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1. Existing arrangements

2. Skills

In Spain, the recognition of skills acquired through non-formal and informal learning is primarily carried out at the regional level. This decentralized approach means that youth workers’ qualifications and competencies are recognized differently depending on the Autonomous Community.

However, national efforts have been made to standardize and improve the recognition of non-formal learning. A key step in this process is the Royal Decree 272/2022 (Real Decreto 272/2022, de 12 de abril, por el que se establece el Marco Español de Cualificaciones para el Aprendizaje Permanente), which establishes the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning. This decree, which came into effect on 12 April 2022, provides a framework for recognizing qualifications and competencies acquired outside the formal education system.

This topic is also covered in sub-chapter 6.9 regarding awareness-raising about non-formal and informal learning and quality youth work.

Existing arrangements

The Royal Decree 272/2022  represents a significant step towards the formal recognition of non-formal learning in Spain. It lays the foundation for the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (Marco Español de Cualificaciones, MECU), which currently  covers qualifications within the regulated education system (phase 1). However, it outlines the need to expand this framework in the future to include non-formal learning (phase 2), such as the skills acquired by youth workers through volunteering, community engagement, and participation in youth programmes. 

The inclusion of non-formal learning in the second phase of this framework is crucial, as it will enable youth workers' competencies gained outside the formal education system to be officially recognized and validated. This is particularly important for professionalizing youth work, as it ensures that the experience and skills gained by youth workers in local, regional, and volunteer-led initiatives are aligned with national qualification standards.

While national recognition systems are still developing, many Autonomous Communities have their own regional frameworks in place for recognizing youth work skills. These systems allow youth workers to receive validation for the skills they acquire through non-formal learning environments, such as youth organizations, NGOs, and local initiatives.

In parallel, the Youth Guarantee Plus Plan (2021–2027) provides a comprehensive policy framework that supports youth workers' professional development. Through this plan, the government aims to address youth unemployment and improve employability, ensuring that youth workers are equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to respond to emerging challenges in the field. The Youth Guarantee Plus Plan also complements the Royal Decree 272/2022 by reinforcing efforts to recognize youth work skills within both the formal and non-formal education systems, supporting youth workers in obtaining professional qualifications.

Skills

YouthPass

YouthPass, a certification tool used within Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programs, plays a critical role in validating non-formal learning for youth workers. YouthPass provides a way to formally recognize the skills and competencies that youth workers acquire through mobility programs and non-formal educational experiences. This tool is widely used in Spain and across Europe to ensure that skills developed outside the formal education system are officially acknowledged, contributing to the professionalization of youth work.

RECONOCE collaboration

The recognition of skills gained through volunteering and non-formal education has gained significant attention in Spain, particularly through the collaboration between INJUVE and the RECONOCE Network. This initiative aims to recognize and certify non-formal skills acquired by young people through volunteering. Although it primarily targets young people, this initiative has important implications for youth workers, as it emphasizes the importance of recognizing the skills gained outside the formal education system.

The RECONOCE collaboration is based on findings from the 2015 study, which highlighted the need for a systematic approach to recognizing skills gained through voluntary work. This effort provides a framework for youth workers to have their skills and experience officially acknowledged, which is critical for professionalizing the field of youth work.

Although the recognition of youth workers' qualifications is still developing at the national level, this initiative represents an important step toward establishing a more standardized system for validating skills acquired through non-formal education and volunteer work.