Telc

Telc, short for The European Language Certificates, is a private company based in Frankfurt, Germany, that develops and administers standardized language proficiency examinations. The telc exams are offered worldwide through a network of authorized test centers and partner institutions, including universities, language schools, and employers.

Examinations cover multiple languages, notably English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Chinese and Japanese, among others. The current test suite includes general language exams and specialized variants such as telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule (German for university entrance) and telc English exams at levels from A1 to C2, with business and professional editions in some languages. All telc exams are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and report results on the corresponding CEFR levels.

Usage: Telc certificates are used for visa and residence permit applications in several countries, for university admission, for professional licensing, and by employers to verify language skills. The certificates are widely accepted by educational institutions and some government authorities in Europe and beyond.

Format and delivery: Examinations may be paper-based or computer-based, depending on language and center. Some tests provide online testing options; results are issued as official certificates with a unique verification code. Preparation materials and practice tests are available from telc and its centers.

History and governance: Telc GmbH administers the examinations and certificates; the organization works with a network of certified test centers and partner organizations to ensure standardization and quality.