How Spain organizes job qualifications and vocational training

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1. The law creates the National System of Qualifications and Vocational Training, which brings together the different training offerings. It is based on principles such as equal access, participation by social stakeholders, and alignment with European Union criteria.
2. The core of the system is the National Catalog of Professional Qualifications, which lists the qualifications identified in the productive system and the associated training, organized in modules. The Government approves it and keeps it up to date.
3. Vocational training degrees and certificates of professionalism are official and valid throughout the national territory. Skills acquired through work experience or non-formal training can be assessed and accredited, even partially and on a cumulative basis.
4. Vocational training includes initial training, helping workers enter or reenter the labor market, and continuing training in companies. Public authorities must coordinate the offerings and may create Integrated Vocational Training Centers and a national network of reference centers for innovation.
5. Public authorities, especially local ones, must adapt training to groups with difficulties entering the labor market, such as school dropouts, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and the long-term unemployed. There will also be offerings not linked to the catalog, plus information and career guidance services.
6. The Government coordinates the evaluation of the system to guarantee its quality and its fit with the labor market. Secondary and vocational training teachers may teach the new offerings, and so may qualified professionals if no teachers with the right profile are available.

Who it affects

• Young people, employed workers, and unemployed workers: They are guaranteed access to vocational training and to information and guidance on jobs and training.
• People with difficulties entering the labor market: Training offerings are adapted to their specific needs to prevent social exclusion.
• Companies and social stakeholders: They take part in the system through agreements, student internships, and consultation on qualification needs.
• Teachers and qualified professionals: They may teach the vocational training offerings regulated by the law.

Words worth knowing

Cualificación profesional (professional qualification)

The set of skills relevant to employment, which can be acquired through training or work experience.

Certificado de profesionalidad (certificate of professionalism)

An official document that certifies a person's professional skills and is valid throughout Spain.

Agentes sociales (social stakeholders)

Organizations representing workers and employers, such as unions and business associations.

Centros Integrados de Formación Profesional (Integrated Vocational Training Centers)

Centers that teach all the training offerings linked to the National Catalog of Professional Qualifications.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries