Italian Language Certification

The Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles offers an opportunity to take the official exam for the Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language (CILS), administered by the Università per Stanieri di Siena.

All tests are produced and evaluated by the Centro CILS of the University for Foreigners of Siena.

Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language at the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles

UPCOMING CILS EXAM DATES  

Please note that, depending on the number of applicants, you may have to take the test on the following days. Please do not make travel plans until you have received the final exam schedule. 

June 15 2023: All levels, except A2 STANDARD, B1 ADOLESCENTI and B1 CITTADINANZA
Registration opens March 6

July 20, 2023: B1 CITTADINANZA only
Registration full. Waitlist only.

October 20, 2023: B1 CITTADINANZA only
Please note: Registration opens on July 3rd and closes on July 28. Both registrations form and payment must be received by July 28.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The test is held at the Italian Cultural Institute (1023 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024) and you must attend in person.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dates and/or format of the exam may change according to the guidelines of the State of California and/or the University for Foreigners in Siena. Registered candidates will be notified promptly IF any changes occur. Additional precautions may be taken to assure the safety of all and will be detailed in the instructional email sent before the test.

There are other institutions, approved by the University of Siena, where more test dates might be available. Please check this page for an updated list of approved CILS exam centers.

Universita’ per Stranieri di Siena- Information for candidates

For CILS B1 Citizenship Prep Course click here

REGISTRATION

Please send the following documentation to alessandra.mastroianni@esteri.it

1. Enrollment Form

2. Scanned copy of a valid ID

Since the number of spots is limited, registrations will be accepted on a “first come first served” basis. Therefore, you may pay the exam fee only after your enrollment has been accepted.
An email containing information on fees and payment methods will be sent to the registered candidates.
Please note: The exam fee cannot be refunded or used for the following exam sessions unless the session is cancelled by the IIC LA.

TEST RESULTS

 Candidates will be given a document containing their registration number and a link to the test result page.

For level B1 Citizenship, results are usually available in 45 days; for all other levels, results are usually available in about 3 months.

Please note: The Institute does not know when results will be published online, or if you passed the test.

Candidates who pass the test will be able to download a certificate from the CILS portal, which can be presented to the Italian Consulate for citizenship application.

Printed diplomas will be mailed to the Italian Cultural Institute about 6 months after the test date, and will be forwarded to the mailing address you provided (no need to contact us, unless your address has changed).

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Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language

The Certificates of Italian are titles attesting the degree of communication skills in Italian as a Foreign Language. Potential recipients include foreign citizens, Italian citizens residing abroad (of Italian origin), and foreign immigrants in Italy. No previous degree is required to take the exams. For the administration of the exams through the Italian Culture Institutes, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has signed agreements with the following institutions:

Università per Stranieri di Perugia   (CELI – CIC)

Università per Stranieri di Siena  (CILS)

Università degli Studi Roma Tre  (IT - ele.IT)

Società Dante Alighieri  (PLIDA)

The certifications are consistent with the parameters set by the European Union’s Framework of Reference for Languages.