Qualifications for early years and vocational teachers

Terms used

• Maestro — The Maestro is the Spanish teaching title for infant and primary education, with a specialty such as infant.
• Grado en Educación Infantil — The Grado en Educación Infantil is the university degree that qualifies you to teach infant education.
• Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil — The Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil is a vocational higher-level title for early years educators.
• FP — FP is formación profesional, Spain's vocational training system.
• Oposiciones — Oposiciones are the public competitive exams used to fill permanent public posts such as state teaching jobs.
• CAP — The CAP is the older teacher-training certificate, which can exempt you from the teacher-training master.
• CCP — The CCP is an older pedagogical qualification that can exempt you from the teacher-training master.

Key rules

• Ages 3–6: You need a Maestro with infant specialty or the Grado en Educación Infantil.
• Foreign titles: Have your title recognised by the Ministry of Education before you look for teaching work.
• FP teaching: Your degree must match the specialty, and you normally need the teacher-training master unless you are exempt.
• Public posts: You must pass an oposición, and most posts also require EU nationality or equivalent.

Infant education: the titles you need

Infant education has two cycles, and each needs a specific Spanish title.

• Ages 3–6: you need a Maestro title with infant specialty, or the Grado en Educación Infantil.
• Ages 0–3: you need one of those two titles, or the Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil.

A Técnico Superior can work in the 0–3 cycle. A teacher or graduate must be responsible for the centre's educational plan.

Regions can add conditions, for example on ratios and on who leads each classroom. Ask your region's education department before you apply for a post.

FP teaching: the titles you need

For most FP posts you need a university degree that matches the specialty you want to teach. This can be a grado, licenciatura, ingeniería or arquitectura, or an equivalent.

For some specialties, a diplomatura or a technical title may be enough. The lists of accepted titles are set by specialty in the state regulations. Check yours there.

You normally also need the Máster en Formación del Profesorado, the teacher-training master. You may be exempt if you hold a CAP or CCP, or certain pedagogical qualifications. Some professionals can also be exempt where the regulations allow.

Public posts are filled through oposiciones, the public competitive exams.

If your title is from another country

Infant teaching and FP teaching are regulated professions. A foreign title must be recognised by the Ministry of Education against the Spanish levels above. Apply before you look for teaching work.

• EU titles: these are processed under the EU rules on professional qualifications. The Ministry may require compensatory measures.
• Non-EU titles: these are decided case by case. The Ministry often asks for an aptitude test or an adaptation period.

The Ministry issues a resolution. This can take months, so start early. The result depends on your specific title and your country.

Recognition lets you practise the profession. It does not make you a civil servant. For a public post you must also pass the oposición. Most posts also require EU nationality or an equivalent status.

The checklist and the questions below cover the remaining details.

Checklist

• Check that your title matches the level you want: Maestro with infant specialty or Grado en Educación Infantil for the 3–6 cycle.

• Confirm that your title allows the 0–3 cycle: Maestro with infant specialty, Grado en Educación Infantil or Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil.

• Ask your region's education department about extra conditions on ratios and who leads each classroom.

• Check whether you need the teacher-training master or qualify for an exemption, for example with a CAP or CCP.

• Ask the Ministry whether your EU or non-EU title will need compensatory measures, an aptitude test or an adaptation period.

• Check the nationality and oposición requirements for any public post you want.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil work in a nursery for ages 0–3?

Yes, a Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil can work as an educator in the 0–3 cycle, as long as a teacher or graduate is responsible for the centre's educational plan. This title does not qualify you for the 3–6 cycle. Your region may add rules on ratios and who leads each classroom.

Can I teach in FP without a teaching degree?

Yes, you can teach in FP with a degree in your specialty instead, but you normally also need the teacher-training master. For some specialties, a technical title or diplomatura may be accepted for technical vocational teacher posts. Public posts are won through oposiciones.

How long does it take to recognise a foreign teaching title?

Recognition through the Ministry of Education can take several months, so apply early. EU titles may need compensatory measures, and non-EU titles are judged case by case, often with an aptitude test or adaptation period.