Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in Spain

Vocational training in Spain (formación profesional, FP) is the official route into skilled work in fields such as healthcare, IT, hospitality, audiovisual production and industry. The rules and qualifications are national, while each regional government organises the courses on offer and admission, and courses are taught in public and private centres. Our directory lists 140 active vocational schools in Spain, most of them in Madrid and Barcelona, followed by Seville, Valencia and Oviedo.

The category also includes private academies that teach practical skills outside the official FP system, such as film schools, flight-crew and aviation schools or academies preparing students for the university entrance exam (PAU). Their courses lead to the school's own certificate, which can be useful but is not an official FP qualification.

How FP works

Since the 2022 vocational training law (Ley Orgánica 3/2022), all vocational training belongs to one system with five levels, from Grado A (partial accreditation of skills) to Grado E (specialisation courses). For full-time students, the core is the training cycles (ciclos formativos) of Grado D and the courses of Grado E:

• Grado básico: for students who are 15 or turn 15 that year and have completed the third year of ESO; leads to the Título Profesional Básico
• Grado medio: requires the ESO certificate (Graduado en Educación Secundaria Obligatoria), a basic FP title or an access test; leads to the title of Técnico
• Grado superior: requires the Bachillerato, a Técnico title or an access test; leads to the title of Técnico Superior
• Cursos de especialización (Grado E): for holders of a Técnico or Técnico Superior title

Grado medio and grado superior cycles last 2,000 hours. Under the 2022 law, all training in Grados C and D is dual: it includes a period of training in a company. Where the company part exceeds 35% of the course and there is a training contract, the programme is classed as intensive dual FP. Titles range from Técnico en Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería to Técnico Superior en Desarrollo de Aplicaciones Web, and specialisation courses include subjects such as artificial intelligence and big data.

Art and design has its own parallel cycles: the Escola Massana in Barcelona, for example, offers higher-level artistic cycles (cicles artístics de grau superior).

Admission for international students

To enter a cycle with studies from another country, you first need to have them recognised (homologación) by the Ministry of Education, which handles foreign non-university qualifications through its electronic office; this also applies if you want to use a foreign FP qualification. You then apply to the regional government where you want to study, following its calendar. When demand exceeds places, regions can set quotas and admission priorities. The ministry also runs FP access tests abroad; in 2026 the ordinary registration period was 9 to 19 March.

Non-EU students who stay more than 90 days need a study visa. The consulates list grado medio cycles under post-compulsory secondary education, and grado superior cycles count as higher education. In both cases the programme must be full time and at least 50% of the teaching in person. You also need proof of financial means of 100% of the IPREM (€600 a month in 2026) and full health insurance with no co-payments.

Costs and funding

Fees and places at public centres depend on the region. Private centres set their own fees, so compare the full price, including materials and any uniforms or equipment. The Ministry of Education publishes a separate grant call for FP students each year, including for the 2026-27 academic year, and regions offer their own grants.

From FP to university

A Técnico Superior title gives access to university bachelor's degrees through an admission procedure, and graduates can sit the voluntary part of the PAU to raise their admission grade for degrees with high demand. Universities may also recognise ECTS credits for modules of a grado superior, but not all universities do so, nor do they all recognise the same number of credits. Some FP centres work closely with universities: Campus Professional UManresa shares facilities with the university campus in Manresa, and CETT in Barcelona teaches both FP and university degrees in tourism, hospitality and gastronomy.

How to choose

• Official title or own certificate: check that the course leads to a Técnico or Técnico Superior title listed by the Ministry of Education
• Company training: how the dual period is organised and with which employers
• Mode: in person or at a distance, which matters for a visa
• Region: admission calendars and fees differ
• Facilities and equipment for practical modules

Examples of centres teaching official FP in our directory are Campus FP Leganés, with higher-level cycles such as web application development and 3D animation, CESUR Madrid Chamartín, the hotel school of JOVIAT in Manresa and CETT in Barcelona.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between grado medio and grado superior?

Grado medio follows compulsory secondary school (ESO) and leads to the title of Técnico. Grado superior follows the Bachillerato or a grado medio and leads to the title of Técnico Superior, which also gives access to university.

How long does an FP course take?

Grado medio and grado superior cycles have 2,000 hours of training, including a period in a company.

Can foreign students study FP in Spain?

Yes. You need to have your previous studies recognised by the Ministry of Education, apply for a place in the region of your choice and, if you are from outside the EU and stay more than 90 days, obtain a study visa for a full-time course.

Can I go to university after FP?

Yes. A Técnico Superior title gives access to university bachelor's degrees through an admission procedure, and some universities recognise credits from the cycle.