Proving your Spanish for a regulated profession

Terms used

• DELE — The DELE is an official Spanish-language diploma issued by Instituto Cervantes, awarded at set levels.
• SIELE — The SIELE is an online-tested Spanish-language certificate, graded on the European levels.
• Escuela Oficial de Idiomas — The Escuela Oficial de Idiomas is a public language school that teaches and certifies languages.
• Colegio profesional — A colegio profesional is the professional body that registers and regulates people in a profession.

Key rules

• No national rule: No single national list says which professions need Spanish; your own body sets the level and proof.
• Common level: Where a check exists, B2 is common, and C1 is sometimes asked for teaching or legal work.
• Ask first: Confirm the level and accepted proof with your body before you book any exam.
• Regions: Public posts in some regions can also require Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian.

Levels and accepted certificates vary by body and region, so confirm them with your own professional body or the recognition authority before acting.

Your own body sets the rule

There is no national list that says which professions need Spanish, or at what level. The level and the accepted proof depend on your profession and sometimes on your region. You must find your own body's rule and follow it.

Language checks come up mostly when you ask Spain to recognise a foreign qualification. The authority can require the Spanish you need to practise. This applies mainly to:

• health professions: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists and vets
• lawyers (abogados)
• teachers in public schools
• public-sector posts

Lawyers and procuradores must also meet the requirements of their bar association. Public-sector health jobs are usually filled through exams held in Spanish.

What level and proof to expect

There is no uniform level. Where a check exists, bodies commonly ask for around B2 on the European language scale. Teaching and legal work can ask for C1. Treat these as common patterns, not as your body's rule.

Proof is typically one of these:

• a DELE diploma from Instituto Cervantes
• a SIELE certificate
• a certificate from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas, the official language school
• a degree taught in Spanish, if your body accepts it
• the body's own interview or exam, if it runs one

Public posts in some regions can also ask for Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian. Regional bodies may accept certificates in those languages.

How to find your body

1. Look up your profession in the European database of regulated professions. It lists the competent authority in Spain.
2. Use the recognition pages of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports. For university degrees, use the Ministry of Universities.
3. For health professions, recognition is handled by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Universities.
4. For other professions, the professional college (colegio profesional) or the regional government decides.
5. If you cannot tell who covers you, ask Spain's single points of contact (Ventanilla Única). They can direct you.

Then ask your body in writing which level it wants and which proof it accepts. Do this before you book an exam, so you do not pay for the wrong certificate. The checklist below puts these steps in order, and the documents list shows the proof you may need.

Documents you need

• A DELE diploma from Instituto Cervantes at the level your body asks for, if it accepts DELE.

• A SIELE certificate at the level your body asks for, if it accepts SIELE.

• A language certificate from an official language school (Escuela Oficial de Idiomas), if your body accepts it.

• A degree taught in Spanish, if your body accepts it instead of a language certificate.

• A co-official language certificate (Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian), if a regional body asks for it.

Checklist

• Find the authority or professional college that recognises your profession in Spain.

• Ask that body whether it requires proof of Spanish for your profession.

• Ask which level it wants, for example B2 or C1.

• Ask which proof it accepts: DELE, SIELE, an official language school certificate, a degree taught in Spanish, or its own interview or exam.

• Check whether the job or region also asks for a co-official language.

• Book the exam or gather the proof before you submit your recognition file.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian as well as Spanish?

Yes, you may need the regional language for public posts in regions with a co-official language, such as Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia or Valencia. Private work usually does not ask for it. Check the job or exam notice for the region.

Is B2 always enough to prove my Spanish?

No, B2 is only a common level, and some bodies ask for C1, especially for teaching or legal work. There is no single national level.

Can I prove my Spanish without a certificate?

Yes, some bodies accept a degree taught in Spanish or run their own interview or exam instead of asking for a certificate. Ask your body which of these it accepts before you pay for an exam.

Who do I ask if I cannot tell which body covers my profession?

Ask the Spanish points of single contact (Ventanilla Única), which can direct you to the right authority. The EU regulated professions database also lists the authority for each profession in Spain.