Spanish Homologación or Equivalencia question: Has anyone with a Liberal Studies degree ever had any success?

By
Bruno Bianchi
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Question

Homologación or Equivalencia question:
I have been doing research on this page and it’s still very confusing and discouraging!
My dream is to teach in primary schools in Spain (or secondary as a back up option if I study a MASE.) I have an undergrad degree in Liberal Studies and also in Spanish language from an American university. Is there any advantage to trying to get either or both of those degrees homologados?
Has anyone with a Liberal Studies degree ever had any success? I’m frustrated because in the US that degree is one way to be an elementary school teacher, but I doubt that it would be accepted here in Spain.
Or would there be any advantage to having my Spanish degree homologado? Perhaps I could teach Spanish at an international school to students learning Spanish? But I find that option (teaching Spanish in Spain as a foreigner) to sound ridiculous haha.
Any guidance would be appreciated! Everyone says this process is lengthy so I’m not sure if it’s worth it. But if it would be beneficial I want to start now. Thanks!
Edit: I am currently a 5th year auxiliar in Sevilla (3 years with BEDA and now starting my 2nd year with the Ministerio)

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

“Hi Elizabeth, as I’m sure you’ve figured out from what you’ve read so far, getting homologación of your US degree to be a primary school teacher here is highly unlikely. If you also have a degree in education and a license to teach in the US, plus experience in the classroom, you might be able to get work as a primary teacher in an international school. But with only an undergrad degree and no teaching experience, it’s different. Have you looked into the Auxiliares de Conversación (NALCAP) program? You wouldn’t have a real teaching position, just a classroom assistantship, but the money is (just) enough to live on, and you do get the joy of working with the kiddos. It’s only a one-five year program, but some people manage to switch after three years to positions as English teachers in academies or for private clients. Hope this helps you find your way!”

“I have been in a similar situation. From my understanding, you have to choose one degree to homogolar. For teaching in a primary school, you need a four year degree in education. With your four year degree, you will be able to study a masters to teach in a secondary school. You’ll have to look into schools that you want to study at. I had a friend study a master profesorado to teach English in Ciudad Real and her degree was in Spanish from the US. While I have an English degree and I have been fighting with the uni in Oviedo for months to let me study to teach English in a secondary school. Some schools will let you study a masters without the homogolación, others will require it. Also be aware that some will ask for you to have a B1 or B2 in Spanish. I strongly recommend starting the homogolación process ASAP if you do plan to stay in Spain long term. I submitted my documents Oct 2021 and have been waiting since. The only update I have received is that it will be completed by July 2023 so be prepared to wait a while.”

“You can do a part-time masters to qualify to teach in private schools. not sure if they do it for primary. the cost would likely be a fraction of what you’d pay in the US for postgrad. But be very careful with this route. I have a friend with a degree in the arts (music) who specify recieved a masters degree to teach here, only to find out that he wasnt eligible because is undergraduate degrees are not in education.. I think he may be eligible to teach at a concertado, but that makes finding a job limiting too.”

“Following this thread! I have a degree in exercise science/kinesiology (bachelors & masters) which qualifies me to teach in the U.S.
I reached out to a university offering a masters degree in secondary education, and they REQUIRE an undergrad degree in education for admissions to the program.
So if anyone finds a masters in Secondary Education that doesn’t require that, please let me know!
Additionally, my understanding is that you can request the university PARTIALLY homogolar your degree, so that you receive credit hours toward the degree. (In the case of wanting to start a new bachelors program, without wanting to repeat all 4 years of basic courses)”

“I was in a similar position. I finally just decided to do a new undergrad degree and am studying the primary teaching degree at a university here in Spain. The university was able to validate a bunch of my credits as well as practicum from being an auxiliar, so it cut down the university time. Not ideal to start over, but if you’re looking to stay in Spain long term, time goes by anyways and then you have the credentials to get any job in primary education (even public if you have citizenship one day). Happy to answer any questions! I was sooo lost in the beginning but starting to feeling on track now. I did do equivalencia which I still haven’t heard back from, but I think it won’t really do me any good anyways as my degree from the US wasn’t exactly in primary education.”

“This is so helpful but what is MASE? I googled and got a bunch of answers, so now confused.”

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