Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in Spain: 2025 Guide

In Spain, the regulation of mental health professionals is managed by regional bodies and varies significantly by role. Psychiatrists are medically licensed, and psychologists must be registered with a regional professional college (COP), while counsellors and therapists are largely unregulated.

This guide explains the requirements for each profession, how to verify a provider's official registration, and what to look for to ensure you receive qualified and legally recognised care.

Table of Contents | Jump Ahead

Official Legal Framework

Regulatory Authorities

Professional Categories and Scope of Practice

Verification Procedures for the Public

Complaint Procedures

Protected Titles and Legal Framework

Current Professional Statistics

Language Requirements

Recommendations for the Public

Sources and Verification

Official Legal Framework

Primary Legislation:

• Law 43/1979: Creation of the Official College of Psychologists (COP)
• General Law on Public Health 2011: Regulation of general health psychologists
• Royal Decree 1277/2003: Regulation of psychology profession
• Regional COP Statutes: Autonomous community-specific regulations

Regulatory Authorities

1. OFFICIAL COLLEGES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS (COP)

Legal Authority: Law 43/1979 and regional statutes

Mandatory Membership: Required for all practising psychologists

Regional Structure:

• Autonomous Community Basis: Each region has its own COP
• Madrid COP: Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid
• Catalonia COP: Col·legi Oficial de Psicòlegs de Catalunya
• Andalusia COP: Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Andalucía Oriental/Occidental
• Valencia COP: Col·legi Oficial de Psicòlegs de la Comunitat Valenciana

• Professional licensing and registration
• Professional standards development and enforcement
• Disciplinary procedures and professional conduct oversight
• Continuing education requirements
• Professional advocacy and representation
• Public protection measures

2. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Authority: Foreign degree recognition and equivalence

Functions:

• Homologación: Recognition of foreign degrees
• Equivalencia: Equivalence assessment of qualifications
• Habilitación: Professional authorisation for specific practices
• Academic standards oversight

3. MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Authority: Health system integration and clinical practice standards

Functions:

• Clinical psychology specialisation oversight
• Health system integration standards
• Public health policy development
• Healthcare professional coordination

Professional Categories and Scope of Practice

1. PSYCHOLOGIST (REGULATED)

Regulatory Authority: Regional COP (mandatory registration)

License Required: COP membership certificate

Education Requirements:

• Licenciatura/Grado: University degree in Psychology (4-5 years)
• Master's Degree: Optional but increasingly required for specialised practice
• Foreign Qualifications: Homologation required for non-Spanish degrees

• Nationality: Spanish or EU citizenship, or international treaty eligibility
• Age: Must be of legal age (18+)
• Academic Qualification: Official psychology degree or homologated foreign degree
• Legal Capacity: Not incapacitated or professionally disqualified
• Fees: Registration fee and proportional semester fee

• Psychological Assessment: Comprehensive psychological evaluation
• Psychological Intervention: Therapeutic and counselling services
• Consultation: Professional consultation services
• Research: Psychological research activities
• Teaching: Psychology education and training
• Supervision: Professional supervision services

2. GENERAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGIST (SPECIALIZED)

Regulatory Authority: COP registration plus health specialisation

License Required: Master's in General Health Psychology

Education Requirements:

• Psychology Degree: University degree in Psychology
• Master's in General Health Psychology: Specialised master's program
• Supervised Practice: Clinical practice under supervision
• Professional Competency: Demonstrated clinical competency

• Clinical Assessment: Mental health assessment and diagnosis
• Psychological Treatment: Evidence-based psychological interventions
• Health Psychology: Health-related psychological services
• Prevention: Mental health prevention programs
• Rehabilitation: Psychological rehabilitation services

• Healthcare Setting: Can work in healthcare settings
• Insurance Coverage: May be covered by health insurance
• Specialised Interventions: Limited to general health psychology scope

3. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST (HIGHLY SPECIALIZED)

Regulatory Authority: Health system specialisation

License Required: PIR (Psychologist Internal Resident) training

Education Requirements:

• Psychology Degree: University degree in Psychology
• PIR Training: 4-year specialised clinical psychology residency
• Competitive Examination: National competitive examination for PIR positions
• Supervised Practice: Extensive supervised clinical experience

• Complex Clinical Cases: Treatment of severe mental health conditions
• Psychiatric Collaboration: Work within psychiatric teams
• Hospital Settings: Practice in hospital and clinical settings
• Specialised Interventions: Advanced clinical psychological interventions
• Research: Clinical research and evidence-based practice

4. PSYCHIATRIST (MEDICAL REGULATION)

Regulatory Authority: Medical professional colleges

License Required: Medical license plus psychiatric specialisation

Education Requirements:

• Medical Degree: 6-year medical studies
• Medical License: Registration with the medical professional college
• Psychiatric Residency: Specialised psychiatric training (MIR)
• Board Certification: Psychiatric specialist certification

• Full Medical Authority: Can prescribe medication and perform medical procedures
• Psychiatric Diagnosis: Complex psychiatric assessment and diagnosis
• Medical Interventions: Psychiatric medical treatments
• Hospitalisation: Can admit patients to psychiatric facilities
• Psychotherapy: Can provide psychotherapeutic treatment

5. COUNSELOR/THERAPIST (LIMITED REGULATION)

Regulatory Status: Less regulated than psychology

Requirements: Variable depending on practice area

Practice Considerations:

• No Mandatory College: No mandatory professional college membership
• Professional Associations: Optional membership in counselling associations
• Scope Limitations: Cannot use "Psychologist" title without proper qualification
• Ethical Standards: Must adhere to professional ethical standards

• Asociación Española de Terapia Cognitivo-Conductual
• International Coach Federation (ICF) Spain
• Various specialised therapy associations

Verification Procedures for the Public

Verifying Psychologist Credentials:

• COP Registration Check: Verify registration with the relevant regional COP
• Professional Certificate: Confirm possession of a valid COP membership certificate
• Specialisation Verification: Check specialised training and qualifications
• Academic Qualification: Verify psychology degree and any homologation
• Professional Standing: Confirm good standing with professional college

• Madrid (COP Madrid) Search Portal: https://www.copmadrid.org/web/
• Catalonia (COPC) Search Portal
• National Council Search (links to all regional COPs): https://www.cop.es/

Specialisation Records: Confirm specialised training credentials

Verifying International Practitioners:

• Homologation Status: Confirm recognition of foreign qualifications by Ministry of Education
• COP Registration: Verify completion of the COP registration process
• Language Proficiency: Check Spanish language competency
• Professional Authorisation: Verify any required professional authorisation (habilitación)
• Work Authorisation: Confirm legal work authorisation in Spain

Complaint Procedures

For COP-Registered Psychologists:

Process:

• Written Complaint: Submit detailed complaint to relevant regional COP
• Investigation: Professional conduct investigation by disciplinary committee
• Disciplinary Measures: Possible sanctions including:
• Professional warnings
• Continuing education requirements
• Practice restrictions
• Temporary suspension
• Permanent removal from register
• Appeal Process: Right to appeal disciplinary decisions
• Inter-Regional Coordination: Coordination between regional COPs for serious cases

For Health System Practitioners:

Process:

• Health System Complaint: Submit a complaint through health system channels
• Clinical Investigation: Investigation of clinical practice standards
• Professional Sanctions: Possible restrictions on health system practice
• Coordination: Coordination with COP disciplinary procedures

For Unlicensed Practice:

Enforcement: COP enforcement and legal action

Penalties: Legal action for unauthorised practice and title misuse

Protected Titles and Legal Framework

Legally Protected Titles:

• "Psicólogo/a": Strictly protected, requires COP registration
• "Psicólogo/a General Sanitario": Protected health psychology title
• "Psicólogo/a Clínico/a": Protected clinical psychology specialist title

Legal Requirements:

• Title Protection: Law 43/1979 and subsequent legislation protect psychology titles
• Registration Requirement: Cannot use the title without COP registration
• Professional Practice: Defined psychological practice requires registration

Legal Penalties:

• Unauthorised Practice: Legal action for practising without registration
• Title Misuse: Criminal penalties for unauthorised use of protected titles
• Professional Sanctions: COP disciplinary actions for violations

Current Professional Statistics

• Active COP Members: Tens of thousands of registered psychologists across Spain
• Regional Distribution: Varies by autonomous community
• Professional Areas: Diverse areas of psychological practice

• Registration Fee: Variable based on circumstances (recent graduates, unemployed, standard)
• Semester Fees: Ongoing membership fees required
• Professional Benefits: Access to professional services and benefits

• Continuing Education: Ongoing professional development requirements
• Training Programs: Various COP-associated training programs
• Professional Standards: Maintained through COP oversight

Language Requirements

For International Applicants:

• Spanish Proficiency: Required for professional practice
• Regional Languages: Catalan, Basque, and Galician may be required in specific regions
• Professional Communication: Essential for patient care and professional duties
• Documentation: All professional documentation in Spanish (and regional languages)

Professional Practice:

• Patient Care: Spanish language essential for effective patient communication
• Professional Collaboration: Required for healthcare and professional collaboration
• Regulatory Communication: Necessary for COP and health system communications
• Cultural Competency: Understanding of Spanish culture and healthcare system

Recommendations for the Public

When Seeking Psychological Services:

• Verify COP Registration: Check psychologist's registration with relevant regional COP
• Professional Certificate: Confirm possession of a valid COP membership certificate
• Specialisation Check: Verify specialised training and qualifications
• Professional Standing: Check good standing with the professional college
• Language Proficiency: Ensure adequate Spanish language skills

For International Practitioners:

• Homologation Process: Begin foreign degree recognition process early
• COP Registration: Understand regional COP registration requirements
• Language Preparation: Develop Spanish (and regional language) proficiency
• Professional Integration: Connect with the Spanish psychology professional community
• Legal Requirements: Understand work authorisation and professional requirements

Red Flags to Avoid:

• No COP Registration: Practitioners without COP registration
• Unauthorised Titles: Use of protected titles without proper registration
• Unverified Training: Cannot document recognised qualifications
• No Professional Certificate: Cannot provide valid COP certificate
• Unlicensed Practice: Practising without proper regulatory compliance

Sources and Verification

Official Colleges of Psychologists (COP)

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Health

Madrid COP

Catalonia COP