How to Get an Italian Language Certification

If you’re planning to live, work, or study in Italy, getting an Italian language certification can be an essential step. In this guide, we’ll break down the different certification levels, explain when you might need one and offer tips for preparing for your exam.

“Do I need an Italian Language Certification for Citizenship or Residency?”

First of all, just like in most countries, Italian language certifications are divided into six levels that reflect different degrees of proficiency: A1 and A2 (basic levels), B1 and B2 (intermediate levels) and finally, C1 and C2 (advanced levels).

The required level depends on why you’re considering obtaining the certificate:

• EU Long-Term Residence Permit: Requires at least five years of residency in Italy and an A2 language certification.
• Italian citizenship: Requires a B1 level certification. However, you’re exempt from the B1 test if you hold an EU Long-Term Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno CE), an EU Residence Permit, have severe learning disabilities (certified by a public health institution) or possess equivalent educational qualifications from institutions recognized by Italy’s Ministry of Education (MIUR) or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI).
• Residence Card (Carta di Soggiorno): Does not require proof of language proficiency, but if applying for citizenship later, a B1 certification will be necessary.

Recognized Italian Language Certifications

Various institutions offer Italian language certifications, each differing in cost, format and recognition. When choosing one, consider factors like exam location, dates, structure and result processing time, especially if you need the certification quickly. 

Registration typically opens 2-3 months before the exam, with deadlines closing around 40 days prior. Exams typically include listening, reading, writing and speaking sections, with fees ranging from €50 to €200. Here are the most recognized options:

CELI (University for Foreigners of Perugia)

Sessions are available thrice a year (spring, summer and autumn) and you can take the exam at several centres around the world. It usually takes up to 12 weeks to correct them and 4 months to send you the certificate.

They offer two special versions: CELI immigrants, designed for foreigners who immigrated to Italy (also available for students with a lower educational background), and CELI adolescents, for young people between 13 and 17 years old. 

MIUR, for example, recognizes CELI 3 as a valid certificate to access universities in Italy.

CILS (University for Foreigners of Siena)

It is available in six sessions per year at various centres across Italy, including CPIA Padova, and the evaluation process usually takes around 12 weeks.

Each section is graded separately, and to pass candidates must achieve the minimum score in every section. If a section is not passed, it must be retaken.

PLIDA (Dante Alighieri Society)

The exam is held six times a year and offers various levels, including PLIDA Juniores, designed for adolescents aged 13 to 18. The correction time for the exam is approximately two months.

Similarly to the previous certification, a minimum score of 18/30 in each section is required to obtain the certificate. If you do not pass one of the tests, you can retake the individual exam within a year.

Check out the centres. 

CERTIT (University of Roma Tre)

It holds multiple exam sessions throughout the year, with results typically available within a month. The exams are tailored for foreigners who need a certificate for residency permit applications (A2), students applying to Italian universities (B2), or foreign language teachers working in Italy (C2).

A complete list of exam centers is available, and correction times may vary depending on the location.

AIL (Accademia Italiana di Lingua)

It offers a certification through a non-profit network of schools and experts in teaching Italian as a second language. There are two exam sessions each year, but compared to the others, the number of centres offering the certification is limited.

One important note is that AIL is not part of the CLIQ (Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità), which means it might not be as widely recognized as some other Italian language certifications. However, it is still internationally acknowledged and remains a valuable qualification for academic, professional or personal purposes.

As previously mentioned, these certifications are also suitable for work-related matters. However, those who wish to teach Italian to non-native speakers without prior experience must obtain a specific qualification, such as CEDILS or DITALS.

How to Prepare For the Exam

When it comes to preparing for the Italian language certification exam, many wonder whether taking a specific prep course is necessary. The short answer is no—you don’t have to enroll in a course to obtain the certificate. 

So, what we suggest is to start practising with sample tests that you can find in specific books designed to help you prepare (you can find them on Amazon, too). You can also check some of the certification websites we mentioned earlier, as they often provide mock exams for practice (CILS, PLIDA, CERTIT, AIL).

If necessary, hire a private tutor (either in person or online through platforms like Superprof), and then immerse yourself in the language as much as possible.

It might sound like advice you’ve heard before, but the results speak for themselves. We’ve met people who prepared also by listening to Italian music and watching Italian films, and they reported doing exceptionally well in the oral part of the exam. Some even realized they’d unconsciously picked up new words, which turned out to be extremely useful during the written section of the test.