Education & Healthcare

Find more information about various possibilities for studying Spanish in the U.S. included below. For more details, see the Education Office website.

The Cervantes Institute is a public institution founded by Spain in 1991. The institute promotes Spanish, other languages spoken in Spain, and the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. Initiatives by the Institute are found in 77 cities in 44 countries on all continents.

In the U.S., there are Cervantes Institutes in Albuquerque, Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Seattle.

Spanish Language and Cultural Education

Spain’s Ministry of Education, via it’s A.L.C.E​ program provides free language and culture classes to the children of Spanish citizens who study in American elementary or middle schools.

Classes, which take place outside of school hours, are taught by Spanish teachers. Classes are offered in various locations in and around New York City and Washington, D.C.

Educational Equivalencies of Studies in the U.S.

See the Education Office’s website for more information.

More Information about Studying in the U.S.

Attending school is mandatory in the U.S. beginning at 5 years of age. Students attend Elementary School, Middle School, and then High School. Upon finishing High School. students can choose to attend college/university, or pursue another type of professional training. Universities are either public or private. Public Universities tend to be less expensive, especially if students reside in the same state as the University.

After graduating University with a Bachelor’s Degree, students can pursue further education if they so choose. Options for further education include Masters, Doctorate, Medical, or Law programs.

As always, before committing to attending any school or university, do detailed research of legal and financial implications that may result as part of attendance.

Healthcare in the U.S.

The Social Security agreement between Spain and the U.S. does not cover healthcare. For information about healthcare during temporary stays outside of Spain, see this link (in Spanish).

For more information, visit the Social Security and Employment Office’s website (in Spanish).

More information about Health Care in the U.S

In the U.S., public healthcare is unavailable until age 65. That means that individuals must choose from plans offered by various private health insurance companies. In 2010 however, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. Among other changes, this means that people with lower levels of income can receive tax credits for their health insurance if they register for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. To get more information, and see if you qualify, visit www.healthcare.gov.

Temporary Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.

If your stay in the U.S. is short term, look into a travel-health insurance policy. Be sure to research the details of the coverage, and the terms and conditions before purchasing the policy.