Free digital training for registered social workers 2026

Key data

Registered social workers and social assistants in Spain can access free digital training financed with European funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. The Resolution of 18 February 2026 from Red.es formalizes the agreement that makes this training possible, published in the BOE on 30 April 2026.

The subsidy was granted to Unión Profesional through Royal Decree 876/2024, of 3 September, and the General Council of Official Colleges of Graduates in Social Work and Social Assistants acts as a collaborating entity for its management and execution.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the agreement between Red.es and the General Council of Official Colleges of Graduates in Social Work and Social Assistants. This agreement establishes the framework for the professional college to manage, as a collaborating entity, the subsidy that Unión Profesional received to develop a digital competencies training program.

The key elements of the agreement are as follows:

• Purpose: Development of a digital competencies training program aimed at social work professionals integrated in professional colleges.
• Financing: Funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, linked to Next Generation EU.
• Managing entity: Red.es, as the supervisory body and channeler of funds.
• Collaborating entity: General Council of Official Colleges of Graduates in Social Work and Social Assistants, responsible for execution and justification of expenditure.
• Subsidy beneficiary: Unión Profesional, which received the subsidy through Royal Decree 876/2024.
• Strategic objective: Reduce the digital divide in regulated professions and improve the technological training of their members.

The professional college, in its capacity as a collaborating entity, assumes specific responsibilities for justification and control of subsidized expenditure, which implies accountability obligations to Red.es.

Economic and operational impact

For social work professionals, the direct impact is positive: access to digital competencies training at no cost. Financing comes entirely from Next Generation EU European funds, channeled through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

For the General Council of Official Colleges of Graduates in Social Work, the impact is operational and one of responsibility: by assuming the role of collaborating entity, it must ensure the correct execution of the program, justification of expenditure and compliance with controls established by Red.es. Failure to meet these obligations could result in the return of received funds.

From a sector perspective, this initiative is part of a broader program promoted by Unión Profesional to digitalize professional colleges in Spain, taking advantage of available European funds until the Next Generation EU framework is exhausted.

Who does it affect?

• Registered social workers: Direct recipients of digital competencies training.
• Registered social assistants: Also included as beneficiaries of the training program.
• General Council of Official Colleges of Graduates in Social Work and Social Assistants: Acts as a collaborating entity with management, execution and expenditure justification obligations.
• Unión Profesional: Beneficiary of the subsidy granted through Royal Decree 876/2024, responsible for program design.
• Red.es: Supervisory entity that publishes the agreement and controls the correct application of funds.

Practical example

A registered social worker in Seville who wants to improve her digital competencies to manage electronic files or use digital social intervention tools can access the training program at no cost.

Access is channeled through the General Council of Official Colleges of Graduates in Social Work and Social Assistants, which, in its capacity as a collaborating entity, is the point of contact for registration and participation in training activities. The professional does not need to directly manage any procedures with Red.es or Unión Profesional: the professional college is the contact point.

For the college, the process involves registering the participation of its members, justifying expenditure to Red.es and certifying that training has been provided in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

What should professionals do now?

1. Contact the professional college: Registered social workers and social assistants should contact the General Council of Official Colleges of Graduates in Social Work and Social Assistants to learn about calls for applications and registration deadlines for the training program.
2. Verify registered status: Participation in the program is linked to being integrated in a professional college. Confirm that registration is active and up to date.
3. Identify digital training needs: Before registering, assess which digital competencies are most relevant to daily work (management of electronic files, social intervention tools, digital communication, etc.) to make the most of available training.
4. Follow college communications: The General Council, as a collaborating entity, will communicate the dates, modalities and conditions for accessing training. Activate college notifications to avoid missing deadlines.
5. For college managers: Review the justification and expenditure control obligations assumed in the agreement with Red.es to ensure regulatory compliance and avoid risks of fund return.