Studied in the regional language: can schooling replace a certificate?

Terms used

• ESO — ESO is compulsory secondary school in Spain, usually taken from age 12 to 16.
• Bachillerato — Bachillerato is the two-year post-compulsory school stage after ESO, usually ages 16 to 18.
• JQCV — The JQCV is the Valencian language certification board, which issues Valencian certificates and recognises equivalences.
• CELGA — CELGA is the official Galician language certificate, issued in levels.

Key rules

• Schooling: Finishing school in the regional language, with the language as a subject, can exempt you from a certificate.
• Degrees: A degree taught in the language does not count on its own unless it is language-specific.
• Level: The level you get depends on your community, the stage you finished and the year you studied.

Stages, levels and listed degrees vary by community and year, so confirm them in the current regional order or equivalence table before relying on them.

Can schooling replace a certificate?

Often, yes. If you finished school in the regional language and studied the language as a subject, you may not need a separate certificate. The stage you finished and the year you studied decide the level. The rules differ by community, so check the one that applies to you.

What counts in each community

• Catalonia: ESO, Bachillerato or equivalent studies taught in Catalan in Catalonia give a right to equivalence with level B2 or C1.
• Valencia: Schooling in the Valencian line, or a school record showing the language as a subject, can lead to JQCV equivalence at the matching level.
• Galicia: Finishing ESO or Bachillerato while studying Galician gives CELGA equivalence at level 3 or 4. ESO gives level 3 and Bachillerato gives level 4, depending on the title and year.
• Basque Country and Navarre: Studies in model D (taught in Basque) give an exemption or equivalence with level B2 or C1, depending on the stage.
• Balearic Islands: A similar scheme applies, based on studies in Catalan.

What about a university degree?

Do not assume a degree taught in the regional language counts. In most communities, it does not count by itself. A degree is accepted when it is language-specific. Examples are a philology degree in the language, or a teaching degree with the language as a major. These can be equated with level C1 or C2. Check the community's table of equivalences, which exists in places such as Galicia, Catalonia and the Basque Country.

A degree where only the classes were in the regional language, with no language-specific content, is generally not accepted.

What to do

1. Find your community's current table of equivalences and check your stage and year against it.
2. Gather your school record or transcript and your title. The documents list below shows what to bring.
3. If your case is not clearly listed, ask the regional language office or the body that asked for the certificate before you pay for an exam.

Documents you need

• Your school record or academic transcript, showing you studied in the regional language and took the language as a subject. Your school or the regional education office issues it.

• Your ESO or Bachillerato title, or proof that you finished that stage, for the equivalence in Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia, the Basque Country, Navarre or the Balearic Islands.

• Your degree certificate, only if it is a language-specific degree listed in the community's table of equivalences, such as a philology degree in the language.

Frequently asked questions

Does a university degree taught in the regional language count as proof?

No, a degree taught in the regional language does not usually count as proof by itself. Some communities, such as Galicia, Catalonia and the Basque Country, list specific degrees in their table of equivalences, for example philology degrees in the language or teaching degrees with the language as a major. These are treated as level C1 or C2.

Does a degree count if only the classes were in the regional language?

Generally no, a degree taught in the language without a language-specific component is not accepted on its own. If your degree is not in the community's equivalence table, you will probably need to sit the official certificate.

Does schooling in the regional language give the same level in every community?

No, the level you are exempted from depends on the community, the stage you finished and the year studied. In Catalonia, finishing ESO or Bachillerato in Catalan gives B2 or C1. In Galicia it gives CELGA 3 or 4, and in the Basque Country and Navarre, model D studies give B2 or C1.