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Studies & Degrees in Teacher Training for Early Childhood Education

Early childhood teacher training prepares teachers for the first stage of education, before compulsory schooling starts. In Spain this stage is called Educación Infantil and covers children from birth to six years old, in two cycles. The degree combines child psychology and development, teaching methods for language, mathematics, music, art and movement, and long periods of supervised practice in schools.

Spanish rules list what graduates must be able to do. They design learning spaces for diverse groups, follow the development of language in early childhood and spot possible difficulties, know the basics of infant nutrition and hygiene, understand how schools for this age group are organised, and advise families on the education of children aged 0 to 6.

Qualifications and levels

In Spain, teaching in Educación Infantil is a regulated profession. It requires an official bachelor's degree (grado) that meets the requirements of Order ECI/3854/2007.

  • Bachelor's degree (grado). The Grado en Educación Infantil, which some universities call Magisterio de Educación Infantil, has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. The teaching practice (Practicum) takes place in early childhood schools recognised as training centres and may cover one or both cycles. Universities may add specialisations (menciones) of 30 to 60 ECTS credits.
  • Language levels. By the end of the degree students should have reached CEFR level C1 in Spanish (and in the co-official language of the region where there is one) and level B1 in a foreign language.
  • Vocational training (FP). The Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil is a higher-level vocational qualification of 2,000 hours. It leads to work as an educator in the first cycle of early childhood education and in programmes for children aged 0 to 6. It is not the teaching degree.
  • Master's degrees. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Graduates use them to specialise, for example in special educational needs or educational research, or as a step towards a doctorate.

Other countries organise this training differently. In the United Kingdom, the Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) of London Metropolitan University studies the play, development and learning of children from birth to seven years old and includes an optional placement module in the second year. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that preschool teachers typically need at least an associate's degree, and that public schools generally require a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field.

Where to study it

Our directory lists 40 schools for this subject. Of these, 38 are in Spain, one is in New Zealand and one is in the United Kingdom. In Spain the degree is taught at public and private universities and at their affiliated centres across the country.

Some examples from the directory: the Universidad de Murcia teaches a four-year, 240 ECTS degree in Spanish at its Facultad de Educación. The Universidad de Alcalá teaches its Grado en Magisterio de Educación Infantil on the Guadalajara campus. The Universidad de Málaga offers the degree at its Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación. At Mondragon Unibertsitatea the degree is taught on the Eskoriatza campus, 80% in Basque, 10% in Spanish and 10% in English, according to the university.

The language of instruction matters more here than in most degrees. Classes are in Spanish at most universities. In regions with a co-official language, part of the teaching and of the school placements may be in that language. International applicants should check the language of the degree and of the school placements before they apply.

Careers

Graduates in Spain work as teachers in the second cycle of Educación Infantil, which by law is taught by teachers with this speciality, and also in the first cycle. Posts in public schools are filled through a competitive selection process for the Cuerpo de Maestros, the body of state school teachers, organised by the regional education authorities. Private and publicly funded private schools hire directly. Other options include early intervention services and non-formal education projects for children and families.

Teaching is regulated country by country. A graduate who wants to teach in another country, or a teacher trained abroad who wants to work in Spain, has to ask the education authorities of that country how the qualification is recognised.

For the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of preschool teachers will grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become an early childhood teacher in Spain?

The Grado en Educación Infantil has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years of full-time study, including teaching practice in schools.

Is the vocational qualification in Educación Infantil the same as the teaching degree?

No. The Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil is a 2,000-hour vocational qualification that leads to work as an educator in the first cycle. The second cycle is taught by teachers with the university degree.

Which language level is needed to study this degree in Spain?

The degree is designed so that graduates reach CEFR level C1 in Spanish and B1 in a foreign language. Each university sets its own entry language requirements, so applicants should ask the admissions office.

Can a foreign-trained teacher work in a Spanish nursery or infant school?

Teaching in Educación Infantil is a regulated profession in Spain and requires the official degree or a recognised equivalent. Teachers trained abroad should ask the Spanish ministry responsible for universities about recognition of their degree.