Guidelines for Equivalences and Validations
Catalan Language
Equivalences
Equivalences are all qualifications, diplomas and certificates that have the same validity as those issued by the relevant regional governments for each level. They are governed by orders setting out the equivalency list.
The Order issued by the Regional Minister for Education, Culture and Universities on 21st February 2013 which sets out the Qualifications, Diplomas and Certificates that are Directly Equivalent to Catalan Language Certificates issued by the Balearic government. This means all government offices and bodies in the Balearic Islands accepts them as equivalent and no further supporting documents are required. In all instances covered by current regulations on recognition, no additional certificate will be issued. Each body issues its own certificates and since they are recognised as equivalent, no further certificate will be issued by any other institution.
This order sets out accreditations issued by different bodies in Catalan-speaking areas or national governments, although the stated equivalences are only valid in the Autonomous Region of the Balearic Islands. Each government establishes their own regulations with regard to Catalan language equivalence and accreditation. A certificate may be deemed equivalent and therefore accredit a specific level in one region, but not necessarily in others.
Regulations:
- Equivalences in the Balearic Islands Order issued by the Regional Minister for Education, Culture and Universities on 21st February 2013 which sets out the Qualifications, Diplomas and Certificates that are Directly Equivalent to Catalan Language Certificates issued by Directorate General for Culture and Youth (BOIB [Official Gazette of the Balearic Government] no. 34, 12th March)
- Equivalences in Catalonia Order VCP/491/2009 of 12th November that consolidates and updates Qualifications, Diplomas and Certificates that are Equivalent to Catalan Language Certificates issued by the Secretariat for Language Policy (DOGC no. 5511, 23rd November), amended by Order VCP/233/2010 of 12th April (DOGC [Official Gazette of the Catalan Government] no. 5610, 19th April)
- Equivalences in Valencia Appendix II to Order issued by the Department of Education, Research, Culture and Sport 7/2017 of 2nd March 2017 that governs Official Administrative Valencian Language Certificates, Marking Staff, and Qualification and Certificate Accreditation and Validation (DOGV [Official Gazette of the Valencian Government] no. 7993 of 6th March 2017) (regulations governing the equivalence between certificates issued by different bodies and institutions and those issues by the JQCV Examining Board).
An equivalence application may be submitted to the General Directorate of Culture for qualifications, diplomas or certificates not included in the Order of 21st February 2013.
Validations
Validations accredit Catalan language levels based on passing official high school studies (lower and upper secondary).
Individuals who have high school diplomas from the Balearic Islands
In accordance with the Order issued by the Regional Minister of Education, Culture and Universities of 28th July 2014, Catalan language courses in compulsory secondary education (ESO) may be validated for official Catalan language certificates (A2, B1, B2 and C1) from the 2000-2001 academic year.
Individuals must comply with requirements including the year and place of award of the high school diploma (compulsory [ESO] or upper secondary [bachillerato]) and the final grade for the subject in Catalan language and literature in order to obtain validation. Said requirements may be viewed at the following links:
- Validation for ESO studies taken in the Balearic Islands
- Validation for Bachillerato studies taken in the Balearic Islands.
Validation application procedure: individuals who fulfil the requirements should contact their high school.
In accordance with current regulations, validation decisions on Catalan language studies from official high school courses are solely valid in the Balearic Islands.
Individuals who have high school diplomas from Catalonia and Valencia
Certificates issued by the Government of Catalonia (Secretariat for Language Policy) and the Valencian Government (Valencian Language Examination Board) to high school students that accredit an equivalent Catalan language level are not recognised in the Balearic Islands, since each autonomous region solely recognises its own validations, in accordance with current regulations.
Therefore, individuals who were awarded their high school diploma in Catalonia or Valencia and fulfil the requirements set out in the Order issued by the Minister of Education, Culture and Universities of 28th July 2014 need to apply for validation to align with official language certificates issued by the Balearic Government.
Said requirements may be viewed at the following links:
- Validation for ESO studies taken in Catalonia
- Validation for Bachillerato studies taken in Catalonia
- Validation for ESO studies taken in Valencia
- Validation for Bachillerato studies taken in Valencia
Individuals must submit an application to the Directorate General of Culture or any official registry in order to start the procedure.
Teaching qualification certificates
These certificates qualify individuals to teach Catalan language subjects, as well as use Catalan as a general language of instruction in the Balearic Islands. Please see the Language and Cultural Education Plan (FOLC) for further information on regulations, types of certificates and teaching qualification equivalence in the Balearic Islands.
Languages
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the current standard for language teaching, assessment and accreditation. The guidelines were originally produced by the Council of Europe in 2001 and set out six language skill levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) covering the four core communication areas (listening, reading, speaking and writing).
Equivalences
Although language certificates issued by different institutions around the world may be deemed equivalent, validations as such do not exist. For example, although two language certificates may be equivalent according to the CEFR, they are always associated with a specific issuing body. Individuals wishing to accredit a particular language level need to sit a specific accrediting language test. In turn, there is no validation procedure for language skills acquired in content and language integrated learning (CLIL) subjects.
Certificate validations
Validation for different language-level certificates, diplomas or qualifications does not depend on the issuing institution but rather the host institution. There is no official status or validation of a specific certificate per se; validation will always be subject to the regulations in place at the academic institution, public administration or corporation where the certificate is to be submitted. With regard to recruitment procedures, language certificate validation will be subject to the relevant terms and conditions for the call.
Language accreditation at the UIB
For information regarding B2 accreditation in English on undergraduate programmes, please see the regulations governing foreign language level attainment on undergraduate programmes.
For other instances, please see the table of equivalences published by the Language Service.