Which Spanish authority decides your recognition?

Terms used

• Homologación — Homologación is the official recognition that a foreign title is equal to a specific Spanish title.
• Equivalencia — Equivalencia is official recognition that a foreign university title matches an academic level in Spain.
• Colegio profesional — A colegio profesional is a professional association that registers people who practise a profession.
• Colegiación — Colegiación is membership of a colegio profesional, required to practise some professions.
• Comunidad autónoma — A comunidad autónoma is one of Spain's regional governments.
• Procuradores — Procuradores are court representatives who handle procedures for clients in Spanish courts.

Key rules

• Several bodies: No single office decides every case; match your title type to the right body first.
• Colegios: A colegio profesional registers you after recognition and does not normally recognise foreign titles.
• Regional professions: For regional professions, you deal with the region where you will work, not a national ministry.
• Health: Doctors usually need the degree homologated before specialty recognition.

Start with the type of title you hold

Different bodies decide different cases. Find your case below, then go to that body.

University degrees

The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities handles homologación and equivalencia of foreign university titles. The work is done by its unit for titles and recognition of qualifications. You apply through the ministry's online office (sede electrónica).

School and vocational titles

The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports handles secondary school, baccalaureate and vocational training certificates. Its units for homologation of non-university studies decide these cases.

Health professions

Health professions use two bodies:

• The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities recognises the academic degree (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and similar).
• The Ministry of Health recognises specialist titles and the professional side of health professions.

Foreign-qualified doctors usually need homologación of the degree before specialty recognition or exam entry. Specialist training in Spain is entered through national exams such as the MIR (doctors), EIR (nurses) and FIR (pharmacists). Procedures differ for EU and non-EU qualifications, so check your own route.

Professions licensed by the region

Some professions are recognised by the autonomous communities, not the state. Examples are tourist guides, certain sports technicians and instructors, social education roles and some teaching or social-care jobs.

Do it in this order:

1. Look up your profession in the national regulated professions database.
2. Contact the relevant department of the comunidad autónoma where you will work. This is usually education, tourism, sport or social services.

Rules differ by region. If you might work in more than one, ask each.

Professional registration

A colegio profesional is a professional association. Joining (colegiación) is mandatory to practise in some professions, such as lawyers, procuradores, architects and doctors. Other professions need no membership.

A colegio does not normally recognise foreign titles. It registers you after your title has been recognised or homologated. Get the recognition first, then apply to join.

Other regulated professions

For other regulated professions, the competent ministry or authority for that profession decides. The regulated professions database shows which one applies.

Where to find the right page

Official sites are on the .gob.es domain. Start from the homepages of the ministries above, or the general government portal, and navigate to the page for your case. Ministry names and structures change after government reorganisations, so if a name differs, follow the same topic on the current ministry site.

The questions below cover specialist titles, regional professions, colegios and school certificates.

Frequently asked questions

Who recognises my medical or nursing specialist title?

The Ministry of Health handles recognition of specialist titles and the professional recognition of health professions. The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities deals only with the academic degree. If you were trained abroad as a doctor, you usually need the degree homologated before specialty recognition or entry to the national specialist exams (MIR, EIR, FIR).

Which office do I contact for a regional profession such as tourist guide?

You contact the department of the autonomous community where you plan to work, usually education, tourism, sport or social services. Find your profession in the regulated professions database first, because rules differ by region.

Does a colegio profesional recognise my foreign title?

No, a colegio profesional does not normally recognise foreign titles. A colegio is a professional association, and it registers you (colegiación) after your title has been recognised or homologated. Registration is mandatory to practise for some professions, such as lawyers, architects and doctors, and not required for others.

Who handles my school or vocational training certificate?

The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports handles non-university titles, including secondary school, baccalaureate and vocational training. University degrees go to a different body, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Start from each ministry's homepage on its .gob.es website to find the right page.