How recognition differs for dentists, pharmacists and opticians

Terms used

• Odontólogo — The Odontólogo is the Spanish professional title for a dentist.
• Homologate — To homologate a foreign degree is to have Spain officially declare it equivalent to a Spanish degree.
• Colegio de odontólogos y estomatólogos — The colegio de odontólogos y estomatólogos is the provincial dental college, which dentists must join to practise.
• Director sanitario — The director sanitario is the named health director of a clinic, who must be a licensed dentist for a dental clinic.
• Colegio oficial de farmacéuticos — The colegio oficial de farmacéuticos is the provincial pharmacists' college, which pharmacists must join to practise.
• Planificación farmacéutica — The planificación farmacéutica is the regional planning system setting minimum population and distances for pharmacies.
• Colegio de ópticos-optometristas — The colegio de ópticos-optometristas is the regional opticians' college that opticians usually must join to practise.

Key rules

• Your route: Your recognition route depends on whether your degree is from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, or from outside.
• College membership: Dentists and pharmacists cannot practise without joining their provincial college, and opticians usually must join the regional one.
• Dental clinics: Companies and non-dentists can own a dental clinic if a licensed dentist directs it clinically.
• Pharmacies: Only pharmacists can own a pharmacy, each owner can hold only one, and companies cannot own one.

The short answer

Dentists, pharmacists and opticians each have a recognition route, and your route depends first on where your degree comes from: the EU, EEA or Switzerland, or somewhere else. After recognition, you must join a professional college. Ownership rules then decide which setups are open to you. Dentists have the most freedom. Pharmacists have the least.

Dentists

Recognition. If you hold an EU/EEA/Swiss dental title listed in the EU professional-qualifications directive, you apply for automatic recognition as Odontólogo (or dentist specialist). The Ministry of Health handles this, and in some cases the Ministry of Universities does.

If your degree is from outside the EU, the Ministry of Universities must homologate it, which means declaring it equivalent to the Spanish degree. You send a file with legalised and translated documents and your syllabus. You may also have to pass a compensatory test or complete a course.

Joining the college. You cannot practise without joining the provincial dental college (colegio de odontólogos y estomatólogos).

Opening a clinic. A dental clinic counts as a healthcare centre. Before you open, operate, change or close it, you need sanitary authorisation from the regional health authority. The authority looks at:

• the premises and equipment
• staff qualifications
• radiology permissions for X-rays
• waste handling

You also need municipal licences, and you must name a director sanitario, who must be a dentist.

A company or a non-dentist can own a clinic. A licensed dentist must hold the clinical direction, and qualified professionals must do the treatment. Details differ by region, so ask the health authority where you plan to open.

Pharmacists

Recognition. EU/EEA/Swiss pharmacists with a directive-listed title apply through the Ministry of Health. The title is accepted automatically after your documents and a good standing certificate from your home country are reviewed.

Non-EU pharmacists need homologation of their degree to the Spanish Farmacia degree through the Ministry of Universities. In many cases a compensatory test or course is also required.

Joining the college. Registration with the provincial pharmacists' college (colegio oficial de farmacéuticos) is mandatory for practice, including owning a pharmacy or dispensing.

Owning a pharmacy. This is the tightest area of the three.

• Only licensed pharmacists can own a pharmacy.
• Each owner can hold only one pharmacy.
• Companies cannot own one.
• Pharmacists can co-own with other pharmacists only, under regional rules.

A new pharmacy is authorised by the regional health authority through a competitive process. It scores your professional experience, training and similar points.

Regional planning rules (planificación farmacéutica) also set a minimum population per pharmacy and minimum distances between pharmacies. Many regions use ratios such as one pharmacy per 2,800 inhabitants and distances such as 250 m, but the exact figures vary. Ask the regional health authority for its current rules before you pick a location. Buying an existing pharmacy is still limited to pharmacists.

Opticians and optometrists

Optician-optometrist is a regulated health profession, and the Spanish degree is the Grado en Óptica y Optometría. EU/EEA/Swiss qualifications are recognised through the Ministry of Universities. Non-EU degrees need homologation of the foreign degree, or equivalence to the Spanish Grado, through the ministry responsible for universities.

After recognition, practice usually requires joining the regional opticians' college (colegio de ópticos-optometristas). The regional health authority licenses the opticians' shop.

What to do first

1. Work out whether your degree is EU/EEA/Swiss or non-EU.
2. Apply to the right ministry. The checklist and document list below cover the steps.
3. Join your college.
4. Only then plan a clinic, pharmacy or shop with the regional health authority.

The ministry responsible and the portal have changed over time, so confirm the current one before you apply.

Documents you need

• Your foreign degree file for non-EU dentists, with legalised and translated documents and the syllabus, for the Ministry of Universities homologation or equivalence.

• Your Directive-listed title, for EU/EEA/Swiss dentists applying for automatic recognition as Odontólogo or dentist specialist.

• Your Directive-listed pharmacy title, for EU/EEA/Swiss pharmacists applying through the Ministry of Health.

• A good standing certificate from your home country, for EU/EEA/Swiss pharmacists.

• Your foreign pharmacy degree documents, for non-EU pharmacists applying for homologation to the Spanish Farmacia degree.

Checklist

• Check whether your degree is from the EU/EEA/Switzerland or from outside, because that decides your recognition route.

• Apply to the Ministry of Universities for homologation if you are a non-EU dentist or pharmacist, and prepare for a possible compensatory test or course.

• Apply for recognition through the Ministry of Universities if you are an optician-optometrist with an EU/EEA/Swiss qualification, or for homologation of your degree if it is non-EU.

• Join the provincial dental college or pharmacists' college once recognised, since you cannot practise without it.

• Ask the regional health authority for sanitary authorisation before opening a dental clinic, and name a dentist as health director.

• Ask the regional health authority about its pharmacy planning rules before you plan a pharmacy, including minimum population and distances.

Frequently asked questions

Can a company or a non-dentist own a dental clinic in Spain?

Yes, a company or a non-dentist can own a dental clinic in Spain, as long as a licensed dentist holds the clinical direction. Treatment must also be done by qualified professionals. The clinic needs prior authorisation from the regional health authority, and the details differ by region.

Can a foreign-qualified pharmacist own more than one pharmacy?

No, a pharmacist can own only one pharmacy in Spain, and that includes foreign-qualified pharmacists once recognised and registered. Companies cannot own pharmacies. Co-ownership is allowed only among pharmacists, under rules set by each region.

How far apart do pharmacies have to be in Spain?

Minimum distances between pharmacies vary by region, and 250 m is a common figure. Regions also set a minimum population per pharmacy, often one per 2,800 inhabitants. Ask the regional health authority for the exact rules where you want to open.

Is optician-optometrist a regulated profession in Spain?

Yes, optician-optometrist is a regulated health profession in Spain, so a foreign qualification must be recognised first.