How to Verify your Education in Spain

This question is asked by many who dream of moving to Spain. This is done in order to be able to both study at a university or a private school, and work officially in the specialty.

Most people mistakenly believe that a simple translation with further legalization in Spain is sufficient. Another group think it can be done just a few days prior and does everything at the last moment. The process of adapting a diploma to the standards of Spain is a complex bureaucratic process. Let’s figure it out together.

 

1) Legalization of the diploma and its annexes in the country of origin

This is a preparatory stage for further manipulations in Spain. It serves as proof of the document outside its country of origin. The process consists either in affixing an apostille in the issuing country (if your country is a party to the Hague Convention) or consular legalization of the diploma. Further, the diploma and supplements are translated by a sworn (or consular) translator.

2) Homologation

This is the official confirmation of diplomas of regulated professions by the Spanish Ministry of Education and equates the document to its Spanish counterpart. The procedure recognizes the specialty obtained at home as official and allows you to conduct your professional activity in Spain. Most often, homologation is necessary for specialties that require compulsory collegiality: doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, etc.

 

In some cases, diplomas obtained in countries that have signed bilateral agreements with Spain on the mutual recognition of education may be exempted from this procedure. We recommend that you always check on a case-by-case basis.

Homologation is a long-term process and can take from 6 months to 2 years, it is necessary to prepare for it in advance. Homologation requires a DELE-certified B2 level of Spanish, a curriculum and proof of professional experience.

3) Equivalence

Equivalence applies where homologation is not required. It concerns, for example, such professions as economist, programmer, etc.

In the case of submitting a document for equivalence, the procedure is simpler and does not require proof of the level of Spanish proficiency.

4) Qualification

The procedure for recognizing only a part of previously studied subjects in a specific educational institution in Spain. This shortens the term for obtaining a Spanish diploma, in contrast to the methods described above.

Subjects are determined by each university separately. It is always taken into account not only the name of the course or curriculum, but also the curriculum, number of hours and the volume of the program. How much they match with the curriculum of the Spanish education system depends on whether you are taught a subject in Spanish or not. In this case, it is imperative to complete the remaining subjects according to the curriculum.

 

In each procedure for confirming education in Spain, the following conditions must be met:

  • diploma / certificate issued in an educational institution accredited by the state;
  •  correspondence of educational equivalence: duration of training, similarity of material;
  • training is fully completed and all exams have been passed;
  • in the case of specialties requiring homologation or equivalence, the diplomas must allow work in the issuing country
  • documents must be legalized in the country of origin and translated by a sworn translator or consulate.

 

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