International Recognition
In some countries, DELE certifications have been adopted by educational authorities and public-sector teaching institutions as a supplement to their own assessment programmes. In 2005, leading Spanish companies of international renown (Telefónica, Endesa, Repsol YPF, Grupo Santander, Fundación MAPFRE, Prosegur and Grupo Calvo) endorsed and recognised the Diplomas in Spanish (DELE) as suitable accreditation of competence in Spanish in job applicants whose first language is not Spanish and for the purposes of staff recruitment. The 2006/2007 employment offer issued by Spanish Ministry of Health for medical doctors, pharmacists, chemists, biologists, psychologists, radiologists and nursing specialists, includes as a prerequisite for those candidates whose first language is not Spanish the need to provide evidence of sufficient competence in the language. The Confederation of Spanish Industry and Business has also sanctioned this explicit recognition of the Diplomas.
Important higher education institutions, international co-operation agencies and foundations which regularly award scholarships and grants to students outside establish as a condition that those applicants whose first language is not Spanish must be holders of a Diploma in Spanish (DELE) at the appropriate level.
All over the world, universities, colleges and schools appreciate the value of the Diplomas in Spanish for academic purposes: credits, validation of studies and exemptions from courses or specific study programmes.
The Diplomas in Spanish (DELE) are valid in Spain in the following instances:
- The Diploma in Spanish (Proficiency level) will exempt holders from sitting any other examination of Spanish language competence on entering the Spanish educational system when transferring from other countries.
- The Diploma in Spanish (Intermediate level) will grant access to the upper level of the first stage of specialist training provided by Spanish Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas.
- The Diploma in Spanish (Intermediate level) or the Diploma in Spanish (Proficiency level), as appropriate, will exempt holders, provided that they are nationals of other European Union states, from sitting any other examination of Spanish language competence when applying for posts offered by the Spanish Public Administration or other public Bodies.
- The Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE) will be regarded as sufficient accreditation of competence in Spanish for the purposes of undertaking professional or academic activities in Spain for which knowledge of the language is required.
