Upper secondary and vocational routes

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain with a teenager. After reading, you will understand the routes after ESO, how a late-arriving teen fits in, and how to choose between Bachillerato and FP.

University admission, student residence permits and the recognition of university degrees are not covered here.

Start with "Spain after compulsory school: Bachillerato, vocational training and what follows". It shows the whole map and where each route leads. If your teen is 15 or 16, go next to "Moving to Spain at 15 or 16: why ESO timing matters". If you are weighing the two main routes, read "Vocational training or Bachillerato: choosing for your teenager".

Key rules

• Compulsory schooling: Schooling is compulsory from age 6 to 16, and ESO is four courses, normally for ages 12 to 16.
• Bachillerato length: Bachillerato lasts two courses, normally for ages 16 to 18.
• Levels: FP has three main levels: FP Básica, Grado Medio and Grado Superior.
• Length: Each level normally lasts 2 years.
• Bachillerato not required: You do not need Bachillerato to start FP Grado Medio.
• Regional offer: Regions decide which Bachillerato modalities each school offers.

Documents you may need

Income and work

• Training agreement between your school and the company — FP Dual and work placements for foreign teens
• Employment contract — Moving to Spain at 15 or 16: why ESO timing matters

Other documents

• Your foreign secondary certificate — Choosing a Bachillerato modality
• Your foreign secondary qualification — Getting into vocational training with foreign qualifications
• Recognition of equivalence or homologation from the Ministry of Education — Choosing a Bachillerato modality, Getting into vocational training with foreign qualifications
• Proof of elite or high-performance athlete status — Moving to Spain at 15 or 16: why ESO timing matters
• Proof of other exceptional circumstances — Moving to Spain at 15 or 16: why ESO timing matters
• A credential from UNED — Choosing a Bachillerato modality

Upper secondary and vocational routes: questions that cross several articles

Can a teenager who arrives at 16 still enroll in school?

Yes, a teen who arrives at 16 can still enroll, but compulsory schooling only runs from age 6 to 16, so the route depends on whether ESO was finished. See Spain after compulsory school: Bachillerato, vocational training and what follows.

Can a teen without the ESO title start FP Grado Medio?

Yes, a teen without the ESO title can reach Grado Medio through the access test, if they are at least 17 in the calendar year of the test. FP Básica is another route for ages 15 to 17 with a recommendation and parental consent. Read "Vocational training (formación profesional): levels, length and where it leads" and "Getting into vocational training with foreign qualifications".

Do foreign school certificates count for vocational training entry?

Yes, foreign studies can count if they are equivalent to the Spanish ESO title (Grado Medio) or Bachillerato (Grado Superior). Often the equivalence must be recognised by the Ministry of Education. See Getting into vocational training with foreign qualifications.

Does the Bachillerato modality limit later vocational or university options?

Yes, the modality shapes later options, because each one (Ciencias y Tecnología, Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, Artes or General) fits different goals. See Spain after compulsory school: Bachillerato, vocational training and what follows.

Is all vocational training linked to work in a company?

Yes, all vocational training is dual, meaning part of the hours are spent in a company. In the general form that is at least 20% of hours, and in the intensive form it is over 30%. Read "FP Dual and work placements for foreign teens" for the rules on minors and foreign pupils.