The secondary teaching master (máster de formación del profesorado)

Key rules

• Infantil and Primaria: You need the matching teaching degree, not the master.
• Foreign degree: You can enrol without homologating it, if it gives access to postgraduate study in its own country.
• Admission: Each university sets its own language levels, entry test and specialty match.
• Exemptions: Old CAP or CCP holders and some pre-2009 accreditations may not need the master.

Do you need the master?

Secondary, Bachillerato, FP and official language school teachers need a relevant university degree plus the teacher-training master (máster de formación del profesorado). Infantil and Primaria teachers need the matching teaching degree instead, not the master.

For some FP specialties, a degree plus the master or equivalent teaching training is enough. Some technical specialties accept equivalent training.

Can you enrol with a foreign degree?

Yes. You do not need to homologate your degree before applying. The university checks only that your degree comes from a higher education system that allows postgraduate study in its own country, and that its level is equivalent. This check does not recognise your degree for any other purpose.

Expect these conditions:

• Degree and specialty. Your degree must match the specialty you want to teach.
• Spanish level. Non-native speakers are generally asked for B1 to B2 in Spanish, depending on the university. Some regions also ask for Valencian, Catalan or another regional language.
• Entry test. Many universities run one, often a language test.
• Foreign language. Many ask you to show a B1 in a foreign language.

Each university sets its own admission process, so read the rules of the university you are applying to.

Who is exempt?

You may not need the master if you hold one of these:

• The old Certificado de Aptitud Pedagógica (CAP) or the Curso de Cualificación Pedagógica (CCP).
• A pre-2009 pedagogical accreditation, which still counts as the teaching qualification.
• A Primaria or Infantil teaching degree or diplomatura, or a specific qualification for your specialty, under the rules of the call.
• Teaching experience before a given date, in some cases.

The exact dates and conditions are in the regulations of each call, so read them before you decide. The decision, checklist and FAQ below help you work out which route fits you.

Choosing between options

Do you need to take the teaching master, or are you exempt?

• Enrol in the master with your foreign degree: You have no old pedagogical qualification and your foreign degree gives access to postgraduate study in its own country and matches your specialty.

• Use an exemption: You hold the old CAP or CCP, a pre-2009 accreditation, or a specific qualification for your specialty that the call accepts.

• Use an experience-based route: You have teaching experience before the date the regulations set, and the call accepts it in place of the master.

Start with the exemptions. If none applies, enrol in the master, as the university will check that your degree is of an equivalent level.

Checklist

• Check which level you want to teach: the master is normally needed for secondary, Bachillerato, FP and official language school teaching, while Infantil and Primaria need the matching teaching degree.

• Check whether you already hold the old CAP or CCP, or a pre-2009 pedagogical accreditation, since these can exempt you from the master.

• Ask the call's regulations whether your teaching experience or specialty qualification gives you an exemption, and from what date.

• Check that your foreign degree gives access to postgraduate study in its own country, as the university will confirm its level.

• Look up the Spanish level the university asks for, usually B1 to B2, and any regional language requirement.

• Find out whether the university runs an entry test and asks for a B1 in a foreign language.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to homologate my foreign degree before applying to the teaching master?

No, you can apply to a Spanish university master with a foreign degree without homologation, if the degree gives access to postgraduate study in its own country. The university checks that your degree is of an equivalent level, and this check does not recognise the degree for other purposes. Admission also requires the degree to match the specialty you want.

What language level do I need to enrol in the teaching master?

Non-native speakers usually need a level between B1 and B2 in Spanish, depending on the university. Some universities also ask for Valencian, Catalan or another regional language level. Many also require a B1 in a foreign language and run an entry test, often a language test.

Can I skip the teaching master if I hold an old CAP or CCP?

Yes, if you hold the old Certificado de Aptitud Pedagógica (CAP) or the Curso de Cualificación Pedagógica (CCP), it still counts as your pedagogical qualification. Certain pre-2009 accreditations count too. Some experience-based routes exist, so read the call for the exact dates and conditions.