Study abroad·Europe· 8 min read

CILS vs CELI vs PLIDA: Italian Language Certificates Compared

The three official Italian certificates - CILS (Siena), CELI (Perugia) and PLIDA (Dante Alighieri) - compared for university, citizenship and study. Levels, issuers, purpose. Verify officially.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Key facts

CILS: Issued by Universita per Stranieri di Siena; covers CEFR A1-C2; wide international network.
CELI: Issued by CVCL, Universita per Stranieri di Perugia; covers A1-C2; CELI 3 = B2 (university-level reference).
PLIDA: Issued by Societa Dante Alighieri; adult programme A2-C2 (A1 via Juniores) - verify on the official site.
Shared scale: All three certify CEFR levels A1-C2; at a given level their value is broadly equivalent.
Common university level: Italian-taught degrees often reference B2, but requirements vary - confirm with your programme.
Sessions & fees: Session dates, deadlines and fees differ by board and centre - verify on each official site before booking.

Why Italy has three official certificates

If you plan to study in Italy in Italian, or need to prove your Italian for enrolment or a residence formality, you will meet three official certificate names: CILS, CELI and PLIDA. Each is issued by a different, recognised Italian body, and all three certify your level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which runs from A1 to C2. In other words, they are three routes to the same kind of proof, not three different scales.

What usually differs between them is the issuing institution, the exam format, the number and timing of sessions, and where you can sit the test - not the underlying CEFR value. The practical task is to find out which certificate and which minimum level your Italian university or the relevant office actually asks for, then pick the board that is easiest for you to sit on time. Always confirm the exact requirement on the official source.

Three official issuers, one shared CEFR scale (A1-C2).
Differences are mostly format, sessions and test centres - not the certificate's value.
The accepted certificate and level are set by your university or office - verify them.

CILS - Universita per Stranieri di Siena

CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera) is issued by the Universita per Stranieri di Siena. It covers all six CEFR levels from A1 to C2, and its level structure includes dedicated modules for particular purposes (for example, versions aligned to the B1 level used in citizenship contexts).

CILS is known for a wide network of exam centres worldwide and multiple sittings across the year, which makes it a common default for international candidates. Registration deadlines fall well before the exam, so check the official CILS calendar early and register through an authorised exam centre.

Issued by Universita per Stranieri di Siena.
Covers CEFR A1-C2, with purpose-specific modules at some levels.
Widely available internationally with several sessions a year.
Register early via an authorised centre; deadlines precede the exam - verify the calendar.

CELI - Universita per Stranieri di Perugia

CELI (Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana) is issued by the CVCL (Centro per la Valutazione e le Certificazioni Linguistiche) of the Universita per Stranieri di Perugia. It also spans the full CEFR range, with named levels such as CELI Impatto (A1), CELI 1 (A2), CELI 2 (B1), CELI 3 (B2), CELI 4 (C1) and CELI 5 (C2).

For students, the level to note is CELI 3, which corresponds to B2 - the level Italian universities commonly reference for admission to Italian-taught degrees. CELI 2 (B1) is the level referenced in Italian citizenship contexts. Confirm the exact level your programme or office requires, and check Perugia's CVCL calendar for sitting dates.

Issued by the CVCL of Universita per Stranieri di Perugia.
Covers CEFR A1-C2 (CELI Impatto through CELI 5).
CELI 3 = B2, commonly referenced for Italian university admission.
Check the CVCL calendar and plan ahead for sitting dates.

PLIDA - Societa Dante Alighieri

PLIDA (Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri) is issued by the Societa Dante Alighieri, whose network of committees runs exams in many countries. Per the official PLIDA site, the adult programme certifies levels A2 through C2, with an A1 option offered through the PLIDA Juniores (younger-learner) programme; all follow the CEFR.

PLIDA is issued with the academic approval of the University of Rome La Sapienza and is recognised for study, work and citizenship-related purposes. It is often chosen where a Dante Alighieri committee is the most convenient local centre. As always, match the certificate to what your specific university or office lists, and verify sessions and the exact levels offered on the official PLIDA site.

Issued by the Societa Dante Alighieri (with University of Rome La Sapienza academic approval).
Adult programme covers A2-C2; A1 via PLIDA Juniores - verify on the official site.
Recognised for study, work and citizenship-related purposes.
Convenient where a Dante Alighieri committee is your nearest centre.

How to choose the right one for your situation

Start from the requirement. Ask your Italian university (or the relevant office) which certificate they accept and the minimum CEFR level - for Italian-taught degrees this is often B2, though some programmes ask for B1 or C1. Because all three certificates share the CEFR, the certificate's value is broadly equivalent at a given level; what should decide your choice is practicality.

Then compare access: which board has an exam centre near you, which has a sitting before your deadline, and which registration window you can still meet. Register only through the official board or an authorised centre, keep your booking confirmation, and note the results date so you can submit on time. If a programme names a specific certificate, follow that exactly rather than substituting.

Confirm the accepted certificate and minimum level with the university/office first.
With the level fixed, choose by nearest centre, next sitting and deadline you can meet.
Register only via the official board or an authorised centre; keep confirmations.
If a specific certificate is named, use exactly that one.

Frequently asked questions

Which Italian certificate is best for university admission?

There is no single best one - CILS, CELI and PLIDA all certify the same CEFR levels and are official. Italian-taught degrees often reference B2, but the accepted certificate and exact level are set by each university. Confirm the requirement with your programme, then choose the board that is most practical for you.

What CEFR level do I usually need to study in Italian?

Many Italian-taught programmes reference B2 (for example, CELI 3 corresponds to B2), but some ask for B1 or C1 depending on the course. This is set by the university, so verify the minimum level on your programme's admission page rather than assuming a fixed threshold.

Are the three certificates equally valid?

At a given CEFR level, their value is broadly equivalent because all three are official and follow the same framework. What differs is the issuing institution, exam format, number of sessions and test-centre availability. If a programme names a specific certificate, use exactly that one.

Who issues CILS, CELI and PLIDA?

CILS is issued by the Universita per Stranieri di Siena, CELI by the CVCL of the Universita per Stranieri di Perugia, and PLIDA by the Societa Dante Alighieri. Each has its own registration process, calendar and network of authorised exam centres.

How do I choose between them in practice?

Fix the required level first, then choose by access: which board has a centre near you, which has a sitting before your deadline, and which registration window you can still meet. Register only through the official board or an authorised centre, and check current dates and fees on the official site.

Do these certificates cover Italian citizenship or residence needs too?

The certificates are also referenced in citizenship and residence contexts (for example, B1 is commonly referenced for citizenship), and PLIDA is recognised for study, work and citizenship-related purposes. Rules for those purposes are separate from university admission and change - verify the current requirement with the relevant official Italian authority before relying on it.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Centro CILS - Universita per Stranieri di Siena; CVCL (CELI) - Universita per Stranieri di Perugia; PLIDA - Societa Dante Alighieri (official).

Last verified: 3 July 2026.