene procedures, patient records, data-breach procedure) can be prepared in a single day thanks to the templates in the STARTER package. You'll save 8-10 hours and reliably protect yourself from mistakes. STARTER package -- 299 PLN (Stripe link attached).

Step 7: Prepare your medical documentation

Documentation is your legal protection. When a patient comes to you, you need somewhere to record what you did, what you should remember, and what happened. Without it, you're defenceless.

Patient record (medical history)

This is the most important document. It contains:

Patient's personal data: name, surname, PESEL (national ID number), phone number, email
Medical data: diagnosis, allergies, chronic conditions, previous treatments
Initial assessment: physical examination, measurements (range of motion, muscle strength, pain)
Treatment plan: number of sessions, frequency, therapeutic goals
Notes from each session: date, exercises, results, optionally photos
Consent forms: for treatment, for photos, for data processing

Where to store it: On paper (a cabinet with a lockable drawer) or digitally (a medical software system). Both are legal, but digital is the future.

Treatment plan (Individualized Treatment Plan)

Must contain:

Diagnosis (e.g. L4-L5 disc herniation)
Short-term goals (2-3 weeks)
Long-term goals (2-3 months)
Methods and techniques (e.g. exercises, massage, mobilisation)
Expected outcomes
Number of planned sessions

Treatment log (Journal)

You keep a log of all patients and procedures:

Treatment date
Patient's name
Type of treatment
Duration
Note on outcome/tolerance

[SP] Example -- Solo practice:
Magda creates a patient record in Excel. Each patient is a row with a date, name, diagnosis, and number of sessions. After each session she adds a note in a separate document. She keeps everything in a folder on her drive. It's simple and costs nothing, but it's prone to errors and sometimes hard to find an old entry.

[GR] Example -- Group practice:
Artur's "PhysioKlinika" buys medical software called "Physio Manager" for 50 PLN/month. Patient records are in the cloud, and every physiotherapist can see the patient's history. The system sends automatic reminder texts. The treatment plan and session notes are ready in 5 minutes instead of 15 minutes by hand.

Document templates

Below are the elements that must be present in every record.

Patient record -- mandatory elements:

```

[ ] Personal data (name, surname, PESEL, phone)

[ ] Medical history (allergies, medication, chronic conditions)

[ ] Reason for visit / diagnosis

[ ] Date of initial assessment

[ ] Physical examination results

[ ] Treatment plan (goal, number of sessions, frequency)

[ ] Notes from each session (date, procedure, outcome)

[ ] Patient's signature (consent to treatment)

[ ] Date and physiotherapist's signature

```

RODO (Ogólne Rozporządzenie o Ochronie Danych Osobowych) is Polish for GDPR -- the EU law protecting patients' personal data. Fines for violations reach up to 20 million EUR.

What do you need to have?

1. Privacy notice

This is the text you show the patient before collecting their data. It contains:

Which entity collects the data (you -- the physiotherapist)
What the purpose is (diagnosis and treatment)
On what legal basis (medical contract, patient's right to healthcare)
How long you keep the data (5 years for medical documentation)
What rights the patient has (access, correction, deletion)
Whether the data goes to any third party (an insurer, in case of reimbursement)

2. Consent form for data processing

The patient signs to confirm they accept the collection and processing of their data.

3. Privacy policy

An expanded document describing the entire data-protection process at your practice.

What does the data protection authority (UODO) check?

Whether you have signed consents from patients
Whether you have a privacy notice
Whether patient records are kept secure (e.g. a lockable cabinet)
Whether staff have signed confidentiality agreements
Whether you have a procedure in case of a data breach (e.g. theft of a patient record)

[SP] Example -- Solo practice:
Magda prints the privacy notice (2 pages) and gives it to every patient to sign. She stores patient records in a lockable cabinet in the practice. She doesn't share the data with anyone. Done and secure.

[GR] Example -- Group practice:
"PhysioKlinika" has a written privacy policy on its website. Every employee has signed a confidentiality agreement. Patient records (digital) are password-protected. The medical software has automatic backups every 24 hours. Breach procedure: if someone steals a laptop, Artur notifies the data protection authority within 72 hours.

The STARTER package includes templates for the privacy notice and consent form adapted to Polish law and physiotherapy. Ready to print and sign.

Step 9: Meet sanitary requirements -- hygiene plan, disinfection, medical waste

Sanepid (the sanitary inspectorate -- the Powiat Sanitary and Epidemiological Station) may come to inspect your practice. These are the most common inspections in physiotherapy practices. Here's what they check.

Hygiene plan (Sanitary Plan)

A document describing how you maintain cleanliness:

Cleaning the rooms: daily before work, between patients, after work
Disinfecting equipment: before and after every patient (e.g. treatment table, massage bench, stabilisers)
Cleaning the WC: at least twice a day
Changing linens: frequency, product manufacturer
Medical waste: where you store it (yellow bin), where it's collected (a licensed medical waste facility)
Staff hygiene: hand washing, work clothing, gloves

Disinfection -- what gets disinfected?

High risk: electrical equipment, handrails, treatment tables
Medium risk: floors, walls
Low risk: windowsills, doors

Disinfection log

A document where you record:

Date of disinfection
What was disinfected
Which substance (e.g. Dezolex 5%, Peroxysan)
Who did it (employee's name)
Signature

The sanitary inspectorate often checks this log. If you don't have one, or it's empty, they can fine you (500-1,000 PLN) or suspend your operations for 30 days.

Medical waste

Waste from physiotherapy treatments is usually paper, bandages, disposable gloves. This is medical waste and must be disposed of by a licensed medical waste facility, not in an ordinary bin.

Contract with a medical waste facility: mandatory
Yellow bin: for medical waste, minimum 10 L capacity
Collection frequency: at least once a week (depends on patient numbers)
Cost: 50-150 PLN/month

[SP] Example -- Solo practice:
Magda has a printed hygiene plan hanging in the practice's kitchenette. Every morning before work she wipes the treatment table with Dezolex 5%. Between patients she changes the paper on the table. After each patient she changes gloves. She records everything in the disinfection log (simple notes in a notebook). Medical waste (paper, disposable pads) goes into the yellow bin. The medical waste facility collects the bin every Thursday. Cost: 100 PLN/month.

[GR] Example -- Group practice:
"PhysioKlinika" has a disinfection procedure printed on the wall of every room. A cleaner arrives at 7:00 a.m. and disinfects all the tables and equipment. The disinfection log is a tablet with an app -- each employee scans a QR code and logs the procedure. The system sends an alert if something hasn't been disinfected. The medical waste facility brings a new yellow bin every Friday and takes the full one. Cost: 300 PLN/month.

Sanitary inspectorate -- what does it check?

The hygiene plan (whether it exists and is reasonable)
The disinfection log (whether it's kept up)
Cleaning conditions (whether the premises are clean, whether there are odours)
WC facilities (whether they're clean, whether there's toilet paper)
Medical waste (whether it's in the right bin, whether there's a contract with a facility)

If everything is in order, there's no problem. If the log is missing or the hygiene plan is a sham, they can suspend your operations for 30 days.

Step 10: Final checklist -- 23 items to check

Ready to open? Print the list below and tick off each item.

LEGAL FORMALITIES

[ ] PWZFz with KIF (confirmation from the chamber)
[ ] Legal form chosen (solo practice or Ltd)
[ ] Business registered in CEIDG/KRS
[ ] NIP and REGON assigned
[ ] Bank account opened (required for settlements)

REGISTRATION

[ ] Certificate of no criminal record (from the district court)
[ ] RPWDL registration (approx. 175 PLN in 2026)
[ ] Liability insurance (30k/150k EUR, certificate sent to the RPWDL)
[ ] KIF membership fee paid

PREMISES

[ ] Lease agreement or ownership right
[ ] Min. 20 m² per patient (measured)
[ ] WC and washbasin for patients and staff
[ ] Natural or mechanical ventilation
[ ] Accessibility for people with disabilities (entrance, WC)

MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION

[ ] Patient record (template prepared)
[ ] Treatment plan (structure described)
[ ] Treatment log (where it will be kept)
[ ] Treatment consent form (patient's signature)

GDPR

[ ] Privacy notice (printed)
[ ] Data processing consent (form)
[ ] Privacy policy (on the website or printed)

SANITARY INSPECTORATE & HYGIENE

[ ] Hygiene plan (written and printed)
[ ] Disinfection log (where it will be kept)
[ ] Contract with a medical waste facility (signed)
[ ] Yellow bin for medical waste (purchased)

BONUS: MORE THAN WE'VE COVERED

[ ] Practice rules for patients (optional, but recommended)
[ ] Employment contracts (if you hire staff)
[ ] Data breach procedure (paper in the cabinet)
[ ] Property/asset liability insurance (optional)

Total to check: 23 items.

Is that a lot? Yes. But at least 8 of these 23 items can be prepared in a single day if you have templates. That's exactly what the STARTER package from FizjoReady offers.

How much does it cost to open a physiotherapy practice in 2026?

Below is a cost estimate for a solo practice.

Item	Cost	Note
RPWDL (registration)	approx. 175 PLN	One-off; 2% of the average salary (2026)
Liability insurance	1,200 PLN	Annual, min. 30k/150k EUR
Premises (2 months)	3,000 PLN	1,500 PLN/month, depends on city
Premises fit-out (furniture, tables)	2,500 PLN	Treatment table, cabinet, table, desk
Medical documentation (templates)	0-300 PLN	DIY or STARTER package
GDPR, procedures (templates)	0-300 PLN	DIY or STARTER package
Hygiene plan, log (templates)	0-200 PLN	DIY or STARTER package
Medical waste (1 month)	100 PLN	Ordering a medical waste facility
KIF membership fee (annual)	200 PLN	Mandatory
Other (signs, packaging, forms)	500 PLN	Printing, stamps, packaging
TOTAL (min.)	8,494 PLN	Without the STARTER package
TOTAL (with STARTER package)	8,793 PLN	+299 PLN for templates

More than 2 months' average physiotherapist salary. But if you get 3-4 patients a week, that money comes back in 3-4 months.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work from home?

Technically you can, but it's complicated. Neighbours may complain, the building manager may forbid it, and the sanitary inspectorate's requirements (WC for patients, ventilation) are hard to meet. I recommend renting premises. It gives you legality and a professional image.

How long does RPWDL registration take?

From application to activation: usually 7-14 days. But preparing the documents (PWZFz, certificate of no criminal record, lease agreement) takes 2-3 weeks. Total: about a month.

Do I need special software for medical documentation?

No. Excel or paper folders are legal. But medical software (50-100 PLN/month) saves time and reduces the risk of errors. If you have 30+ patients, invest in software.

What happens if I don't have liability insurance?

You won't be entered in the RPWDL. If you work without an entry (illegal), you could face a fine of up to 50,000 PLN.

Did I have to go to a notary?

Only if you're opening a Ltd or civil partnership (group practice). Solo practice -- online registration in CEIDG, no notary needed.

How often does the sanitary inspectorate come to inspect?

Theoretically every 2 years (routine). In practice: if someone files a complaint or there's a disease outbreak, they come sooner. Always be ready. A good hygiene plan and log are your protection.

Summary

Opening a physiotherapy practice in Poland is 10 steps, 23 items to check, 8,500-9,000 PLN in expenses, and a month of time. But if you do it right from the start, you'll have a legal, safe practice for the next 20 years.

Don't do it alone if you don't know where to start. The templates, checklist and procedures in the STARTER package will save you time, stress and money. And that's just the beginning -- some marketing, your first patients, and learning to manage a business still await you.

But those are topics for future articles.

CTA: See FizjoReady packages →
Ready to open your practice but don't want to make compliance mistakes? The STARTER package includes:
- Templates for the patient record, treatment plan, treatment log
- GDPR privacy notice and consent form
- Hygiene plan and disinfection log
- Printable 23-point checklist
- Data breach procedure
- Email support (response within 24h)
Only 299 PLN. [STRIPE LINK]

Related articles:
- Checklist: 23 things to sort out before opening a physiotherapy practice
- 7 most common compliance mistakes in physiotherapy practices (and how to avoid them)
- How to choose premises for a physiotherapy practice -- requirements and pitfalls
- RPWDL registration -- step by step
- Physiotherapist liability insurance -- how much it costs and what it covers
- Medical documentation for physiotherapists -- patient record, treatment plan, treatment log
- GDPR for physiotherapy practices -- what you need to know
- Sanitary inspectorate requirements for physiotherapy practices -- hygiene plan and disinfection log
- Costs of opening a physiotherapy practice -- detailed budget
- Solo practice or group practice -- which form to choose