Vocational education and training (VET) is an alternative that more and more people are opting for. Thanks to it, it is possible to obtain a specialised qualification in a certain field and acquire the necessary knowledge to make your way into professional work.

VET courses stand out for their high level of practical experience. In this way, students can acquire all the necessary knowledge to build a career in the field they have chosen. In addition to this, there are internships in businesses where students have the opportunity to apply the learned theoretical knowledge and get to know the professional world first-hand, in a real context.

But, do you know what are the requirements to access Vocational education and training in Spain? Which studies are required to study a Spanish VET?

How to access Vocational education and training

To access a VET course in Spain, the requirements to be met will depend on whether we want an intermediate or an advanced course.

How to access Basic VET

Basic VET courses are aimed at students who haven’t finished the Spanish Secondary Education due to some difficulties they have faced but want to continue with formal training.

The requirements for basic vocational training are to have completed the third year of Secondary Education. Although, exceptionally, it is possible to access from the second year of Secondary Education. In addition, it is necessary to be 15 years old or, at least, to be that age within the current year.

Besides, the teaching staff of Secondary Education has to suggest the student’s family incorporation into the Basic VET.

How to access Intermediate VET

One of the main requirements to access an Intermediate VET is to be 18 years old. But it is also necessary to have a Spanish Secondary Education qualification or an equivalent, such as the assistant qualification.

  • Access from Spanish Secondary Education: you can access Intermediate VET if you have a Secondary Education qualification. A perfect option for young people who want a quick qualification to start working as soon as possible. But also for older people who want or need to retrain or specialise.
  • Access from Spanish Basic VET: you can also access Intermediate VET with a Basic VET qualification or an Assistant qualification.
  • Access from the ancient Spanish Secondary Education: you can also access Intermediate VET if you have an ancient Spanish Secondary Education (BUP) qualification.
  • Access from Baccalaureate or University: intermediate or higher studies don’t always guarantee professional success. There are times when professionals need to complement their knowledge with other more practical concepts that prepare them to work in the field they want.
  • Access from other training courses: if you already have other Intermediate VET qualifications, you can also directly access the Intermediate VET course you want. But you can also do it through an Advanced VET qualification. You may even be able to validate some subjects.
  • Admission Test to access Intermediate VET courses: if you don’t have any of these qualifications, you also have the possibility to do an admission test to access Intermediate VET courses.

How to access Advanced VET

To access Advanced VET, the minimum age is 20, except in those cases in which the students already have a technical qualification. In this case, they can access it when they are 19 years old. In addition, it is necessary to have a Baccalaureate, higher technician, or specialist technician qualification.

  • To have a Spanish Technician qualification: if you already have this qualification, whether it is from an Intermediate or Advanced VET or similar, you can directly access Advanced VET courses.
  • To have a Baccalaureate qualification: if you have already finished the Baccalaureate, you can directly access Advanced VET courses.
  • To have a Spanish Experimental Baccalaureate qualification: you can also access Advanced VET courses if you have passed the second year of any type of the Spanish Experimental Baccalaureate.
  • To have passed the ancient Spanish University Orientation Course: if you have passed this course, also known in Spain as COU, you can access an Advanced VET course.
  • Spanish University Admission Tests: if you have passed the Spanish University Admission Tests for those over 25, you can access an Advanced VET course.

How to access Advanced VET from Intermediate VET

Although some years ago it was necessary to do an admission test to pass from the Intermediate VET course to an Advanced VET course, nowadays it is no longer necessary, and instead, the student can directly access Advanced VET. However, it is important to remember that the grade obtained in the Intermediate Level is taken into account in the enrolment process, under the same conditions as those students who are applying for access with their baccalaureate qualification.

Now that you know which are the requirements to access VET, don’t wait any longer to pursue your vocation and be part of the field in which you have always dreamed of working. A training that currently has a great future in the labour market.