Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in Madrid, Spain

Vocational training (formación profesional, FP) prepares students for a specific occupation, with practical training in companies built into the course. Madrid, Spain's capital, has a wide range of FP centres as well as private schools for the creative industries, such as film, animation, fashion, design, drama and dance.

Our directory lists 46 vocational and professional schools in Madrid. They fall into two groups: centres that teach official FP cycles, and private schools that award their own diplomas. Knowing the difference is important if you want a qualification that is recognised across Spain.

Official FP qualifications

Official FP is organised by the Spanish Ministry of Education into professional families (health, business, IT, image and sound, hospitality and others). The two main levels are:

• intermediate cycles (ciclos de grado medio), leading to the Técnico qualification
• higher cycles (ciclos de grado superior), leading to the Técnico Superior qualification
• specialisation courses (cursos de especialización) for people who already hold an FP qualification

A higher cycle such as the Técnico Superior en Iluminación, Captación y Tratamiento de Imagen lasts 2,000 hours, includes a period of training in a company, and corresponds to level 5A of the Spanish qualifications framework. Graduates can go on to a university degree and may have some modules recognised.

In Madrid, CES (Escuela Superior de Imagen, Sonido y Tecnología) teaches official higher cycles in audiovisual production and in the production of audiovisuals and shows, including dual and blended options. CCC offers FP cycles in health, business and technology in Madrid and online, and Grupo Aranda (Aranda Formación) teaches FP and certificados de profesionalidad, official certificates for specific occupations. ILERNA Madrid and CESUR Madrid Chamartín are further private FP centres.

Creative and specialised schools

Many of the schools in our Madrid list teach the arts and creative trades. Septima Ars has trained film and television professionals since 1992, Vélez-Per has taught fashion since 1958, and schools such as ESDIP (animation, illustration and comics), IADE (interior and fashion design) and Microfusa (sound and music technology) offer specialised courses. Some of these programmes lead to their own diplomas rather than official FP titles, so check the qualification before you enrol.

Admission and recognition

To enter an intermediate cycle you need the Spanish lower-secondary certificate (Graduado en Educación Secundaria Obligatoria) or an equivalent; higher cycles require the Bachillerato or an FP Técnico qualification, among other routes. Applicants without these can sit an entrance exam. Places at public centres are allocated through the regional admission process of the Comunidad de Madrid, with quotas and priorities when demand exceeds supply.

Foreign school certificates must be recognised (homologación) by the Ministry of Education before you apply. If you already hold a foreign vocational qualification and want to continue FP in Spain, you also have to have it recognised first, through the ministry's online office (Sede Electrónica).

Students from outside the EU need a study visa for programmes of more than 90 days. Spain's study visa covers post-compulsory secondary education, higher education and training that leads to professional qualifications or certificates.

Costs and practical tips

Private centres set their own fees, so ask each school for the full price of the cycle, including enrolment and materials. Public transport is cheap for students under 26: the Abono Joven costs €10 for 30 days of unlimited travel across the region, according to the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid, and from age 26 a monthly zone A pass costs €32.70 (prices valid until 31 December 2026).

• Check that the cycle leads to an official Técnico or Técnico Superior qualification
• Start the recognition of your foreign certificates early
• Ask about company placements and dual (work-based) options

Frequently asked questions

How long does an FP higher cycle take?

Higher cycles usually last 2,000 hours, spread over two academic years, including a period of training in a company.

Can foreigners study FP in Madrid?

Yes. You need your foreign school certificate recognised in Spain and, if you are from outside the EU, a study visa for programmes longer than 90 days.

Can I go to university after FP?

Yes. A Técnico Superior qualification gives access to university degrees, and some modules may be recognised as credits.