Regional language levels for teachers, health staff and lawyers

Key rules

• Teachers: In public schools in regions with a co-official language, expect to need or be rewarded for a regional-language level.
• Health staff: The level is set by the health service and job category in each call, so read the call before you apply.
• Lawyers: No regional-language level is required to register or practise as a lawyer.
• Private employers: Private schools and private health employers set their own language criteria.

Language levels and exemptions change often and differ by call, so confirm the current requirement in the official call of the education or health service you are applying to.

The short version

Recognition of your qualification does not end the process for teachers and health staff. In regions with a co-official language, the regional education and health authorities may set a language level on top. Lawyers face far fewer such rules. Regions without a co-official language do not set a requirement for teachers.

Levels differ by region, by body and by call, and calls change often. Always check the call (the official job announcement) for the post you want.

Teachers

The rules below apply to public schools. Private and subsidised schools set their own staffing rules.

• Catalonia: level C1 to teach in Catalan.
• Valencian Community: a Valencian-language qualification for posts in Valencian-teaching programmes. In other cases it earns merit points.
• Balearic Islands: a Catalan qualification for teaching access, usually B2 or C1 depending on the body.
• Galicia: CELGA 4 or its equivalent.
• Basque Country: the EGA (C1) or the linguistic profile set for each post.
• Navarre: Basque for posts in Basque-language teaching programmes.

Each call also sets its own rules for interim and temporary lists, so check those separately if you want short-term work.

Health staff

Requirements differ by region and by health service. They apply to public health services. Private employers set their own criteria. The level for each job category is set in the call, so read the call of the health service you are applying to.

• Basque Country: Osakidetza gives each post a linguistic profile and a date from which it is required. For many posts you must prove the profile.
• Catalonia: Catalan is required at a level fixed by job category.
• Balearic Islands: IB-Salut asks for Catalan by professional category. The level is generally higher for university-degree categories and lower for technical and auxiliary ones. Recent changes have eased this. For some categories Catalan is now a merit rather than an entry bar, especially during staff shortages, so it differs from call to call.
• Valencian Community: the language has mostly been a merit or a requirement for some posts. It has moved towards being required in some cases.
• Galicia: Galician counts mainly as a merit.
• Navarre: Basque counts as a merit, with a requirement for specific posts.

Lawyers

You do not need a regional-language level to practise as an abogado or procurador in any co-official region. Bar registration depends on a Spanish law degree, the state access exam and the usual requirements, not on language. The same is true for notaries and registrars, who are selected through state exams.

Language can still help. Regional notarial and registry exams give some weight to the co-official language as a merit in the transfer competition. For court staff, knowing the language is a merit. As a lawyer you have the right to use the co-official language before courts in that region.

Common questions on all three professions are in the FAQ below.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a regional-language level to register as a lawyer in Catalonia or another co-official region?

No, you do not need any regional-language level to register as an abogado or procurador in a co-official region. Bar registration depends on a Spanish law degree, the state access exam and the usual requirements. Notaries and registrars are also chosen through state exams, though the regional language can count as a merit in their transfer competitions.

Can a lawyer use the regional language in court?

Yes, lawyers have the right to use the co-official language before courts in that region. If you want to work as court staff, knowing the language is a merit rather than a requirement.

What Catalan level do I need for a health post with IB-Salut in the Balearic Islands?

The level depends on the professional category: it is generally higher for university-degree categories and lower for technical and auxiliary ones. Recent rules have eased this, so for some categories Catalan is a merit rather than an entry bar, especially during staff shortages. Read the specific call for your category.

Which regional-language levels do teachers need in public schools?

Catalonia requires level C1 for teaching in Catalan, and Galicia requires CELGA 4 or its equivalent. The Basque Country requires the EGA (C1) or the linguistic profile set for each post, and the Balearic Islands usually ask for B2 or C1 depending on the body. Regions without a co-official language set no such requirement, and private schools set their own staffing rules.