How the Auxiliares de Conversación programme works in Spain
Auxiliar de Conversación: a government-funded language assistant role in which a native or fluent English speaker supports a Spanish classroom teacher for roughly 12–16 hours per week, receiving a monthly stipend of €700–€1,100 plus, in most regions, public healthcare and a student or non-lucrative visa sponsorship. It is the single most common legal route for non-EU citizens, particularly Americans, to live and teach English in Spain.
The programme places assistants in state schools across all 17 autonomous communities. You are not the lead teacher: your job is to model authentic pronunciation, lead conversation activities, prepare culturally rich materials and act as a living link to English-speaking culture. Because the role is a cultural-exchange grant rather than a full employment contract, the stipend is modest, but the visa access, low required hours and long holidays make it the classic first step into teaching English in Spain.
Key facts about the language assistant programme
- Monthly stipend: €700 in most regions, rising to €1,000–€1,100 in Madrid, reflecting higher hours and cost of living.
- Weekly hours: 12 hours in most communities; 16 hours in Madrid.
- Contract length: the school year, from October to May or June, with an option to renew.
- Eligibility: citizens of eligible countries (including the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand) with a bachelor's degree or, for some regions, current university enrolment.
- Visa: non-EU assistants receive a student visa; EU/EEA citizens simply register on arrival.
- Healthcare: public or private cover is provided in most regions as part of the placement.
Which programme should you apply to?
There is no single "Auxiliares" scheme. The Spanish Ministry of Education runs the national programme (branded NALCAP for North American applicants), while several regions and private organisations run parallel schemes with different stipends, hours and application windows. Choosing the right one is the most important decision you will make, because it determines your pay, your region and your paperwork.
| Programme | Run by | Stipend | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| National (Ministry / NALCAP) | Ministerio de Educación | €700–€1,000 | First-time applicants, US & Canada |
| Comunidad de Madrid | Regional government | €1,000–€1,100 | Higher pay, city life |
| BEDA | Catholic schools network | €1,000–€1,300 | Faith schools, extra hours |
| UCETAM / private schemes | Private cooperatives | €900–€1,300 | Madrid semi-private schools |
| Meddeas | Private foundation | €900–€1,100 | Structured support, mentoring |
How do I apply for the Auxiliares de Conversación programme?
The national programme opens its application portal, Profex, in the winter for the following academic year, and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis by application date. Applying early — ideally within days of the portal opening — is the single biggest factor in securing your preferred region.
- Confirm eligibility: hold a passport from an eligible country and a bachelor's degree (or be a final-year student in some regions).
- Register on Profex: create an account on the Spanish Ministry of Education's official portal as soon as it opens.
- Submit documents: upload your degree, a statement of purpose and a reference letter.
- Rank your regions: list your preferred autonomous communities; popular cities fill fastest.
- Receive your placement (carta de nombramiento): this official appointment letter is what you use to apply for your visa.
- Apply for your student visa at a Spanish consulate in your home country.
For the full national timeline, eligibility rules and the Profex portal itself, consult the Spanish Ministry of Education's official Auxiliares page. North American applicants should also review the official Spain information portal for regional guidance.
How much do Auxiliares de Conversación get paid by region?
Stipends are set regionally, so where you are placed matters as much as which programme you join. Madrid pays the most but demands 16 hours a week and has the highest rents; smaller communities such as Extremadura or Galicia pay the base stipend but offer far cheaper living costs, meaning your real disposable income can be higher outside the big cities.
| Region | Monthly stipend | Weekly hours | Cost-of-living note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | €1,000–€1,100 | 16 | High rent, best transport |
| Most regions (national) | €700 | 12 | Moderate, budget-friendly |
| Galicia / Extremadura | €700 | 12 | Low rent, high real income |
| Catalonia (Barcelona) | €700 | 12 | High rent, strong tutoring market |
For a full comparison of how these figures sit against academy and international-school pay, see our dedicated English teacher salary breakdown for Spain, and if you want to choose your placement city carefully, read our guide to the best cities to teach English in Spain.
Can you live on the stipend? The cost-of-living reality
The honest answer is that the stipend covers a comfortable but frugal lifestyle in most of Spain, and is tight in Madrid or Barcelona without a top-up. A shared flat outside the centre typically costs €350–€550 a month; groceries, transport and a social life add another €400–€600. Almost every successful assistant supplements their income with private tutoring, which pays €15–€25 per hour for general English and €25–€50 for exam or business classes. Because the programme only requires 12–16 hours a week, there is ample time to build a private client base and effectively double your take-home pay.
Do you need a TEFL certificate or a degree?
A bachelor's degree (in any subject) is the core requirement for the national programme, and some regions accept final-year students. A TEFL certificate is not strictly mandatory to be accepted, but it is strongly recommended: it teaches you classroom management and lesson planning you will use from day one, strengthens your application, and is essential if you want to move from assistant work into better-paid academy or private teaching. A 120-hour TEFL certificate is the industry standard. For the full requirements picture, read our guide on whether you need a degree or TEFL certificate to teach in Spain.
Visas and paperwork for non-EU assistants
If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, your placement letter allows you to apply for a student visa at a Spanish consulate in your home country. Once in Spain you complete your empadronamiento (town-hall registration) and apply for your TIE residence card. EU/EEA citizens skip the visa entirely and simply obtain an NIE number. The full process, timelines and document checklists are covered in our Spain visa and work-permit guide for English teachers. Always confirm current requirements with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel.
Pros and cons of the programme
- Pros: legal work route for non-EU teachers, low weekly hours, long holidays, healthcare, a soft landing into Spanish life and time to build private clients.
- Cons: modest stipend, payments can be delayed early in the year, limited career progression within the role, and placement region is not guaranteed.
Life after the programme: your next step
Many assistants renew for a second year, then transition into higher-paid roles: private language academies (€1,200–€1,600/month), international schools (€2,000–€3,500/month) or full-time private tutoring. The programme is best seen as a funded, low-risk on-ramp. If you are weighing Spain against other markets before committing, our comparison of teaching English in Spain versus Europe and Asia puts the lifestyle-over-savings trade-off in context. For the complete market overview, return to our Teach English in Spain salary and visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the Auxiliares de Conversación programme are answered in the FAQ section below.
