PhD equivalence and ANECA accreditation for university lecturers and researchers

Terms used

• ANECA — ANECA is Spain's national agency that evaluates and accredits university lecturers and researchers.
• Profesor Contratado Doctor — The Profesor Contratado Doctor is a permanent university lecturer on a labour contract, requiring a PhD and accreditation.
• Profesor Ayudante Doctor — The Profesor Ayudante Doctor is a temporary university post for PhD holders, lasting up to 5 years, with positive evaluation required.
• Profesor Asociado — The Profesor Asociado is a part-time, temporary university post for professionals working outside academia, with no PhD or ANECA accreditation required.
• Homologación — Homologación is the formal declaration that a foreign degree equals a specific Spanish degree.

Key rules

• Accreditation: Most permanent and tenure-track figures need ANECA or regional accreditation for that specific figure.
• Profesor Asociado: This part-time post needs neither a PhD nor ANECA accreditation.
• Foreign PhD: Universities and ANECA usually accept a foreign PhD without full homologación, but may ask for an apostille and sworn translation.
• Timing: ANECA takes several months to resolve, so do not plan a start date before you have the result.

The short answer

To teach at a Spanish university in most doctoral-level posts, you need a doctorate that the university accepts and, for most permanent or tenure-track figures, accreditation from ANECA for that specific figure. Which posts need what is below.

Which posts need ANECA accreditation

• Profesor Contratado Doctor (also called Profesor Permanente Laboral): a permanent contract. It needs a PhD and accreditation from ANECA or a regional agency.
• Profesor Ayudante Doctor: a temporary contract of up to 5 years for PhD holders. It needs a positive evaluation from ANECA or the regional agency.
• Profesor Titular and Catedrático: civil-servant posts. They need the access accreditation.
• Private university lecturers: ANECA evaluation applies to a share of their staff.
• Profesor Asociado: a part-time, temporary contract for professionals who work outside the university. It needs no PhD and no ANECA accreditation. Universities may only use it for genuinely professional profiles.
• Visiting professors and pre-doctoral Ayudante posts: no ANECA accreditation needed.

The decision below helps you match your profile to a contract type. Older contract types may still exist under transitional rules, and regional agencies can differ in detail. Check the current rules with the hiring university.

Getting your foreign PhD recognised

You usually do not need full homologation of your PhD before applying. For most posts, the university and ANECA accept a foreign PhD directly. Some universities or posts instead ask for the Ministry of Universities' equivalence of your degree to the academic level of doctor.

Ask the hiring university which it wants before you start paperwork. You may also need an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation of your certificate. The documents list below covers these.

Applying to ANECA

You apply online, with the same procedure as Spanish applicants.

1. Create an account on ANECA's electronic platform.
2. Complete your CV in the ANECA format.
3. Upload your evidence of merits (publications, teaching, research), your PhD certificate and your identity document.
4. Submit within an open call. Some programmes, such as the one for access to civil-servant bodies, accept applications on a rolling basis.

Most evaluations carry no fee. Documents not in Spanish or English should be translated.

How long it takes

Resolution takes several months. Do not fix a start date until you have the result. Start the process early, ideally while you are still talking to the university.

Use the checklist and FAQ below for the step-by-step order and common questions.

Choosing between options

Which type of university contract fits you?

• Profesor Asociado: You work as a professional outside the university and want a part-time, temporary contract. No PhD or ANECA accreditation is needed, and the university decides on renewal.

• Profesor Ayudante Doctor: You hold a PhD and have a positive evaluation from ANECA or the regional agency.

• Profesor Contratado Doctor (Profesor Permanente Laboral): You hold a PhD and ANECA or regional accreditation, and want a permanent labour contract.

Without a PhD, only Asociado is open to you. With a PhD and a positive evaluation, Ayudante Doctor is open to you. With a PhD and accreditation, a permanent contract is open to you.

Documents you need

• Your PhD certificate, issued by the foreign university. Add an apostille or legalisation if the university or ANECA asks for it.

• A sworn translation of your PhD certificate if it is not in Spanish or English and the university or ANECA asks for it.

• Your identity document, uploaded with your ANECA application.

• Evidence of your merits (publications, teaching and research), uploaded with your CV in the ANECA format. Translate anything not in Spanish or English.

• The Ministry of Universities' equivalence of your foreign PhD to the academic level of doctor, if the post or the call asks for it.

Checklist

• Find out whether your post needs ANECA accreditation: Profesor Contratado Doctor, Ayudante Doctor, Profesor Titular, Catedrático and private university posts do; Profesor Asociado does not.

• Ask the hiring university whether it accepts your foreign PhD directly or wants the Ministry of Universities' equivalence to the academic level of doctor.

• Get an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation of your PhD certificate if the university or ANECA asks for them.

• Create an account on the ANECA online platform and complete your CV in the ANECA format.

• Upload your evidence of merits, PhD certificate and identity document, and submit within the open call.

• Allow several months for the resolution before you plan a start date.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Profesor Asociado post need ANECA accreditation?

No, a Profesor Asociado post does not need ANECA accreditation or a PhD. It is a part-time contract meant for professionals who also work outside the university. The same is true for visiting professors and pre-doctoral Ayudante posts.

Do I need to homologate my foreign PhD before applying for a university post?

No, for most university posts the university and ANECA accept a foreign PhD without full homologation.

How long does ANECA take to resolve an accreditation application?

ANECA takes several months to resolve an application, so apply well before you need the result. Foreign applicants use the same online procedure as Spaniards. Most evaluations carry no fee.

Can I apply to ANECA with documents that are not in Spanish?

Yes, you can apply with documents in English, but documents in any other language should come with a translation. Upload them with your CV and evidence of merits.