habilitación

Habilitación is a term used in Spanish and other Romance-language contexts to denote the act or process of enabling a person to engage in activities or to possess a recognized qualification. The word derives from habilitar, to enable or authorize.

In professional regulation, habilitación (or licensure) is the official authorization to practice a regulated occupation. It generally requires completing a prescribed education, passing exams, fulfilling supervised practice, and registering with a professional body or government agency. Renewal or continuing education may be required.

In higher education in several European countries, habilitación is a postdoctoral qualification that permits the holder to teach at university and supervise doctoral students; in Germany and some others, it constitutes the venia legendi or a prerequisite for professorship.

In civil or administrative contexts, habilitación can refer to an official permit or license to carry out a certain activity (for example, construction, business operation, or professional service) and may be issued by municipal or national authorities.

In health and social services, habilitación refers to programs that develop basic skills and independence for people with disabilities or developmental delays, distinct from rehabilitation, which aims to recover lost function.

Because the term varies by jurisdiction, the specific rights and obligations tied to habilitación depend on local law and sector. See also licensure, certification, habilitation therapy.