With the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificates (VKT), you can prove you have the proficiency in Finnish or Swedish that is required for working in public administration. The assignments in the tests are related to different work and language use situations in public administration, such as

  • customer service
  • handling of documents related to work
  • preparatory work in public administration
  • negotiations and different public language use situations, such as speaking in the media.

The assignments vary according to the skill level of the test. Oral, written and comprehension skills are assessed in the tests.

Under the Language Act, the authorities must safeguard everyone's linguistic rights and operate both in Finnish and Swedish. Everyone has the right to use Finnish or Swedish when dealing with the authorities. The 2003 Language Act (423/2003) lays down provisions on how these rights should be realised in practice. The Act lays down the minimum level of providing linguistic services in public administration.

 

From 1 July 2026 onwards, you may only retake a previously failed subtest if you have passed the other subtest of the same skills examination and the other subtest has been failed. In such cases, you may retake only the failed subtest.

You have up to three years to retake a failed subtest. This period begins on the date when you successfully passed the other subtest. Please note, however, that all failed subtests must be retaken no later than 31 December 2028.

Please note that from 1 July 2026, you may not take a Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate (VKT) examination if both subtests belonging to a particular skills examination have already been either passed or failed.

In future, the language skills required in public administration can be proven with the National Certificates of Language Proficiency (YKI).

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The levels of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificates (VKT) are satisfactory, good and excellent. Find out from the employer or the study place which level of proficiency you are required to have. For example, a teacher in basic or pre-primary education should have excellent oral and written skills in the language of instruction. 

You can register for the satisfactory and good level tests directly with the examiners, who operate in different localities.  The tests for the excellent level take place in Helsinki, and organising them is the responsibility of the Finnish and Swedish language examination boards. The proficiency examinations of all levels consist of tests in oral, written and comprehension skills.

The oral skills test includes tests in speaking and speech comprehension, and the written skills test includes tests in writing and text comprehension. The comprehension skills test can also be completed separately. It will then include the tests in text and speech comprehension.

Content of tests at different skill levels

The tests have test assignments related to language use situations in central government. Different types of texts are produced in the writing test, however, not essays or translated texts. Speaking is assessed with different interviews, conversations and other interactive tasks that are carried out with the examiner.

In the speech and text comprehension tests at the good and satisfactory levels, the candidates read and listen to different texts and answer questions based on these texts. In the excellent level, the test in speaking and speech comprehension is carried out as a conversation with the language proficiency board.

Test fees

The test fee for the levels good and satisfactory is EUR 280 if you take the tests in oral and written skills at the same time. (The tests also demonstrate the corresponding skill level in comprehension.) If you take the tests one by one, each test (a test in written, oral or comprehension skills) will cost EUR 140.

The fee for the excellent level test is EUR 554 if you take the test in oral and written skills at the same time. (The tests also demonstrate the corresponding skill level in comprehension.) If you take the tests one by one, each test (written, oral or comprehension skills) will cost EUR 277.

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  • Satisfactory level of VKT certificates corresponds to level 3 of YKI certificates
  • Good level of VKT certificates corresponds to levels 4 and 5 of YKI certificates 
  • Excellent level of VKT certificates corresponds to level 6 of YKI certificates

VKT and YKI are separate language proficiency certificates. VKT and YKI test certificates can therefore not be combined to show that you have a language proficiency certificate.

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If you apply for Finnish citizenship, you need a certificate of your skills in writing and speaking Finnish or Swedish.

You can demonstrate sufficient language proficiency by completing the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate (VKT) at least at the satisfactory skill level.

Alternatively, you can complete the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) test at least at the intermediate level.

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kielitutkinnot(at)oph.fi

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