Homologation and Validation

Homologation of Foreign University Degrees in the United States

In the United States there is no standard homologation process of foreign degrees. Each organization (university or company) has its own requirements to be fulfilled. Most universities, for example, accept official degrees from Spanish universities and, in case of doubt, have them evaluated by foreign credential evaluators. Concerning the practice of medical, legal or technical professions, it is necessary to pass a licensing exam in order to work or teach in the United States, since unlike the Spanish system, U.S. academic diplomas do not automatically entitle one for professional practice.

Homologation of U.S. University Degrees in Spain

For the homologation of a U.S. degree to the Spanish system, application must be made to the Spanish Ministry of Education:

Oficina de Información y Atención al Ciudadano
Ministerio de Educación, Política Social y Deporte
Alcalá, 36 - Planta Baja
28071 Madrid
Tel.: 902 21 85 00 - 91 701 80 00 (Switchboard)
Fax: 91 701 86 48 / 00
Web page: www.mepsyd.es/mecd/titulos/convalidacion.html

The Ministry will ask for the Hague Apostille on your diploma, which has to be requested from the Secretary of State of the state in the U.S. where the university bestowing the degree is located. These are the steps for obtaining the Hague Apostille:

1. Transcripts must be notarized by a notary public of the county where the University is located. Many U.S. universities have a notary public on campus.
   
   

2. The notarized documents must be taken to a local Clerk of the Court to have the notary's credentials certified. This step is not required if the Office of the Secretary of State recognizes the notary’s authority.
   
   

3. The notarized transcript and the diploma must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State, along with a request for the Hague Apostille.
   
   

4. Once the Apostille is obtained, the documents must be submitted to the Spanish Ministry of Education.

Addresses and telephone numbers of the Secretaries of State, as well as information on fees can be found at:

Department of State’s web page: http://travel.state.gov/about/info/customer/customer_312.html

These steps have to be followed in the state where the studies were undertaken. Unfortunately, there is no direct role that the Embassy can play in this process.

The Spanish Ministry of Education will also ask you to submit an official translation of all your documentation. For matters related to official translations and to obtain an updated list of sworn translators licensed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to practice in Spain (2007), contact:

Oficina de Interpretación de Lenguas
Secretaría General Técnica
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación
Plaza de la Provincia, 1
28071 Madrid
Tel.: 91 379 16 21 / 22 - Fax: 91 366 86 99
E-mail: interpretes.jurados@mae.es
Web page:
www.maec.es/es/MenuPpal/Ministerio

Validation of American University Courses in Spain

If you have studied only a few courses in the United States and want a Spanish university to accept them, you need to contact the Office of the Secretary of the Spanish university where you want to continue your studies.

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