Picture this. You’re standing in the Sistine Chapel. Twenty-two American tourists behind you with earpieces on. Silence. They’re waiting for you to speak. That ENGT badge on your lanyard is the result of months of study. That moment is not a dream. It’s a profession — the most beautiful one for anyone who loves Italy.
The second national Italian Tourist Guide exam was announced April 29, 2026. Registration closes May 19, 2026 at 1:00 PM. The exam has been completely redesigned. Written from the official decree (Prot. 63838, 29/04/2026), article by article.
The 2025 massacre
29,228 registered. 12,191 showed up. 230 passed (1.8%). 80 questions in 90 minutes. Punitive scoring: +0.50 for correct, −0.25 for wrong. Questions about obscure archaeological sites across all 20 regions.
2026 vs 2025: every difference that matters
1. Written exam: from 80 questions to 40
Art. 6.1: “40 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes.” Half the questions, half the time. Same pace (1 min/question), but half the material covered.
2. Scoring: no more penalty
Art. 6.2: “Correct answer: 1 point. Wrong or blank: 0 points.” In 2025: +0.50 correct, −0.25 wrong. In 2026: double points per correct answer, ZERO penalty.
Strategy: ALWAYS answer all 40 questions. Eliminate impossible options and guess. You need 25/40 correct (62.5%).
3. Written and oral are SEPARATE days
- Written = its own day (Art. 6.4).
- Oral = different day (Art. 7.4).
- Practical = same day as oral, immediately after passing it. Art. 8.1: “The candidate, upon passing the oral exam, is admitted to take the practical exam on the same day.”
4. Practical: destination drawn by lot
Art. 8.3: destination drawn by lot from a published list. You don’t choose — prepare for ALL sites.
5. Remote proctoring possible
Art. 7.7 & 8.6: oral and practical can be conducted via “remote proctoring.”
6. Language exemption
Art. 3.7: exempt from B2 verification only if you hold a diploma/degree obtained in that foreign language at a foreign institution. A private B2 certificate is not enough.
7. Registration: only 20 days
2025: 30 days. 2026: 20 days (April 29 – May 19).
The three exams
Written: 40 quiz in 40 minutes
Subjects: art history, geography, history, archaeology, tourism law, cultural heritage law. 1 point/correct, 0/wrong. Min 25/40. Tablets provided, phones sealed.
Oral: interview + B2 language
Italian interview + foreign language conversation at B2 level. Min 25/40.
Practical: simulated guided tour (same day as oral)
Immediately after oral. Simulation in Italian AND your chosen foreign language (Art. 8.2). Destination drawn by lot. Min 25/40.
The 2025 exam program: your starting base
The 2026 program hasn’t been published yet — it comes after registration closes. But the 2025 program (Allegato A, published July 8, 2025) is your strongest starting point. Italy’s cultural heritage doesn’t change year to year.
The 4 program sections
- Section I — Cultural & landscape sites: region by region, every site to know. Archaeological parks, historic centers, natural wonders, museums, churches, palaces.
- Section II — Cross-cutting art-historical competences: organized by themes and periods, not regions. Art movements, artists, techniques, iconography. The cross-referencing questions come from here.
- Section III — Practical exam destinations: UNESCO sites and major tourist destinations for the simulated guided tour. Destination drawn by lot from this list.
- Section IV — Legislation: Cultural Heritage Code, Tourism Code, Law 190/2023, accessibility.
Download the 2025 program
- Allegato A (Program): download from the 2025 exam page on InPA (attachments section)
- Allegato B (Evaluation criteria): same link
- MiTur page: ministeroturismo.gov.it
Tip: Print the entire Allegato A. Highlight your region in one color, high-density regions in another. This physical map is your compass.
Study strategy
Use concentric circles: your region first, then Lazio/Tuscany/Campania/Sicily/Veneto, then small regions. For each site: What is it? What’s unique? What historical event? Use Anki flashcards (20 min/day) + 8,058 quizzes on Mininterno.net.
12-month study plan
- May-Jun: Register. Buy manual. Study art history periods + core legislation.
- Jul-Aug: 2 regions/week. Anki + Mininterno quizzes.
- Sep-Oct: Complete all regions. Weekly timed simulations (40 questions, 40 min).
- Nov-Dec: Intensive review. Prepare 10+ guided tours. Practice aloud daily.
- January: Review only. Sleep well.
Practical exam preparation
Destination is drawn by lot. Structure visits in 3 acts: context → main works → significance today. Remember: simulation is also in your foreign language. Practice aloud daily. Record yourself.
After certification
Register with ENGT → work across all of Italy. EU-recognized. 50 hours training/3 years. Rates: €150-350/day, €60,000+/year possible.
Q&A
Q: How many questions in 2026?
A: 40 multiple-choice in 40 minutes (Art. 6.1). Was 80 in 90’ in 2025.
Q: Is there still a penalty for wrong answers?
A: No. Wrong/blank = 0 points (Art. 6.2). In 2025 it was −0.25. ALWAYS answer everything.
Q: Are written and oral the same day?
A: No. Written = separate day. Oral + practical = same day as each other (Art. 8.1).
Q: Can I choose my site for the practical?
A: No. Drawn by lot (Art. 8.3).
Q: Is the practical also in a foreign language?
A: Yes. Italian AND your chosen language (Art. 8.2).
Q: Can the oral be remote?
A: Yes. Proctoring possible (Art. 7.7).
Q: Do I need a university degree?
A: No. High school diploma suffices.
Q: How many spots?
A: No fixed spots. Everyone who passes gets certified.
Q: How long to prepare?
A: 6-12 months. 2025 passers studied about a year.
Q: Guide vs Tour Escort?
A: Guide = cultural heritage. Escort = travel logistics. Read our Tour Escort rights guide.
Q: Do I need a C1 language certificate to register?
A: No. This is one of the most common misconceptions. The original draft bill (Council of Ministers, July 17, 2023) had much stricter requirements: a bachelor’s degree plus two language certifications — one at C1 level and one at B2 — from recognized certifying bodies.
During the parliamentary process, these requirements were drastically reduced. The final version of Law 190/2023 eliminated both the degree requirement (a high school diploma suffices) and the C1+B2 double certification. Today only one foreign language at B2 level is required, verified during the exam itself — at the oral and practical stages — not through a certificate submitted at registration.
Why was C1 dropped? It was considered a disproportionate barrier. The CEFR defines C1 as “advanced proficiency” — typical of someone who has lived abroad for years or completed university studies in that language. No other European country requires a C1 certificate as a prerequisite to become a tourist guide. Requiring C1 before even sitting the exam would have excluded thousands of candidates perfectly capable of guiding professionally in a foreign language.
Don’t wait
Registration closes May 19. Half the questions, double the points, zero penalty. See you at the Sistine Chapel.
Prepare with the right tools
The Tour Leader Guide 2026 by TourLeaderPro is specifically useful for the legal/regulatory portion of the exam: it covers Law 190/2023, the Cultural Heritage Code (D.Lgs. 42/2004), the Tourism Code (D.Lgs. 79/2011) and accessibility rules in depth — all subjects in Section IV of the program. It is NOT an art history or archaeology manual — for those subjects use the dedicated manuals (Simone, Maggioli, EdiSES). It is, however, the most complete text available on tourism profession legal theory.
References: Decree Prot. 63838 (29/04/2026) • Law 190/2023 • DM 88/2024 • D.Lgs. 42/2004 • D.Lgs. 79/2011 • Exam on InPA
Based on the official decree of 29/04/2026. Detailed program TBD. Always verify on InPA and MiTur.