FP Grado Medio/Superior

Overview

Formación Profesional (FP) is Spain's vocational education system. The courses called ciclos formativos are part of the school system and come in three levels: basic (grado básico), intermediate (grado medio) and higher (grado superior). This page covers the intermediate and higher cycles.

There is no single national entrance exam. You get into a cycle through a qualification you already hold, a preparatory course, or an access exam (prueba de acceso). Spain's regional education administrations organise the access exams and the places, so dates, fees and places differ by region. Check your region's education department for the current call.

Both sources are consolidated texts of Spanish law published by the BOE. The BOE says consolidated texts are informative and not legally binding, so for legal use consult the official publication.

Who can apply

Intermediate cycle (grado medio). You need one of these:

• The title of Graduado en Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO).

• A specific preparatory course for access to intermediate cycles, in an authorised school.

• A pass in an access exam.

• The title of Técnico Básico.

For the preparatory course or the access exam, you must be at least 17 years old in the year of the exam.

Higher cycle (grado superior). You need one of these:

• The title of Bachiller.

• The title of Técnico (intermediate FP).

• A specific preparatory course for access to higher cycles, in an authorised school.

• A pass in an access exam.

• A higher FP title (Técnico Superior) or a university degree.

For the preparatory course or the access exam, you must be at least 19 years old in the year of the exam.

Basic cycle (grado básico). It is for younger students. The requirements are being 15 (or turning 15 in the calendar year), having completed the third year of ESO or exceptionally the second, and a proposal from the teaching team to the parents or guardians.

Exam pattern

The education administrations call the access exams regularly, for all cycles they offer.

The administrations also offer preparatory courses for people who lack the entry requirements. Passing all or part of a course can give a full or partial exemption from the access exam. A professional certificate related to the cycle is also taken into account for exemption. For students who completed basic FP modules of the professional area but not the whole cycle, a specific access exam adapted to the cycle's professional profile may be set.

The exams must have measures to ensure equal opportunity and accessibility, including reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or specific educational support needs.

The format, number of papers and pass mark of the access exams are set by each region and are not given in the national text.

Cycle structure

• Intermediate and higher cycles last 2 or 3 academic years, depending on the basic curriculum for each cycle. Basic cycles last 2.

• Cycles are modular. They include professional modules, modules on career guidance and entrepreneurship, optional modules, and an intermodular project. The project must be defended before the teaching team. In intermediate and higher cycles it lasts at least 25 hours a year.

• All cycles run on the dual model, so you spend part of the course in a company. People with relevant work experience may be exempted from that phase.

• Students can generally stay on a cycle for up to twice the number of years assigned, and can ask for part-time enrolment in some cases.

After the exam

• Passing an intermediate cycle gives the title of Técnico in the relevant profile. It gives access to higher cycles and to some arts and design education.

• Passing a higher cycle gives the title of Técnico Superior. It gives access to university degrees after an admission procedure.

• If you do not finish a cycle, you receive an academic certificate of the modules and competences passed, which counts toward partial accreditation.

• Intermediate cycles and their specialisation courses count as post-compulsory secondary education. Higher cycles and their specialisation courses count as higher education.

Preparation tips

• Find out what your region requires for the access exam and when the call opens.

• If you are short of the entry requirements, ask about the preparatory courses, because completing one can exempt you from part or all of the access exam.