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Accreditations and Memberships

Affiliations and recognitions of Italian schools for foreigners in Italy

In the description of each school, you will also find a section on accreditations and memberships. What are they, and what do the abbreviations mean? With this brief guide, we aim to help you navigate and choose an accredited Italian language school for foreigners that suits your needs.

Trade Associations

National associations of Italian language schools for foreigners bring together the majority of private schools in Italy, which can join these associations by demonstrating their adherence to the respective criteria of quality and regular teaching activities. Over the years, three major national associations have been established. All associations guarantee strict quality control of their member schools, offer continuing professional development for Italian language teachers as a second language, and serve as a reference point for students before, during and after their Italian course in Italy.

ASILS

The Association of Schools of Italian as a Foreign Language (ASILS), is a non-profit association founded in 1999 with the aim of promoting and developing the quality of teaching Italian as a foreign language in Italy.
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Italian in Italy

Italian in Italy is an association that focuses on spreading Italian culture and language around the world. In particular, it promotes not only Italian language courses, but also cultural aspects of the Italian language such as History of Art, Cinema and Theatre, Literature, Cuisine and Fashion.
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LICET

The association 'Scuole LICET' (Italian Language, Culture and Tourism) arose from the need to better define the activities of Italian language schools for foreigners whose activities lie between quality teaching of the Italian language, the dissemination of Italian culture and the realisation, in the sense of tourism, of study holidays in Italy for foreign students.
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Other associations

EDUITALIA

EDUITALIA is an association dedicated to promoting Italy as a study destination for international students. Their focus extends beyond Italian language schools for foreigners to encompass any institution or activity that offers high-quality education to foreign students. Members include schools of fashion, art, design, architecture, universities, and many others. Some courses are also available in English. EDUITALIA offers its members a wide range of services which include accreditation, official certification, teacher training, promotion, and marketing support. In addition, cultural exchange and cooperation among member schools and teachers is fostered, creating opportunities for collaboration and mutual enrichment.
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Acknowledgements and Accreditations

Below, we provide a list of acknowledgements and accreditations granted by both Italian and foreign public institutions. These certifications validate the quality of the Italian language courses offered or, more generally, verify the value of the courses attended for professional training purposes.

MIUR

The so-called 'presa d'atto' accreditation from the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) used to be a recognised form of accreditation for Italian language schools in Italy. However, private Italian language schools are no longer under the Ministry's planning and control, and therefore this accreditation is no longer available. Nevertheless, schools that have obtained the MIUR's 'accreditation' have undergone a rigorous evaluation process, including checks, inspections, and assessments by the Ministry. This evaluation ensures that these schools meet the requirements outlined in the Ministry's regulations for teaching Italian as a foreign language, including high-quality teaching, teacher training, and having the necessary infrastructure and resources.
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Bildungsurlaub

“Bildungsurlaub”, a term meaning “study leave” is a form of paid holiday available in some countries like Germany and Austria. It allows employees to take time off work for professional or personal training purposes, fostering a culture of lifelong learning. German employees are generally allowed five days of study leave per year. The recognition of specific training activities falls under the jurisdiction of individual German regions, some of which also acknowledge language courses abroad as valid options for fulfilling the requirements of “Bildungsurlaub”.
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CSN

CSN (Centre for Vocational Training) is a Swedish organisation that finances vocational training for Swedish students. CSN is important for Swedish students who want to learn Italian in Italy because it offers them the possibility of obtaining funding to cover the costs of Italian language courses. In order to obtain funding from CSN, students are required to submit an application detailing the specific Italian language course they plan to undertake, along with an explanation of how their proficiency in Italian will contribute to their career development.
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Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is a programme of the European Union that provides mobility and collaboration opportunities in the fields of education, training, youth, and sports. Introduced in 2014, it builds upon various previous European education and training initiatives, including Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, and Youth in Action. Erasmus+ caters to diverse groups such as students, teachers, young individuals, trainers, volunteers and athletes, granting them the chance to pursue studies, training, volunteer work or participation in sports events abroad. The programme encompasses various educational institutions, including schools, universities, vocational training centres, and youth organisations.
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Certifications of knowledge of the Italian language

Official certifications of Italian language proficiency are essential for various purposes, such as university enrollment, Italian citizenship applications, or enhancing personal skills and one's CV. We provide below a list of the most significant and widely recognised certifications, all of which are endorsed by the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and are affiliated with the CLIQ (Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità) consortium.

CELI

CELI stands for 'Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language,' a certification program for Italian language proficiency promoted by the University for Foreigners of Perugia. CELI exams are typically conducted at Italian language schools or institutes that are accredited by the University for Foreigners of Perugia and authorised to administer CELI exams. These exam venues are located worldwide, spanning countries such as Italy, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The CELI certification program comprises six levels, ranging from A1 (basic) to C2 (proficiency), and evaluates the four fundamental language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. It caters to foreign students and immigrants of all ages and proficiency levels in Italian.
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CILS

The Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language (CILS) is a renowned certification programme for assessing Italian language proficiency, promoted by the University for Foreigners of Siena. Aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the CILS exam evaluates language skills across six levels, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of listening, reading, writing, and speaking abilities. Accredited exam centres, affiliated with the University for Foreigners of Siena, can be found in various countries worldwide.
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PLIDA

PLIDA, which stands for "Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri," is a certification programme for assessing Italian language proficiency. Promoted by the Dante Alighieri Society, PLIDA examinations are conducted at accredited Italian language schools and institutes worldwide, offering candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their language skills. The PLIDA exams are designed for both Juniors and Adults and are aligned with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The exams comprehensively assess the four key language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
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Certifications for teaching Italian as a foreign language

There are also certifications for teaching Italian as a foreign languageplatform also offer teacher training courses and the possibility of taking the respective exams directly on site, recognised by the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Teachers can obtain qualification for teaching through these exams. Some of the schools on our platform also offer teacher training courses and the possibility of taking the respective exams directly on site.

CEDILS

The Certification in Teaching Italian to Foreigners (CEDILS) is a cultural qualification for competence in teaching Italian as a foreign language. CEDILS is structured in two levels: CEDILS Basic and CEDILS Advanced and covers different linguistic and teaching skills, such as grammar, phonetics, communication and methodology for teaching Italian to foreigners. CEDILS examination venues are accredited Italian language schools or institutes authorised to administer CEDILS exams.
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DITALS

The Certification in Teaching Italian as a Foreign Language (DITALS) is a qualification that certifies teacher's competence in teaching Italian as a second language. DITALS is structured in two levels: DITALS I (basic level) and DITALS II (advanced level), and focuses on different language teaching skills, such as grammar, phonetics, communication and methodology for teaching Italian as a foreign language. DITALS examination venues are accredited Italian language schools or institutes authorised to administer DITALS exams.
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