FP Dual and work placements for foreign teens

Terms used

• FP — FP is Spanish vocational training, with medium and higher levels, combining school study and company training.
• FCT — The FCT is the compulsory work placement in a company that forms part of an FP course.
• Beca — A beca is a grant or scholarship, which can fund an intensive placement instead of a contract.
• Contrato de formación en alternancia — The contrato de formación en alternancia is a paid training contract for intensive FP Dual, with social security and minimum-wage pay.
• Oficina de Extranjería — The Oficina de Extranjería is the immigration office that handles foreigners' residence and work authorisations.
• Seguro escolar — The seguro escolar is school accident insurance for students under 28.

Key rules

• Minimum age: Placements are normally for students aged 16 or older.
• Under 18: You cannot do night work, overtime or hazardous work, and a parent or guardian must consent.
• Work authorisation: A non-EU student needs authorisation to work for a paid training contract, but generally not for the compulsory FCT.
• Paid placements: A paid training contract means social security registration and at least the proportional minimum wage.
• Unpaid placements: School insurance covers you during an unpaid placement.

The short version

Every vocational course (FP) now includes training in a company. How much, and whether you are paid, decides which rules apply to you: contract, insurance and work authorisation. Check these with your school before the placement starts.

Two kinds of company training

• General: the company part is 20 to 30 percent of your hours. It is usually unpaid and you are not an employee. A grant is possible. A training agreement between your school and the company covers it.
• Intensive: the company part is more than 30 percent of your hours. You get either a grant (beca) or a paid contrato de formación en alternancia. The contract is a real job contract. It includes social security contributions, pay of at least the proportional minimum wage, and a cap on working time.

The compulsory placement in the general kind is often called FCT. Percentages, hours and pay vary by region and by course, so ask your school for the exact setup.

Rules if you are under 18

Placements are normally for students aged 16 or older. Some basic-level FP students are 15. If you are under 16, ask your school before assuming a placement is possible.

While you are under 18:

• You cannot work more than 8 hours a day, training time included.
• You need at least 12 hours between shifts.
• You get a 30-minute break if your day is longer than 4.5 hours.
• You cannot do night work or overtime.
• You cannot do work classed as hazardous or harmful to your health and development.

The company must assess the risks for a minor. A parent or guardian must give consent. Your region's education department may add further conditions.

Work authorisation for non-EU students

EU citizens need no authorisation.

If you are a legally resident non-EU student, you generally do not need a separate work permit for the compulsory FCT placement, because it is part of your course. For intensive FP Dual with a training contract, you need authorisation to work. Student permit holders may work within set limits. Students in irregular status can be admitted to FP and do placements. The 2025 immigration reform also opened a route to regularise training students. These rules changed recently, so ask the Oficina de Extranjería and your education authority about your own status before you sign a contract.

Insurance and social security

In an unpaid placement, you are covered by school insurance. That means the seguro escolar if you are under 28, plus the school's accident and liability policies. In a paid placement, you are registered with social security. Ask your school how an unpaid placement is registered, because this has been changing.

Finding the company

Places are limited and vary by region and sector. Industry, automotive, health and IT have many offers. Big cities and the best companies are more competitive, and grades often decide who gets a place. Usually the school or its Dual coordinator matches you with a company. Some schools ask you to propose one, so ask early.

The documents, checklist, warnings and FAQ below cover what to prepare and what to watch for.

Documents you need

• Training agreement between your school and the company, signed before the compulsory placement starts. The school arranges it.

• Training contract (contrato de formación en alternancia) if you are in intensive FP Dual. It is a paid employment contract signed with the company, with social security contributions.

• Authorisation to work, if you are a non-EU student with a paid training contract. Your immigration office issues it. EU citizens do not need it.

• Scholarship (beca) agreement, if your intensive placement is funded by a grant instead of a contract. The school or company gives it to you.

Checklist

• Ask your school whether your course is general or intensive FP Dual, and what share of hours is spent in the company.

• Ask whether the placement is paid, and if it is, whether it is a scholarship or a training contract.

• Confirm with your school and the immigration office whether your residence status lets you sign a training contract.

• Ask which insurance covers you during the placement and how you are registered with social security.

• Ask the Dual coordinator whether the school finds your company or you need to propose one.

• Give your school the consent of a parent or guardian if you are under 18.

What to watch out for

• Limits on hours for under-18s: Students under 18 cannot work more than 8 hours a day including training time, must have 12 hours between shifts, and cannot do night work or overtime. A 30-minute break is due if the day is longer than 4.5 hours. Check the schedule in your agreement or contract before you start, and tell your school if the company asks for more.

• Hazardous work is banned for minors: Under-18s may not do work classed as hazardous or harmful to their health and development, and the company must assess the risks for minors. Ask the company for its risk assessment for minors and tell your school tutor straight away if a task seems dangerous.

• Placement without parental consent: If you are a minor, a parent or guardian must consent to the placement, or it may not be allowed to start. Get the consent signed and handed to your school before the placement date.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do a work placement if I am under 16?

Usually no, because the minimum working age is 16, so FP Dual and company placements are normally for students aged 16 or older. Some basic-level FP students are 15. Ask your school whether your course makes an exception.

Do I need a work permit for the compulsory company placement (FCT)?

No, a foreign student who is legally resident as a student does not generally need a separate work permit for the compulsory FCT placement, because it is part of the course. A paid FP Dual training contract is different: you need authorisation to work. Check your own status with your school and the Oficina de Extranjería, the immigration office.

Who pays for accident cover during an unpaid placement?

In an unpaid placement you are covered by the school insurance: the seguro escolar if you are under 28, plus the school's accident and civil liability policies. In a paid training contract the company registers you with social security instead.

Who finds the company for my FP Dual place?

Usually the school matches you through its company agreements, but in some regions you are asked to help find one. Places are limited and more competitive in big cities, where grades often decide who gets one. Ask your Dual coordinator early whether you should bring your own contacts.