What you can coach with a UEFA B licence in Spain
With the UEFA B licence you can coach as head coach across full grassroots (up to under-16), autonomous youth, Liga Nacional Juvenil, territorial senior amateur (Regional Preferente, Primera Regional) and Tercera RFEF Femenina. As assistant you can join a UEFA A head coach in men's Tercera RFEF and División de Honor Juvenil. The exact ceiling depends on your regional federation.
Looking for a UEFA B course? Check open calls by regional federation.
WizardSummary: what UEFA B unlocks over C
UEFA B is the second rung of Spain's coaching education and the one most demanded by coaches who have spent two or three seasons in grassroots and want to move into youth and senior amateur. The jump from UEFA C is meaningful but bounded: you go from full grassroots (up to under-16) up to autonomous youth and territorial senior, and unlock the option of being assistant in national-level categories (Tercera RFEF, División de Honor Juvenil).
To understand what changes at each rung, start from the complete map of UEFA licences in Spain and compare the ceiling of each level.
Categories you can coach as head coach
With UEFA B in force, the categories you can usually take as head coach in Spain are:
| Category | Player age | UEFA B head coach? |
|---|---|---|
| Under-7 to Under-16 (grassroots) | 6-15 | Yes (full grassroots) |
| Autonomous youth | 16-18 | Yes |
| Liga Nacional Juvenil | 16-18 | Yes |
| División de Honor Juvenil | 16-18 | Assistant only |
| Senior Regional Preferente | Adult | Yes |
| Senior Primera Regional | Adult | Yes |
| Tercera RFEF Femenina (women) | Adult | Yes |
| Men's Tercera RFEF (4th tier) | Adult | Assistant only |
| Segunda RFEF and above | Adult | No |
Differences by regional federation
The UEFA convention sets the European ceiling, but each regional federation applies the rules to its concrete categories. Always check your federation's official circular before signing as a coach:
- RFFM (Madrid): UEFA B accepted for autonomous División de Honor Juvenil and senior Primera Regional.
- FCF (Catalonia): UEFA B clears Catalan División de Honor Juvenil and senior Primera Catalana; Tercera Catalana already requires UEFA B at many clubs.
- FFCV (Valencia): UEFA B ceiling at Regional Preferente senior and autonomous youth.
- RFAF (Andalusia): UEFA B covers División de Honor Andaluza Juvenil and senior División de Honor.
- FVF (Basque Country) and FGF (Galicia): similar patterns with local nuances.
Check the exact category of the club recruiting you in the regional federations directory.
Head coach vs assistant: the key distinction
UEFA B opens a new scenario compared to C: you can appear on the team sheet in national-level categories even if you are not the lead. In Tercera RFEF and División de Honor Juvenil, the RFEF requires the head coach to hold UEFA A, but accepts a UEFA B assistant. For many young coaches this is the fastest route to log minutes on a high-level amateur bench before investing in UEFA A.
The flip side: if your federation requires UEFA A for a specific competition and you only hold UEFA B, you cannot be head coach even if you sign the contract. This is usually caught when filing the federation coaching licence, not before.
What changes from UEFA C
For someone holding UEFA C, moving up to B has three practical effects:
- Unlocks autonomous youth and Liga Nacional Juvenil as head coach. The most demanded youth category for academy coaches at federation clubs.
- Access to senior amateur (Regional Preferente and Primera Regional). Modest budget but serious competition.
- Access to women's national football: Tercera RFEF Femenina as head coach.
- Assistant at national level on the men's side. The first real step toward men's Tercera RFEF and División de Honor Juvenil.
If you do not yet hold UEFA C or are unsure about the order, start with the UEFA C requirements first.
How to access UEFA B
Two basic requirements to enrol in UEFA B:
- UEFA C in force (not expired).
- Minimum 6 months of experience as a licensed coach at a federation club.
The course runs 8-12 months with a minimum of 120 hours set by UEFA (more than UEFA C) plus mandatory placements at a federation club. The price ranges between €400 and €1,200 via the federation pathway and €1,500-3,500 via the academic pathway (Sports Technician Level 2 at centres like CENAFE, ACADEF or ANEF).
To compare both pathways, see Sports Technician vs UEFA licence.
When to move up to UEFA A
UEFA A is the natural next step if you want to be head coach in Tercera RFEF, Segunda RFEF or División de Honor Juvenil. Access requires UEFA B in force and a minimum of 12 months of experience as a licensed coach. The course exceeds 180 hours and the cost rises significantly (€1,500-4,000 federation, €3,500-6,500 academic).
The honest criterion for jumping to UEFA A is not when can I but where do I want to coach. If your realistic market in the next 3 years is youth and senior amateur, UEFA B already covers it. If you are looking at national competition as head coach, start planning UEFA A.
Frequently asked questions
Can I coach Regional Preferente with UEFA B?
Yes, as head coach. Senior Regional Preferente and Primera Regional are the natural senior amateur categories for UEFA B in almost every regional federation. On the women's side the ceiling as head coach rises to Tercera RFEF Femenina. The club processes your federation coaching licence without needing UEFA A.
Can I coach División de Honor Juvenil with UEFA B?
As head coach, no in the national División de Honor (UEFA A required). Yes in the autonomous División de Honor of your regional federation if local rules allow (RFFM, RFAF and FCF accept it, FFCV sets the ceiling lower). As assistant, you can appear in any División de Honor team sheet.
Can I be assistant coach in Tercera RFEF with UEFA B?
Yes. The RFEF requires UEFA A for the head coach in Tercera RFEF, but accepts UEFA B in the coaching staff (assistant, fitness coach with sports qualification, analyst). It is one of the most common routes to log minutes on a national-level bench before investing in UEFA A.
How long does the UEFA B course last in Spain?
Between 8 and 12 months, with a minimum of 120 lecture hours set by UEFA — in practice usually 150-180 between theory, in-person sessions and assessment, plus mandatory placements at a federation club. The RFEF and regional federations open intakes 1-2 times a year, usually starting in September or January.
How much does UEFA B cost?
Federation pathway: €400 to €1,200 depending on the regional federation. Academic pathway (Sports Technician Level 2 at centres like CENAFE, ACADEF or ANEF): €1,500 to €3,500. The academic route usually includes placement management and access to the MEC grant.
Do I need UEFA C to access UEFA B?
Yes. UEFA C in force is a mandatory entry requirement for UEFA B, alongside a minimum of 6 months of experience as a licensed coach at a federation club. There is no shortcut to UEFA B without first holding UEFA C.
When should I move up to UEFA A?
When your realistic goal over the next 2-3 years is to be head coach in Tercera RFEF, Segunda RFEF or División de Honor Juvenil. If your market stays at youth and senior amateur, UEFA B already covers and the ROI of investing in UEFA A is not worth it until a specific club requires it.