Working in Spain: Recognition of Diplomas and Qualifications

The effects of this recognition are exclusively professional rather than academic, and lead to authorisation to practise a profession that is regulated in Spain.

The Community Directives that regulate this field fall into two categories: 

• Sectoral Directives and 
• Directives that establish a general system of recognition

The Sectoral Directives affect the following professions, all of which are regulated in Spain: Doctors, Specialist Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Dentists, Veterinary Surgeons, Pharmacists and Architects.

The general system of recognition involves examining the training in the applicant's qualification which allows access to the corresponding profession in the host country (Spain). The system is based on the principle of mutual trust, whereby if someone is fully qualified to practise a profession in their country of origin they should be recognised to practise the profession in the host country. 

If there are differences between the training in each country for practising the same profession, compensatory mechanisms are established (an aptitude test or period of work experience) that must be fulfilled before the qualification is recognised.

Professions Regulated in Spain

The up-to-date list of professions regulated in Spain (which can only be practised when the qualification has been recognised) can be consulted on the Ministry for Education, Culture and Sport website.

Application and Bodies Competent to Recognise Qualifications

The competent authority is different for each profession. It is the ministerial department connected to the profession or the Autonomous Community department for some professions covered by the Second Directive of the General System.

General information can be obtained through the Ministry for Education, Culture and Sport, via the Subdirección General de Títulos, Convalidaciones y Homologaciones (Sub-Directorate General for Qualifications, Validations and Recognition), which is the body that coordinates the application of Community Directives in Spain.

Documentation Required

For professions regulated by Sectoral Directives:

• Certified photocopy of the academic and professional qualification.
• Certified photocopy of the document certifying nationality.
• Official translation into Spanish of the academic and professional qualification.

For professions regulated by the General System:

• Certified photocopy of the academic and professional qualifications.
• Certified photocopy of the document certifying nationality.
• Certified photocopy of the academic certificate of studies undertaken to obtain the qualification.
• Official translation into Spanish of the academic and professional qualification and academic certificate.
• The official duration of the studies followed, and total number of hours for each course taken.
• Pre-professional traineeships or work experience undertaken in companies or work experience, where applicable.

In order to practice a profession, a certificate from the competent authority in the country of origin may also be required to certify that the interested party is a professional according to the EU Directive and that they are qualified to practice.

Text last edited on: 06/2005

Source: European Union
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Reproduction is authorised.