Cervantes Institute Accredited Schools

The Network of Associate Centers, created to promote the use of the Spanish language and guarantee effective, quality teaching of Spanish, is made up of Spanish schools which are expressly recognized as quality institutions by the Cervantes Institute, through a joint agreement. The Spanish Language Schools in Salamanca and Málaga, Spain, are accredited schools. The Spanish Language School in San Rafael, Costa Rica is an associated center.

The centers which form part of this Network are called "Associated Centers of the Instituto Cervantes", if outside Spain and "Accredited Centers of the Instituto Cervantes", if they are in Spain.

To apply for Associate or Accredited Center status, centers must:

- Include the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language in their programs.
- Be located in cities which have no Instituto Cervantes centers (save in exceptional cases).
- Have at least two years´ experience in the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language.
- Meet the minimum academic and administrative requirements, as well as those pertaining to facilities and publicity, established by the Instituto Cervantes.

The following requirements must be met by centers before applying.

1. Academic activities and quality teaching

• Centers must have spent the previous two years teaching professionally Spanish as a foreign language, offering at least two teaching levels, with Spanish as sole, high-priority or complementary subject.
• Teachers must meet specific requirements and centers must confirm this by providing copies of the degrees or professional certificates of the staff.
• Provide on a permanent basis at least two levels of Spanish.
• Have a teaching plan including, justifying and explaining the following: Definition of levels, Objectives, Content, Methodology, and Assessment criteria.

• Have a Head of Studies or a teacher who carries out academic coordination duties.

2. Facilities and equipment

There should be a total surface of at least 150 m², although centers which are entirely devoted to the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language, may be smaller.
Center must have a minimum of two classrooms, preferably one dedicated to the teaching of Spanish and a multiple use room (library, teachers' room).
A minimum of the following resources should be available: two tape recorders, a videotape player and a computer at the teachers´ disposal. In all cases, the resources must be sufficient for the volume of work of each center.

3. Administrative organization

Centers should have at least one person dedicated exclusively to administrative tasks.

4. Publicity

Centers should have an advertising pamphlet featuring the latest registration fees to be paid by students.

Accredited or Associate Centers

- Meet certain quality standards in the teaching of Spanish
- Meet the legal requirements for carrying out teaching activities
- Have adequate teaching resources
- Have a properly qualified and trained teaching team
- Have a teaching plan guaranteeing satisfactory progress
- Set a maximum number of students per class
- Issue certificates
- Present publicity which reflects accurately the services offered
- Outline course and supplementary services fees clearly

The Instituto Cervantes carries out periodic inspections and renews accreditation permits every two years. Only Accredited and Associate Centers may use Instituto Cervantes logos: