Proving your Spanish to work in healthcare

Terms used

• Colegio — The colegio is the professional association for your profession, where most health professionals must register to practise.
• DELE — The DELE is an official Spanish-language diploma issued by the Instituto Cervantes.
• SIELE — The SIELE is a Spanish-language certificate, taken online, that some employers and colegios accept instead of the DELE.
• Escuela Oficial de Idiomas — The Escuela Oficial de Idiomas is Spain's public language school system, which issues official language certificates.
• Perfiles lingüísticos — The perfiles lingüísticos are the Basque health service's language levels (PL1 to PL4) attached to posts.
• CELGA — The CELGA is the official Galician language certificate, issued in levels.

Key rules

• No national certificate: No national law requires a Spanish certificate such as the DELE to register with a colegio or work in health.
• Who asks: Your colegio, employer or regional health service decides what proof, if any, you need.
• Usual level: When a level is set, it is usually B2 or higher.
• Regional language: In regions with a co-official language, some public posts require it and many give extra points for it.

Practice differs between colegios, employers and regional health services, so confirm what is required with them and in the current call before booking an exam.

Who decides what proof you need

No national law makes a Spanish certificate compulsory to register with a colegio or to work as a health professional. In practice, the proof you need depends on three things: your colegio, your employer and your region. Regions with a second official language add a further layer.

You still need enough Spanish to practise safely. Colegios and employers can check this, but they should not make routine language testing a blocking step before your qualification is recognised.

What is usually accepted

Practice varies widely, so ask before you spend money on an exam. Commonly accepted proof includes:

• A DELE diploma, a SIELE certificate, or a certificate from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas.
• Proof of earlier study in Spanish, such as a degree taught in Spanish.
• A documented interview or an assessment run by the employer.

When a level is set, it is usually B2 or higher. Most public bodies do not demand a certificate at all.

Private employers and public posts

Private employers set their own standard. Many just interview you in Spanish. Ask what they want before you apply.

For public health service posts, language is checked during selection. Read the current call for the post you want. It tells you whether a certificate is needed and what level.

Regions with a co-official language

In Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, public health services often give extra points for the regional language. Some posts require it. Private-sector jobs have no such legal requirement.

• Basque Country: the health service uses "perfiles lingüísticos" (PL1 to PL4), each with set deadlines.
• Catalonia and the Balearic Islands: Catalan certificates from the regional government are used, mostly as merits.
• Galicia: CELGA levels are used.
• Valencia: certificates from the Junta Qualificadora (JQCV) are used.

The level depends on the post and the call. Check whether the regional language is required or only earns points.

What to do

Start with your colegio, then your employer. Book an exam only once you know which proof they accept. The checklist and document list below give the steps and the papers.

Documents you need

• A DELE diploma from the Instituto Cervantes, if your colegio or employer asks for a certificate. No law requires it.

• A SIELE certificate, as an alternative to the DELE if your colegio or employer accepts it.

• A certificate from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas, the official public language school, as another accepted option.

• Proof of earlier study in Spanish, such as a degree taught in Spanish, if you have no certificate.

• A regional language certificate, such as the Catalan certificates from the Generalitat, CELGA in Galicia or the Valencian JQCV certificate, for public health posts in a region with a co-official language that requires it or gives points for it.

Checklist

• Ask your colegio what Spanish proof it wants, if any, because no national law requires a certificate.

• Ask your employer whether it wants a certificate, an interview or its own assessment.

• Find out which level is asked for. It is usually B2 or higher when one is set.

• Gather proof of any degree or study taught in Spanish if you have no certificate.

• Read the current call of the regional health service if you apply for a public post in a region with a co-official language.

• Check whether the regional language is required for the post or only gives extra points.

• Book a DELE, SIELE or Escuela Oficial de Idiomas exam only after you know which proof is accepted.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a DELE certificate to join a colegio?

No, Spain has no national law that makes a DELE or any other Spanish certificate compulsory to join a colegio or to work as a health professional. Colegios and employers check your language themselves. Ask the colegio you will join what proof it wants.

What if I have no certificate but studied in Spanish?

Yes, many colegios and employers accept evidence of prior study in Spanish, such as a degree taught in Spanish, but this varies between them. Some also accept a documented interview or an assessment by the employer. Ask before paying for an exam.

Does a regional language matter for public health jobs?

Yes, in regions with a co-official language the regional language often gives extra points in public health selection, and for some posts it is required. Private-sector jobs have no such legal requirement. The level depends on the post, so read the current call from that region's health service.

Which level of Spanish do employers usually ask for?

The level asked for, if any, is usually B2 or higher. Most public bodies do not demand a certificate at all. The employer or colegio sets the level, so confirm it with them.