State of play (excerpt from the last annual National Report on validtion of Non-formal and informal learning)
At this moment, there are some pilot experiences in Spain. The regional division in Autonomous Communities (17) provides the autonomy to regions to do what they can to adapt to the national regulation of the Organic Act 5/2002, of 19 June on Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training (State Official Journal of 20). The National Institute of Qualifications (INCUAL) was created in 1999 as a support of the General Council of Vocational Training. This Institute is responsible for coordinating the development to recognise acquisition of competences and provide the guidelines to prepare the Certificate of Professional Standards.
Each of 17 regions can develop an autonomous organisation to adapt the national regulations to their own context. Nowadays there are 6 institutes or regional agencies that have developed some pilot experiences with different levels of outcomes. The rest of the regions are at different levels of development and they are taking steps in a good way to enrich the national system of accreditation of experience.
The national legislation is already prepared but, at this moment, we are expecting that the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs publish the Royal Decree with the guidelines of laying down the procedure and requirements for evaluation and accreditation of skills acquired through work experience (but not through formal training pathways), and its effects.
Web: The National Institute of Qualifications (INCUAL): http://www.mepsyd.es/educa/incual/ice_incual.html
