State Language Certification Division
The main responsibility for the State Language Certification Division is to organize and coordinate system of passing tests of the state language in Latvia. The State Language Centre started the process of state language attestation and continued it till 31st of December 2000. Since February 2001 the State Language Certification Division works under subordination of ISEC.
The State Language Certification Division keeps strictly to the order of the Cabinet of Ministers regulations No. 296 (adopted 31 December 2000), which is accepted in accordance with State Language Law paragraph 6 part 5 and Education Law paragraph 50 part 3.
The Cabinet of Ministers regulations 22 of August 2000, No 296 defines the level of necessary state language knowledge for professional performance. Regulations define and divide state language knowledge quantity in three levels:
- I – first (lower) level;
- II – second (middle) level;
- III – third (higher) level.
Residents of Latvia who need certificate of state language knowledge can pass state language knowledge test in Riga and Daugavpils. Riga commission organizes regular meetings in Liepaja, Rezekne, Ventspils and other cities if necessary.
State duty for state language exam is 10 LS. There is a group of persons who have rights to get discount.
| Discount | Persons who have rights to get discount on state duty | Necessary documents |
|---|---|---|
| 50% (5LS) | Unemployed persons receiving unemployment benefit | Reference from state employment service (useful 5 days) |
| 50% (5LS) | Invalids (except invalidity from childhood) | Certificate |
| 50% (5LS) | Eliminators of Chernobyl accident | Certificate |
| 50% (5LS) | Students of universities | Certificate |
| 50% (5LS) | Students of general education schools | Certificate |
| 50% (5LS) | Students of vocational schools | Certificate |
| 50% (5LS) | Pensioners with 60Ls pensions | Certificate |
| 90% (1 LS) | Parents of large families | Passport |
| 90% (1 LS) | Persons during children care time (till children aged 1,5 year) | Passport |
| 90% (1 LS) | Orphans till age 18 | Certificate |
| 90% (1 LS) | Unemployed persons not receiving unemployment benefit | References: 1) from state employment service (useful 5 days) 2) from social maintenance division proving that no benefit is received (useful 5 days) |
| 90% (1 LS) | Invalids from birth | Certificate |
| 90% (1 LS) | Solders of obligatory military service | Certificate |
| 90% (1 LS) | Persons after demobilization (during 2 months) | Certificate |
| 90% (1 LS) | Persons after serving sentence (during 2 months) | Reference from the imprisonment place |
It is possible to get the state language knowledge certificate after the Latvian language knowledge exams. State language certification results are not possible to use in the process of naturalization.
Information for Latvian inhabitants who want to pass state language certification exams for the professional needs
Inhabitants of Latvia can pass state language certification exams for professional needs in Riga and Daugavpils. There are State Language Examination Commissions in these cities. There are also some regular commission sessions in other cities.
For passing the state language exam it is necessary to have:
- 1) passport,
2) bill of paid duty,
3) state language knowledge certificate, if available.
There are three parts of state language examination:
- 1. Interview – commission evaluates speech;
2. Exam of reading skills, specific test exercises is used;
3. Exam of writing skills, specific test exercises is used.
Conformity of state language certification results and centralized examination results
| State language certification | School | |
|---|---|---|
| Lower level (I) | I A | F |
| I B | E | |
| Middle level (II) | II A | D |
| II B | C | |
| Higher level (III) | III A | B |
| III B | A |
Description of centralized examination levels is made in accordance of standards of general secondary education and standard of appropriate subject.
