If you want to live, work, or study in a German-speaking country, having a German language certification is a must. Even when you are a student in such a nation, it is crucial that you know a handful of common German words and phrases. Similarly, a student or an employee has to spend a long time in the country. Hence, for them, having a German language certificate is necessary. This blog will help you explore 7 such certification options. Each of these is for different purposes. Explore all of these and some expert tips to prepare for these certification exams in the sections below.
Table of Contents
The German level certification is required for students, employees, and residents of a German-speaking nation. These help in demonstrating one’s proficiency in the German language. As per the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference), there are six German language levels - A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. The German A1 certificate is for the beginners. As it moves towards C2, the proficiency level increases.
Here are 7 German language certifications that have different purposes:
| CERTIFICATE NAMES | WHO IS IT FOR? | CEFR LEVELS COVERED |
|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Zertifikat |
| A1-C2 |
| Goethe- Test PRO |
| A1-C2 |
| Goethe- Test PRO Pflege |
| B2 |
| TestDaF |
| B2-C1 |
| TELC (various tests) |
| A1-C2 |
| DTZ |
| A2-B1 |
| DSD |
| A2/B1 (DSD I) or B2/C1 (DSD II) |
All these 7 German language certification are explained in detail below:
Who is it for?
Students, professionals, and immigrants can take the Goethe-Zertifikat certification. Similarly, they can use this German certification for academic, professional, and immigration purposes.
How much does it cost?
It can cost around 145$. This amount can vary as per the level (A1-C2) and the location of testing.
How long is it valid for?
For indefinite time
What skills are tested?
This German language certification will test your listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Each level of Goethe-Zertifikat gets tougher with every level for all 4 sections.
Certificate Information
The 6 levels of Goethe-Zertifikat align with the six levels of CEFR from A1 to C2. The A1 t B2 levels are suitable for beginners and upper intermediates. Both younger students and adults can take these exams. However, the C1 and C2 levels are for German learners aged 16 or above. The C2 level of the Goethe-Zertifikat assesses the mastery of near-native German users. It is ideal for people who want to teach, do research, or study in Germany.
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Who is it for?
This German language certification is done by professionals who need to show their German language proficiency at the workplace.
How much does it cost?
This German certificate costs around 125$
How long is it valid for?
It is valid for an indefinite time. This means that it will not expire.
What skills are tested?
This certificate in German language only tests writing and reading. The level of difficulty increases with every level of CEFR.
Certificate Information
You can take the Goethe-Test PRO if you want to demonstrate your German language skills at your workplace. It has 2 parts with several sets of questions. They will focus on your reading and listening skills. It is of 90 minutes and you get your results right after finishing the exam.
Also Read: How to Tell Time in German?
Who is it for?
Designed for healthcare workers like nurses who need to prove B2 level German proficiency.
How much does it cost?
It can cost from 70$ to 120$.
How long is it valid for?
The scores do not expire.
What skills are tested?
The German skills at the B2 level are tested. The test focuses more on vocabulary and situations that align with healthcare settings.
Certificate information
This is a variation of Goethe-Test PRO that is built especially for healthcare professionals.
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Who is it for?
It is majorly for students planning to study in German universities.
How much does it cost?
It costs around 230$
How long is it valid for?
It is valid for an indefinite time.
What skills are tested?
This German language certification assesses reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. However, these are tested for only B2 to C1 levels.
Certificate information
This TestDaF test was created only for students who wish to study at German universities. It will test the upper intermediate to lower advanced, and can be taken on paper or a computer.
Who is it for?
TELC is a German language certification for students, working professionals, and immigrants.
How much does it cost?
Each level costs around 150$ to 200$.
How long is it valid for?
The scores of this certification does not expire.
What skills are tested?
The TELC exam assesses reading and listening in the German language.
Certificate information
TELC is a budget-friendly alternative to Goethe-Zertifikat. This will provide great proof of your German proficiency at university, workplace, or a visa office. This is also ideal for healthcare workers as it is held for different CEFR levels.
Also Read: Basic German Words
Who is it for?
Candidates who are participating in the government integration courses in Germany.
How much does it cost?
It costs around 200$.
How long is it valid for?
The scores of this certification do not expire.
What skills are tested?
The language skills are tested across two levels- A2 and B1. DTZ will give you an assessment in listening, writing, speaking, and reading for each of these levels.
Certificate information
The qualification can confirm your capacity of discussing various basic topics at certain settings. For instance, it can be housing, health, and employment.
Who is it for?
The DSD certification is for foreign students who are aiming to study at German universities.
How much does it cost?
It will cost you around 145$.
How long is it valid for?
The scores of this (DSDI DSDII) certification does not expire.
What skills are tested?
This test evaluates skills that are required for academic study. This covers listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Certificate information
This was especially designed for international students who want ot study at a German university. The DSD I is for those who want to achieve levels A2 or B1. However, if they wish to take the exam for levels B1 or C1, they have to take the DSD II German language certification.
These were the 7 German language certificates for students, working professionals, and immigrants.
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If you are planning to appear for the German certification exams anytime soon, you can learn German while referring to the expert advice given below:
Also Read: How to Say “Thank You” in German?
The above-mentioned seven German language certifications help you grab a seat at the top German universities. They also help employees demonstrate their proficiency level in the German language. If you want to make sure you are absolutely prepared to take the exam, join our German online coaching to ace it in one go.
To sum up, German language certification is a vital part of studying, living, or working in a German-speaking country. Hence, you must select the most ideal option out of all and take the exam. This will not only prove your language skills but also help you develop confidence in your ability.
Main Reasons Why you should Study in Germany
The German language certification helps you prove your ability to communicate in German. There are six levels in which your proficiency of the German language is assessed. To live, study, or work in a German-speaking country, you will need to prove you can converse well in German and understand it well.
These are the six German Language levels as per the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). These are set by the European Union to classify the language proficiency of a person into six levels: A1 being the least proficient or beginner and C2 being the expert or near-native user.
The Goethe certificate is considered the best as it assesses language proficiency on all six levels (A1 to C2). Moreover, it can be taken for any purpose from university application, and employment to immigration.
Indefinite. All the above-mentioned German language proficiency tests do not expire and your score is valid throughout the course of your life.
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