Question
Teaching in Spain: I would like to find out if private and semi-private schools in Spain accept teaching degrees from teachers outside of the EU? If I went through the process of homologación to validate my teaching degree here in Spain, what benefits would that bring me?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“You may be able to snag a position with a foreign degree at such a school. I have former and current clients who’ve done so. Never be shy to send out your CV to places.”
“So there isn’t a legal implication that would prevent them from hiring someone without their degree being validated in Spain ?” – “It depends on if the job type is regulated (and if the regulations require a specific credential). If not, you can hire someone who’s learned from Khan Academy, if you want. (I’m not knocking KA. It’s excellent).”
“I’ve worked at and interviewed with numerous private schools in Madrid and felt like it was totally on a case-by-case basis. Some schools will just bump up a teacher’s assistant to a full-time teacher when someone goes on leave, regardless of credentials. Others told me in the interview process that I’d need to go through the Spanish process of accreditation first.
So I definitely recommend doing a variety of reachouts through LinkedIn, emails, etc. (regardless of if they’ve listed an opening because they often have positions in the works despite not being listed!).
Of course, it would make things a lot easier if you are already permitted to live and work here residency-wise. Just my two cents.”
“I noticed I got the most responses when I tailored my emails to the school’s mission/needs (for example, when writing to a Montessori school I wrote about studying the method in my master’s, etc.)”
Conclusion
Based on the responses from members, it’s possible for non-EU teachers to find positions in private and semi-private schools in Spain even without a validated (homologated) degree. However, the requirements can vary significantly depending on the school’s policies and the type of position being offered.
Some institutions might prioritize experience and practical skills over formal accreditation, while others may insist on completing the Spanish homologación process for foreign degrees.
Tailoring your application to match the school’s mission and reaching out even when no positions are listed can increase your chances of success. Additionally, having residency and work permissions in Spain can be an advantage.
