Are you wondering how to make the leap from Nursing to Medicine in Spain? In this article, we'll analyze step by step the options available to transition from being a nurse to becoming a doctor: from improving your university entrance exam score to taking advantage of the quota for university graduates and managing the transfer of your academic record with at least 30 ECTS credits validated.
In addition, we will look at the key differences between both degrees, the entry requirements, possible course credit transfers, and practical advice for planning the transition.
Continue reading this article to learn everything you need to know about this exciting career opportunity.
Main differences between Nursing and Medicine
The role and the approach
Nursing is geared towards providing care and direct patient attention. Training focuses on technical procedures (medication administration and basic care) along with ethical principles and case management. In contrast, medicine offers an in-depth immersion in anatomy, physiology, pathology , and pharmacology, with clinical rotations to learn how to diagnose and treat diseases.
The duration of the studies
- El degree in Nursing has a duration of 4 years (240 ECTS). It's an in-person program with a cut-off grade of 11,714 for the 2025-2026 academic year at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), for example.
- El degree in Medicine has a duration of 6 years (360 ECTS). Afterwards, it is mandatory to take the MIR test (Medical Resident) and at least 4-5 years of specialization. For example, the UAM requires a cut-off grade of 12,978 for the 2025-26 academic year.
Career opportunities and responsibility
Medicine allows you to practice as a general practitioner, specialist, or researcher. Nursing, on the other hand, qualifies you to work in hospitals, primary care, emergency rooms, homes, and community settings.
Medical training is longer and requires greater responsibility for diagnosis and treatment, while nursing focuses on comprehensive care management and health education.
Salary difference
According to the Spanish civil service statute, nurses are classified in group A2. Their annual base salary in 2025 is €15.441,76 , while group A1 (doctors) receives €17.560,44. It is planned that nurses and physiotherapists will be moved to group A1 in the future.
To be a little more specific about the salary, the Ministry of Health report includes the minimum gross monthly salaries of nurses according to the autonomous community, where we can find that they range between €1.647 and €3.318 per month depending on the level (Primary/Specialized Care, Specialist/Generalist Nurse).
On the other hand, the average salary for a doctor in Spain in 2025 is €49.139 gross per year (approximately €35,000–€37,000 net). With on-call shifts and more than ten years of experience, this can exceed €70,000. Furthermore, some specialties, such as gynecology and dermatology, reach more than €100,000 per year.
During the MIR residency, salaries range from €18.988 in the first year to €25.984 in the fifth year.
It's worth noting that all of these amounts are approximate, as they can vary depending on many factors, such as the autonomous community, whether the employer is a public or private institution, level of experience, etc.
Motivations and advantages of starting in Nursing
Starting with Nursing can be a great strategy for getting into Medicine if you don't meet the cut-off mark after high school. Studying the first year of Nursing allows you to:
- Acquire knowledge of health sciences and become familiar with healthcare terminology.
- Be enrolled in the same university where you wish to study Medicine, which facilitates the transfer of records and the validation of subjects.
- Apply for the quota of places for university graduates, reserved by law for those who already hold a degree.
- Take advantage of the preparation that Nursing offers to reinforce medical training and acquire empathy and teamwork skills.
Pathways to Medicine from Nursing in Spain
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University entrance exams (PAU)
The most common way to improve one's score is to retake the university entrance exam. The regular admission quotas for Medicine are extremely competitive. In 2025-26, the cut-off scores for admission to Medicine ranged from 13,38 at the University of Seville, for example, to 11,86 at the University of Vic.
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Access for university graduates
Royal Decree 534/2024 requires universities to reserve between 1% and 3% of their places for those who already hold a university degree (for example, nurses). Admission is based on the grade point average of the previous degree.
Each university decides the exact number of places and admission criteria; for example, related subjects are weighted, and a minimum number of credits passed in core subjects may be required.
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Change of studies or transfer of file
Another option is to request a change of studies (transfer of academic record) from Nursing to a Medicine degree. Common requirements include:
- Having passed at least 30 ECTS (approx. 5 subjects) and that they are eligible for recognition. Royal Decree 534/2024 requires that 30 credits have been passed for subjects to be recognized, and some university regulations, such as those of the University of Castilla-La Mancha, stipulate that the university will evaluate 40% of the initial entrance grade and 60% of the academic record when ranking candidates.
- Not having passed 75% of the credits of the degree you wish to leave.
- Not having exhausted calls in subjects repeated more than twice.
- Documentation: academic record, subject programs for validation, motivation letter and copy of ID.
The number of places available per transfer is limited; priority is given to internal students, and academic achievement, subject affinity, and application date are taken into account.
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Validation of subjects
It's a good idea to prepare an equivalency table when applying for credit recognition, so you can be sure whether it's feasible for you or not. Some common equivalency options include:
| Nursing Subjects (ECTS) | Possible equivalence in Medicine |
|---|---|
| Human Physiology (6 ECTS) | Basic Physiology (6 ECTS) |
| Human Anatomy (6 ECTS) | Human Anatomy I (12 ECTS) |
| Public Health | Epidemiology and Biostatistics / Preventive Medicine and Public Health |
| Psychology | Psychological Basis of Health and Disease States |
| Sociology | Medical Humanities |
| Community Nursing I | Preventive medicine and public health |
| Medical devices | Pharmacology II/III |
Each university has its own regulations for credit recognition, so it's a good idea to consult the specific curriculum and attach the teaching guides.
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Other options: mobility and international universities
If you don't get a place at the university and community you want, consider studying in another autonomous community with lower cut-off marks (for example, 12,46 at the University of Lleida or 11,86 at the University of Vic ).
Another alternative is to study medicine abroad and then have your degree recognized in Spain.
Advantages and challenges of change
Advantages
- Knowledge base: You will have taken basic subjects (anatomy, physiology, public health) that are validated.
- Previous clinical experience: Nursing practice provides skills for treating patients and working as a team.
- Quota of graduates: The law reserves specific places for graduates.
Challenges
- High academic demandsThe cut-off marks for Medicine are above 12,5 at almost all universities. You may have to repeat the University Entrance Exam (PAU) to improve your grade.
- Limited: There is only a 1-3% quota for graduates and few places for transfers, so competition is high.
- Economic cost and timeStudying medicine takes six years, two more than nursing. Add to this the preparation for the MIR exam and residency. Furthermore, tuition at public universities is around €1 per course.
- salary differences: Although the doctor's salary is higher, training is longer and requires completing a residency.
Tips for preparing for the transition from Nursing to Medicine
- Research the rules of each university: Consult the credit recognition regulations and application deadlines. Some universities weight the initial entrance grade at 40% and the nursing record at 60%.
- Plan your cut-off markIf your entrance exam score isn't good enough, consider retaking the exam or studying higher-value subjects.
- Gather the documentation: Keep your academic record, coursework breakdown, and motivation letter up to date. The application usually requires a letter of acceptance for the new degree and a transfer fee.
- Take advantage of the experience in NursingParticipate in internships and rotations to develop clinical skills. This not only helps in medicine but also demonstrates a commitment to health.
- Keep your options openIf you don't get a place in Medicine, consider specializing in nursing (EIR) or studying other health branches, such as physiotherapy or podiatry.
Conclusion
Transitioning from Nursing to Medicine is a demanding but possible process if planned in advance. It involves meeting very high entry requirements, fulfilling legal requirements (30 ECTS credits completed, not exceeding 75% of the degree dropped out), and competing for limited places. However, the knowledge and skills you acquire in Nursing will provide a solid foundation for medical training and, thanks to the quota for graduates established by Royal Decree 534/2024, offer a specific access route.
Learning about each university's regulations, preparing your paperwork, and improving your PAU score are key steps.
Therefore, with perseverance, it is possible to transform your initial vocation into a medical career, benefiting from the deep satisfaction that being a doctor will give you (if that's what you truly desire) and the superior working conditions this profession offers.
