Circular 16/2025/TT-BGDDT joint organization of exams for foreign language proficiency certificates

CIRCULAR

Providing joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates^[1]

Pursuant to the June 14, 2019 Education Law;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2025/ND-CP of February 26, 2025, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP of June 6, 2018, on foreign cooperation and investment in education; and the Government’s Decree No. 124/2024/ND-CP of October 5, 2024, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP of June 6, 2018, on foreign cooperation and investment in education;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 143/2025/ND-CP of June 12, 2025, on the delegation of power and decentralization in the fields under the state management of the Ministry of Education and Training;

At the proposal of the Director of the Education Quality Management Agency;

The Minister of Education and Training promulgates the Circular providing joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates.

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. This Circular provides joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates, including entities engaged in joint organization of exams; foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates; assurance of safety and quality in joint organization of exams; responsibility for assurance of safety and quality in joint organization of exams and responsibilities of management agencies.

2. This Circular applies to:

a/ Education and training institutions or organizations lawfully established and operating in the field of education in Vietnam (below referred to as exam-organizing institutions in Vietnam);

b/ Foreign-language proficiency assessment agencies, organizations and institutions lawfully established and operating in foreign countries (below referred to as foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency assessment institutions);

c/ Organizations and individuals involved in joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates in Vietnam.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency certificate-issuing unit means a foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency assessment institution that has the responsibility and competence to issue foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates.

2. Unit entering into joint organization of exams means an exam-organizing institution in Vietnam that has signed a cooperation agreement or contract with a foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency assessment institution and takes the prime responsibility for organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates in Vietnam.

3. Exam organization-coordinating units means an exam-organizing institution in Vietnam that has signed a cooperation agreement or contract with a unit entering into joint organization of exams to perform one or more than one of the following jobs: exam participation registration, and provision of exam venues, and physical foundations, equipment and staff serving the organization of exams.

Article 3. Entities engaged in joint organization of exams

Entities engaged in joint organization of exams are joint parties, including:

1. The Vietnamese partner, which is a unit entering into joint organization of exams specified in Clause 2, Article 2 of this Circular.

2. The foreign partner, which is a foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency certificate-issuing unit specified in Clause 1, Article 2 of this Circular, or a foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency assessment institution authorized or permitted by a foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency certificate-issuing unit to organize exams for issuance of the certificates.

Article 4. Foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates

1. A foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency certificate is a document certifying the foreign-language proficiency exam result issued to a candidate by a foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency certificate-issuing unit. Foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates are not certificates of the national education system.

2. Foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates do not include certificates assessing academic ability in other subjects taught in foreign languages or certificates assessing competency for professional practice in foreign languages.

3. A foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency certificate shall be regarded as lawfully recognized in the host country when a competent authority of such country permits the organization of exams for issuance of the certificate; or when the certificate is used for consideration and approval of immigration or naturalization application dossiers, for issuance of entry visas for foreign nationals wishing to work, conduct researches or study, or for recognition of the qualification for admission or graduation standards of training programs for international students in a country where the language tested for certificate issuance is an official language.

4. A foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency certificate shall be regarded as widely used around the world when it is recognized or used by many countries under Clause 3 of this Article, or when exams for issuance of the certificate are organized in many countries in the world.

5. The approval of joint organization of exams for issuance of a foreign country’s foreign-language proficiency certificate does not include the recognition of the levels of that foreign-language proficiency certificate as equivalent to the levels of the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework used in Vietnam for application in the national education system.

Article 5. Assurance of safety and quality in joint organization of exams

The joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates in Vietnam must ensure safety and quality, specifically as follows:

1. Complying with the foreign partner’s regulations regarding:

a/ Exam organization: confidentiality of exam questions; exam organization process, physical foundations, equipment, and exam venues; the contingent of exam administrators, invigilators and markers, assistants, technicians, and other staffs; and other contents;

b/ Management of revenues and expenditures; dossier archive; accountability;

c/ Other regulations (if any) of the foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency assessment institutions.

2. Clearly defining, and ensuring the fulfillment of, responsibilities and rights of the joint parties, exam-coordinating units (if any), and the staff of exam administrators, invigilators, markers, assistants and technicians in exam organization and certificate issuance; and the responsibilities and rights of candidates.

3. Providing for physical foundations, equipment and personnel, along with measures to prevent cheating throughout the entire exam organization process; ensuring the full implementation of regulations on cheating prevention throughout the exam organization process; preventing impersonation and other forms of cheating.

4. Organizing exams safely and seriously; ensuring fairness and objectivity in assessment among exams and among candidates; preventing any disclosure or leakage of exam questions.

Article 6. Responsibility for assurance of safety and quality in joint organization of exams

1. Responsibilities of all joint parties

a/ To ensure safety and quality in the organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates according to the approved scheme, preventing cheating and impersonation during the exam organization. In case there is a change in the approved scheme, the joint parties shall report it in writing to the competent agency for consideration and adjustment;

b/ To fulfill the responsibilities of joint parties according to the Government’s regulations on foreign cooperation and investment in education; and guarantee the rights and interests of candidates;

c/ To guarantee the rights to personal data protection of candidates and those involved in exam organization. To absolutely prevent the disclosure or leakage of biometric data of candidates and refrain from using biometric data of candidates for the purposes other than preventing cheating and impersonation.

2. Responsibilities of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificate-issuing units:

a/ To ensure that exams are conducted in a transparent, safe, serious and objective manner, accurately assessing candidates’ foreign language proficiency and complying with regulations of the foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency assessment institutions;

b/ To keep exam questions confidential, ensuring fairness and objectivity in the assessment among exams and among candidates; and absolutely prevent disclosure or leakage of exam questions;

c/ To coordinate with units entering into joint organization of exams in publicizing information relating to the joint organization of exams for certificate issuance on their websites and be held responsible for the accuracy of the information; to guarantee the rights and interests of candidates;

d/ To provide complete and clear information on methods for checking exam results; to be held responsible for receiving and handling inquiries from candidates regarding their rights to participate in exams, exam results, and issuance of certificates, and for verification of exam results and issuance of certificates when requested by competent state management agencies.

3. Responsibilities of units entering into joint organization of exams

a/ To publicize in Vietnamese, and be held responsible for the accuracy of, information publicized on their websites immediately after approval, extension, adjustment and updating decisions are issued during their implementation process. The to-be-publicized information includes: decisions of competent agencies on the approval, adjustment, extension and termination of the joint activities; information about the certificates for which the joint organization of exams is approved: name, form of certificate, time limit for certificate issuance, validity period, and scope of use of the certificate worldwide and in Vietnam; exam schedule (including exam dates and venues ); exam registration process, exam organization process; regulations on exam organization, sample exam questions; rights and responsibilities of candidates; exam fees and other charges (if any); methods for checking of exam results; telephone numbers, email addresses and hotlines (if any) to receive and handle related issues, guaranteeing the rights and interests of candidates;

b/ To be held responsible for organizing, and supervising and examining the organization of, exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates at approved exam venues, ensuring safety, quality, seriousness and objectivity;

c/ To archive dossiers of joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates. To be held responsible for verifying foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates issued to candidates at approved exam venues. To promptly provide documents related to the organization of exams and issuance of certificates; and evidence to prove that exams are organized in a way that ensures safety and quality and prevents cheating when requested by competent state management agencies;

d/ To receive reports on, and handle, issues related to certificates and candidates; and feedback and recommendations related to organization of exams and issuance of certificates;

dd/ To implement the reporting regime and update to the database on joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign-language proficiency certificates with foreign partners according to the Government’s regulations. The updating of information to the database shall be made according to the form provided in the Appendix to this Circular. The database updating shall be completed before June 15 and December 15 every year.

4. Responsibilities of exam organization-coordinating units

a/ To coordinate with units entering into joint organization of exams to ensure safety and quality in organization of exams according to the cooperation agreement or contract with the latter;

b/ To perform the responsibilities specified at Points a and d, Clause 3 of this Article in case they perform jobs related to registration for participation in exams and guarantee the rights and interests of candidates registering for participating in exams.

Article 7. Responsibilities of management agencies

1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall manage joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates according to the Government’s regulations; publicize and update on its website the list of units whose joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates is approved, adjusted, extended or terminated by the Minister of Education and Training.

2. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall manage joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates in their localities according to the Government’s regulations; publicize and update on their websites the lists of units whose joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates in their localities is approved, adjusted, extended or terminated.

3. Provincial-level Departments of Education and Training shall assist provincial-level People’s Committees in managing and examining joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates in their localities, handle violations (if any); and guide joint parties in complying with Article 6 of this Circular.

Article 8. Effect and implementation responsibility

1. This Circular shall take effect on October 12, 2025.

2. This Circular replaces the Minister of Education and Training’s Circular No. 11/2022/TT-BGDDT of July 26, 2022, providing joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign countries’ foreign-language proficiency certificates.

3. The Chief of the Ministry’s Office, the Director of the Education Quality Management Agency, and heads of related units under the Ministry of Education and Training; chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees; directors of provincial-level Departments of Education and Training; and related organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular.-

For the Minister of Education and Training
Deputy Minister
HOANG MINH SON

* The Appendix to this Circular is not translated.