Welcome to the CILS Information Page
The certifications of proficiency of the Italian Language (CILS Certification) are issued by the Università di Siena and is an officially recognized qualification for academia and in the business sector in Italy. The Italian Cultural Center of San Diego is the only center in San Diego that is approved by the University of Siena to be a testing site for the CILS exam. Our instructors are certified CILS trainers and examiners.
Course Preparation for the CILS B1 Cittadinanza
The CILS B1 Cittadinanza preparation course will provide students with a review of all of grammar structures included in the exam and an introduction and practice of all the exam sections. Each class time will be devoted to reviewing the numerous topics covered in the exam, taking a practice exam, and reviewing it with the instructor. The goal is for students to take several practice exams and become acquainted with test-taking.
Previous knowledge of Italian at the Intermediate 302/303 level is required prior to enrolling in the course preparation.
We are offering two Five-Week Online CILS Preparation Courses for Winter Quarter 2026
Dates: January 14, 2026 – February 11, 2026
Day and Time: Wednesday 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Instructor: Patrizia Lissoni
Course Fees: $230
Dates: March 11, 2026 – April 8, 2026
Day and Time: Wednesday 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Instructor: Patrizia Lissoni
Course Fees: $230
📕 Required Book
Titolo: Percorso CILS B1 Cittadinanza (red book)
Autore: Emanuela Paciotti, Paolo La Gamma
Editor: Ornimi
CILS Preparation Course Policy: A minimum of 4 students is required for the opening of this course.
If only 2-3 students sign up, each course session will be reduced to 1 hour and half.
If only 1 student signs up, they will be offered private lessons.
Note: When registering for the CILS Preparation Course, ICC membership is not required.
CILS Examination (Italian Certification as a Foreign Language)
Created by the University of Siena, the CILS certification attests one’s linguistic communicative competence in Italian as their second language. The exam is divided into four sections (oral, written, morphosyntactic and lexical competence, comprehension of written texts, comprehension of oral texts). The exam consists of both closed questions (multiple choice questions) and semi-structured questions (re-elaboration of texts starting from data elements) and open (free development of a topic). Each part of the examination is evaluated independently, so to pass the exam you must have obtained the necessary grade in each section. If this is not the case, then it is possible to retake the necessary sections. To receive a certification necessary to apply to the Italian citizenship “through Marriage or Same Sex Union” set in force on 12/04/2008 by law n. 132, the B1 Cittadinanza Exam candidates must INSTEAD pass all four sections of the exam.
2026 Exam Dates:
All exams will take place at
Italian Cultural Center of San Diego:
2870 Fifth Avenue, Suite 203, San Diego, CA 92103
Please note that the time of the exam will be provided a few weeks prior to the date.
Registration Requirements:
To request registration, please send the following documents via email prior to the closing date listed above to: patrizia.lissoni@icc-sd.org
- Completed and signed registration form.
- Copy in PDF format of a valid identity document.
Registrations are 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. Note: When registering for the CILS Examination, ICC membership is not required.
For all CILS inquiries please contact our CILS Coordinator Patrizia Lissoni at patrizia.lissoni@icc-sd.org.