Spain: digital registers and AI training complete modernisation of VET system

Spain has significantly updated its vocational education and training (VET) system through the Royal Decree 69/2025, approved by the Council of Ministers in February 2025. This reform aims to complete the modernisation of the VET system, making it more accessible and responsive to the current economy. The decree develops key digital tools and a new VET sector branch dedicated to artificial intelligence and data.

Catalogues and professional skills: streamlining training

The new legislation develops the management elements and tools of the Spanish VET system:

• the national catalogue of professional skills provides the basis for the design of VET provision, and serves as a reference for skills validation. It modifies the former national catalogue of occupational standards (catalogo nacional de cualificaciones in Spanish), aligning the term ‘qualification’ with EU terminology, and avoiding the misinterpretations that the Spanish term has carried over time; 

• the modular catalogue of VET contains all vocational training modules that serve as a reference for VET programmes. However, it does not include any modules that are not linked to the professional skills outlined in the catalogue of professional skills or the regional complementary vocational modules. Modules are organised by sector branch and level according to their complexity, knowledge, skills, responsibilities and autonomy, aligned with those established in the Council Recommendation of 22 May 2017 on the European qualifications framework for lifelong learning for levels 3, 4 and 5, respectively;

  
  

• the national catalogue of VET programmes compiles all the training provisions of the VET system organised by grade (A, B, C, D and E), level (1 basic, 2 intermediate and 3 higher) and sector branch. 

Digital registers: improved accessibility for citizens

The Royal Decree reinforces the traceability of training pathways through interconnected digital state registries, such as:

• the State register of vocational training, which records qualifications, certificates and accreditations within the VET system, guaranteeing their national validity;
• the State register of accreditation of professional competences, which includes personal accreditations obtained through participation in skills validation processes;
• the general registry of VET centres, which contains a list of all centres authorised to provide vocational training.

Artificial intelligence and data: new sector branch 

Recognising the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and data in the modern economy, the Spanish Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports has created a new VET sector branch dedicated to these fields, bringing the total number of VET sector branches to 27. 

This initiative consolidates all AI and data-related training programmes, preparing students for careers in this rapidly expanding sector. This move underscores the government's commitment to aligning VET with emerging labour market demands.

Background and investment

All these initiatives are part of a broader modernisation strategy, backed by an over EUR 6.500 million investment. Recent initiatives include the creation of 376 000 new VET places, applied technology (aulas ATECA) and entrepreneurship classrooms, and the development of VET programmes in emerging sectors. These efforts aim to provide flexible, accredited, and cumulative training opportunities, enabling individuals to progress in their professional careers.

Read more

• Royal Decree 69/2025 (full text in Spanish)
• Catalogues and Registers of the Spanish VET System
• Spain: VET revolution
• Council Recommendation of 22 May 2017 on the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning
• Grades
• Sector branches