Italian Tourist Guide Exam 2026: Oral and Practical Tests — The Complete Guide for the 7,844 Eligible Candidates

In brief. On June 8, 2026, the Italian Ministry of Tourism officially announced that 7,844 candidates were found eligible from the June 5 written tests and will move on to the oral and technical-practical tests, which begin by the end of June 2026 (source: Italian Ministry of Tourism, June 8, 2026). The tests start by the end of June 2026 and are held either in person or remotely via online proctoring. Below you’ll find the regulatory framework updated to the Ministerial Decree of Commission appointment (no. 76879 of May 19, 2026) and the criteria approved by minutes no. 1 of May 20, 2026: how the oral works, how the guided-visit simulation works, the scoring grids point by point, the intensive study plan, the exam-day procedure step by step, the mistakes that fail well-prepared candidates — and the TourLeaderPro tools that get you ready in time.

1. Where things stand, June 8, 2026

The figure is official and comes straight from the Italian Ministry of Tourism press release of June 8, 2026: 7,844 candidates were found eligible from the June 5 written tests and will move on to the oral and technical-practical tests for the certification of new tourist guides. The tests are set to begin by the end of June 2026. The procedure is run by the Ministry of Tourism with the operational support of Formez PA.

For the full numerical picture: out of roughly 17,000 registrants, 8,346 candidates showed up for the written test on June 5, 2026 (average attendance around 50%, according to Travelnostop figures published on June 8). Distribution across the five testing centers was: Rome 3,132 attendees out of 5,556 expected (56%), Milan 2,258 out of 4,716 (48%), Caserta 1,883 out of 4,353 (43%), Catania 839 out of 1,783 (47%), Cagliari 234 out of 444 (53%). Of those who took the test, 7,844 cleared the 25/40 threshold — a roughly 94% pass rate, dramatically higher than the 1.85% recorded in the first 2025 round (222 licensed out of 12,000 participants).

The 7,844 eligible candidates will receive individual notification on the inPA portal and can view their scored test by logging into the Concorsi Smart platform run by Formez PA with their SPID credentials. The oral and technical-practical tests will begin by the end of June 2026, according to the schedule released on June 8 on the official portal. The strong interest in the tourist-guide profession — explicitly underscored by the Ministry — answers the reform’s twofold stated goal: addressing the shortages flagged by the sector and fighting unlicensed practice, protecting both the tourist and the professional.

It should also be noted that in the period leading up to the written test, the sector’s professional associations — in particular Federagit Confesercenti and Fenagi Confesercenti — wrote to Minister Mazzi asking for a review of the 2026 licensing-exam session, citing the procedure’s timing as critical: the syllabus, criteria, and scoring grids were published only on May 20, 2026, ahead of a written test set for June 5, 2026 — leaving roughly two weeks of preparation in the middle of high tourism season. The associations requested suspension of the procedures, postponement of the written test, and the opening of a permanent dialogue table with the category representatives (sources: Federagit, GuidaViaggi, May 26, 2026). The suspension request was not granted and the procedure continued on the original schedule.

What’s certain is that the game now shifts to the oral and technical-practical tests, where the rules are different and the written-test preparation has to be paired with communication and exposition skills that can’t be improvised.

📅 Official calendar: dates, times, mode (June 8, 2026 update)

With the Notice of Convocation to the Oral and Technical-Practical Test published on June 8, 2026 on the inPA portal, the Ministry of Tourism has set the complete schedule. The oral and technical-practical tests will take place from June 23 to September 21, 2026 (with an August break). The notice has the force of formal notification for all legal purposes.

Test mode: pursuant to Art. 7 par. 7 and Art. 8 par. 6 of the Exam Call, the tests will be held in online mode through digital platforms with remote proctoring. ⚠️ A note on terminology: in Italian administrative language «telematica» means «using digital tools and platforms» — it does not automatically mean «from home». The June 5, 2026 written test was also «telematica» (PC + digital platform) but candidates were physically present at the five ministerial venues. The actual location of the test for each candidate — in person at a Ministry-designated venue, or remotely from a private workstation — will be communicated by individual email convocation to the PEC address declared in the application, along with operational details (platform link, candidate ID, proctoring instructions).

Single start time: all sessions begin at 9:00 AM.

Date assignment criterion: the schedule is defined following the cyclic alphabetical order starting with the letter “L”, drawn by lot at the written test. The sequence runs from L to Z, then restarts from A through K.

Convocation schedule (by surname initial)

June 2026

July 2026

September 2026 (August break)

Official source: Avviso e istruzioni ai candidati PROVA ORALE E TECNICO-PRATICA — Italian Ministry of Tourism, published on the inPA portal on June 8, 2026. The notice has the force of formal notification.

💡 Find your date: locate your surname (or its first letters) in the “from — to” columns to identify your oral test day. The technical-practical test will take place on the same day, immediately after passing the oral. The individual email convocation will be sent to the PEC address declared in the application with specific operating procedures (platform link, candidate ID, proctoring instructions).

2. The three tests in cascade — and where you are now

The Italian national licensing exam for the Tourist Guide profession — governed by Law no. 190 of December 13, 2023 and its implementing Regulation (Ministerial Decree of March 11, 2024, no. 88) — is structured in three distinct tests, each scored out of 40 with a 25/40 passing threshold.

The written test (held June 5, 2026) is a computer-based test of 40 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, in Italian, on the subjects of Sections I, II, and IV of the Exam Syllabus (Annex 3). Pass threshold: 25/40, no penalty for wrong answers. Candidates who pass the written test move on to the second test.

The oral test is a face-to-face interview in Italian on the same subjects as the written test (Sections I, II, and IV), combined with a check of proficiency in the foreign language the candidate selected on the application — minimum CEFR B2 — except for the exemption cases set by art. 4 of Law 190/2023. Scored out of 40, with the Commission’s evaluation expressed unanimously.

The technical-practical test is a guided-visit simulation in both Italian and the candidate’s chosen foreign language, on a destination drawn at random from the list in Section III of the Syllabus. The destination is made public on the inPA portal at least 15 days before the start of the oral tests — which means, since the orals begin by the end of June, the list is already published or will be in a matter of days. This test takes place on the same day as the oral test, immediately after passing it. Scored out of 40, threshold 25/40.

You earn the license only by passing all three tests. Those who pass can apply for enrollment in the National Register of Tourist Guides (ENGT) established under art. 6 of Law 190/2023 at the Ministry of Tourism — that’s the mandatory requirement to legally practice the profession nationwide.

3. How the oral test works: format, duration, mode

The oral test is regulated by Art. 7 of the Exam Call (Prot. 63838 of April 29, 2026) — the full text is downloadable from the inPA portal (attachments section, file Bando abilitazione Guide Turistiche_2026.pdf). It’s a face-to-face (or remote) interview conducted by the Examining Commission appointed by Director’s Decree no. 76879 of May 19, 2026. The mode — in person at the venues indicated by the Ministry, or remotely with online proctoring — is communicated individually on the inPA portal along with the summons.

The interview is conducted entirely in Italian on the subjects of Sections I, II, and IV of the Exam Syllabus: art history, archaeology, geography, history, tourism law (with particular focus on accessibility and inclusivity of the tourism offering), and the regulation of cultural heritage and landscape. Part of the interview is devoted to the foreign-language check — the candidate must demonstrate the ability to hold a B2-level conversation on general and cultural topics.

There’s no fixed duration set by the call: in practice the interview lasts between twenty and forty minutes, depending on how many questions the Commission decides to ask and the depth of the answers. The Commission is composed of five effective members and substitute members, with proven qualifications in the exam subjects — they are not only academics, but also industry professionals.

Something many candidates underestimate: the oral is not a written exam read aloud. It’s a dialogue. The Commission listens to how you speak, how you structure a thought, how you handle an unexpected question, how you recover from a mistake. They evaluate substance, of course — but also style. We’ll come back to this in sections 5 and 12.

4. How the technical-practical test works: the guided-visit simulation

The technical-practical test is regulated by Art. 8 of the Exam Call (Prot. 63838 of April 29, 2026). Right after passing the oral test, on the same day and in immediate succession, the candidate takes the technical-practical test. It’s the test most feared by those who have prepared well on theory but have never actually led a real group — because here they don’t ask you to know, they ask you to guide.

The format is a guided-visit simulation on a destination drawn at random from the list in Section III of the Syllabus. Section III contains 40 destinations — a subset of the total 188 sites in the syllabus — selected by the Commission as representative contexts for the guide’s practical work. The candidate doesn’t know in advance which destination they’ll be assigned: the draw happens on the day of the exam, in front of the Commission, and from that moment the candidate has a limited time to organize the presentation (typically a few minutes of preparation, according to the operating instructions communicated by the Commission).

The simulation takes place in two languages: first in Italian, then in the chosen foreign language. The Commission evaluates the structure of the visit (how you open, how you progress, how you close), the cultural substance (historical accuracy, art references, geographic context), and the practical communication skills (tone, pacing, handling of the imagined group, command of the language).

It’s done in person or via proctoring, depending on what the Ministry communicates. In person, typically, the Commission sits at a table; the candidate stands and speaks, as they would in front of a group of tourists. In proctoring, the candidate is in front of the webcam, with audio and video active throughout the test.

🏛️ Section III — the official 40 sites: complete list

Annex 3 — Exam Syllabus, published on May 20, 2026 on the inPA portal, defines in its Section III the 40 destinations from which the Commission will draw at random the site each candidate will have to lead the guided-visit simulation on. This is the complete list, region by region (IDs as in the original Annex 3; 26 of the 40 sites are UNESCO World Heritage).

Abruzzo (1): 1. Alba Fucens (Massa d’Albe, L’Aquila)

Basilicata (1): 2. Sassi di Matera UNESCO (Matera)

Calabria (2): 3. Capo Colonna (Crotone) — 4. Scolacium Archaeological Park (Borgia, Catanzaro)

Campania (2): 5. Royal Palace of Caserta UNESCO (Caserta) — 6. Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park UNESCO (Vallo della Lucania, Salerno)

Emilia-Romagna (3): 7. Marzabotto archaeological area (Bologna) — 8. Porticoes of Bologna UNESCO — 9. Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna UNESCO

Friuli-Venezia Giulia (1): 10. Aquileia Archaeological Area UNESCO (Udine)

Lazio (5 — most represented region): 11. Castel Sant’Angelo (Rome) — 12. Domus Aurea (Rome) — 13. Villa Adriana UNESCO (Tivoli) — 14. Villa d’Este UNESCO (Tivoli) — 15. Villa dei Quintili and Santa Maria Nova (Rome)

Liguria (1): 16. Strade Nuove and Palazzi dei Rolli UNESCO (Genoa)

Lombardy (2): 17. Rock Drawings in Valcamonica UNESCO (Capo di Ponte, Brescia) — 18. Grotte di Catullo (Sirmione, Brescia)

Marche (1): 19. Urbisaglia Archaeological Park (Macerata)

Molise (1): 20. Sepino Archaeological Park (Campobasso)

Piedmont (2): 21. Mole Antonelliana (Turin) — 22. Racconigi Castle UNESCO — Royal Residences of the House of Savoy (Cuneo)

Puglia (2): 23. Castel del Monte UNESCO (Andria, BAT) — 24. Trulli of Alberobello UNESCO (Bari)

Sardinia (3): 25. Su Nuraxi di Barumini UNESCO (Cagliari) — 26. Museum of Prehistoric Statuary – Menhirs (Laconi, Oristano) — 27. Turris Libisonis Archaeological Park (Porto Torres, Sassari)

Sicily (5 — most represented region together with Lazio): 28. Agrigento Archaeological Area UNESCO — 29. Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto UNESCO (Syracuse) — 30. Mount Etna UNESCO (Catania) — 31. Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale UNESCO — 32. Villa Romana del Casale UNESCO (Piazza Armerina, Enna)

Tuscany (3): 33. Historic Center of San Gimignano UNESCO (Siena) — 34. Ponte Vecchio (Florence) — 35. Piazza dei Miracoli UNESCO (Pisa)

Umbria (1): 36. Assisi, Basilica of Saint Francis UNESCO (Perugia)

Aosta Valley (1): 37. Saint-Martin-de-Corléans megalithic area (Aosta)

Veneto (3): 38. Historic Center of Verona UNESCO — 39. Rialto Bridge (Venice) — 40. The Dolomites UNESCO (Cortina / Dolomite area, Belluno)

💡 Practical notes: a single site that includes multiple points (e.g. #31 Arab-Norman Palermo and Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale) must be prepared as a whole — the Commission may ask for a path connecting multiple points of the complex site. For the 26 UNESCO sites it’s recommended to also know the inscription rationale and the criteria applied. The regions absent from Section III are the Autonomous Province of Bolzano and the Autonomous Province of Trento (the Dolomites are included via site #40, listed as Cortina / Dolomite area, prov. Belluno).

Official source: Annex 3 — Exam Syllabus, Italian Ministry of Tourism, published on the inPA portal on May 20, 2026.

5. The scoring grids point by point

The 25/40 passing threshold for each of the three tests is set by the Exam Call (Prot. 63838 of April 29, 2026, Articles 6, 7, and 8) in implementation of Art. 5 of Italian Law no. 190 of December 13, 2023 “Discipline of the Tourist Guide profession” and the Ministerial Decree no. 88 of March 11, 2024 (Implementing Regulation). With minutes no. 1 of May 20, 2026, the Commission approved the evaluation criteria and the official grids — published in the call’s attachments on inPA (Annex 4 and Annexes 5.a, 5.b, 5.c, 5.d). Knowing them is essential to understanding where points are actually won or lost.

Oral test — scoring grid (Annex 5.b)

Two grids apply depending on whether the candidate is subject to or exempt from the foreign-language check.

For candidates subject to the language check, the four criteria are: a) level of knowledge and depth of the disciplines from 0 to 15 points; b) communication, exposition, and logical development capacity from 0 to 14 points; c) aptitude for the Tourist Guide profession from 0 to 5 points; d) knowledge and command of the foreign language from 0 to 6 points. Maximum 40, threshold 25.

For candidates exempt from the language check, the language points are redistributed across the other criteria: a) 0 to 17, b) 0 to 16, c) 0 to 7. Maximum 40, threshold 25.

Technical-practical test — scoring grid (Annex 5.d)

The technical-practical grid mirrors the oral structure but with different emphasis: the weight shifts to the practical capacity to lead the visit, more than abstract knowledge. The criteria are: a) level of knowledge and depth of the disciplines 0 to 15 points; b) communication, exposition, and logical development capacity 0 to 14 points; c) aptitude for the Tourist Guide profession 0 to 5 points; d) command of the foreign language in the simulation 0 to 6 points. Threshold 25/40.

For candidates exempt from the language check, here too the points are redistributed as in the oral: a) 0-17, b) 0-16, c) 0-7.

In both tests the Commission’s evaluation is expressed unanimously: that means it’s not enough to convince the majority, you have to convince every commissioner. It’s a rule that matters when the Commission is split: if even one member disagrees on the score, the decision gets renegotiated. I’m saying this to dispel a myth: the Commission doesn’t average the votes, it builds consensus.

6. Syllabus Section I: how to review art history

Section I of Annex 3 lists the Italian sites under art history and archaeology. These are the sites on which the Commission builds the oral interview and, in part, the foreign-language questions (when they ask you to describe a site in English, French, German, or Spanish, it’s a Section I site you’re talking about).

The real risk at the oral, on these sites, is not failing to know them — it’s reciting them by heart, like a Wikipedia entry that talks. The Commission spots it immediately, and the points for criterion b) “communication, exposition, and logical development capacity” start dropping.

The strategy that works: for each Section I site, prepare a six-element outline: historical context, author (or authors), date, three specific visual elements (not generic), one verifiable anecdote or curiosity, a connection with another site in the syllabus. Six elements that fit in two minutes of exposition. If the Commission asks for depth, you have the material to go deeper. If they don’t ask, you’ve already said everything that matters.

Frequent mistake: dragging out the exposition trying to “fill” the time. The Commission prefers a focused two-minute answer over a five-minute one that goes nowhere.

7. Syllabus Section II: geography and history

Section II covers Italian tourism geography and the historical framing of macro-areas. Here the Commission’s questions tend to be more cross-cutting than those of Section I: not “tell me about the Milan Cathedral” but “tell me about Lombardy as a tourism region” or “place the fifteenth-century Tuscan artistic flowering in historical context.”

For this type of question, “site by site” preparation is not enough — you need preparation “by region” and “by era.” A mind map for each of Italy’s 20 regions with: three main cities, three UNESCO or nationally relevant sites, one piece of intangible heritage (food and wine, traditional festival, craftsmanship), one geographic feature. For the eras: from the Paleolithic to the twentieth century, a timeline with four or five chronological nodes and, for each node, the syllabus sites that represent it.

Tourism geography questions often come up first, as an “ice-breaker”: the candidate who starts well on geography puts the Commission in a good mood. The one who stumbles on basic geography immediately loses the margin for the answers that follow.

8. Syllabus Section III: the 40 sites for the guided-visit simulation

Section III is the heart of the technical-practical test. 40 destinations selected by the Commission among the contexts of cultural, artistic, archaeological, and landscape heritage. On one of these 40, drawn at random on the day of the exam, you’ll build your visit simulation.

What to prepare for each of the 40 sites: an 8-to-12-minute guided-visit outline, divided into three phases. Opening (60-90 seconds): who you are, where we are, why the site matters, what we’ll see together. Development (5-8 minutes): three or four stops on the ideal route, each with the specific element you want to show and the “story” that ties it to the historical/artistic context. Closing (60-90 seconds): the memorable synthesis, the “take-away” the tourist will carry home.

The same structure in the foreign language. Not a literal translation of the Italian — an idiomatic adaptation. Expressions that work in Italian often land heavily in English (or French, German, Spanish). Rephrase.

The piece of advice from candidates who passed in previous years: record yourself doing the simulation, listen back, time it. If you go past 12 minutes you risk cutting into the foreign-language portion. If you stay under 7 minutes, the Commission will perceive the test as incomplete.

9. Syllabus Section IV: sector regulations

Section IV is the regulatory part: tourism law, accessibility and inclusivity of the tourism offering, regulation of cultural heritage and landscape. It’s the section many candidates underestimate — wrongly — because it seems “boring” compared to art and history.

The essential regulatory references to know well for the oral are: the Italian Tourism Code (Legislative Decree 79/2011, with particular attention to the articles on professional figures, tour packages, and travel agencies); Law no. 190 of December 13, 2023 (the reform law of the tourist guide profession that governs the very exam you’re taking); the Ministerial Decree of March 11, 2024, no. 88 (implementing regulation); the Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape (Legislative Decree no. 42 of January 22, 2004); the Italian Consumer Code (Legislative Decree no. 206 of September 6, 2005) on traveler rights; the main references on accessibility (Italian Law no. 71 of May 17, 2017 and related rules).

A typical Section IV question — one that comes up often — is: “What’s the difference between a tourist guide and a tour leader under the current regulatory framework?” The candidate who can answer with confidence, citing Law 190/2023 and the tour-leader profession framework, starts with a credibility advantage.

Another frequent question: “What obligations does the Tourism Code impose on the package organizer?” Here you go to art. 33 and following of Legislative Decree 79/2011.

10. Foreign language B2: how to arrive ready

The foreign language is worth 6 points out of 40 on the oral grid (and 6 out of 40 on the technical-practical). Six points may seem like a few — but they are 15% of the total, and in practice they make the difference between being above or below the 25/40 threshold.

The level required by the call is B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference. B2 means “upper intermediate”: ability to hold a fluent conversation on general and cultural topics, comprehension of speech at natural pace, command of the main grammatical structures, basic sector vocabulary on historical and artistic heritage.

What the Commission expects: that you can describe a site from the syllabus in the chosen language, answer an unexpected question (“What if it rained during the visit?”, “How would you react to a tourist who wants to enter a roped-off area?”), handle natural idiomatic phrasing, not textbook phrasing.

What it doesn’t expect: native-like pronunciation. A strong Italian accent doesn’t penalize, if the English (or French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, etc.) is correctly structured and the vocabulary is appropriate. What does penalize is the recurring structural error, the visible mental translation, the inability to handle an unexpected question.

Exemptions: art. 4 of Law 190/2023 provides for exemption from the language check for those who have earned a high school diploma, a bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, or old-system degree in that same foreign language at a foreign school or university. It’s an important exemption — those who fall into this category compete for only 34 points (not 40), but with the redistribution of points, the threshold of 25 still has to be reached on the remaining criteria.

A practical tip for those in the B1-B2 range: in the two weeks before the oral, do a 30-minute conversation a day with a native speaker or tutor — not just “passive study” watching videos. Fluency is only built by speaking.

11. “Telematica” mode: what it actually means

June 8, 2026 update: with the Notice of Convocation published on the inPA portal, the Italian Ministry of Tourism has established that the oral and technical-practical tests of the 2026 exam will be held in digital mode with remote proctoring, pursuant to Art. 7 par. 7 and Art. 8 par. 6 of the Exam Call.

A note on terminology: «telematica» in Italian administrative language means «using digital tools and platforms» — it does not automatically mean «from home». The June 5, 2026 written test was also «telematica» (PC + digital platform) but candidates were physically present at the five ministerial venues. The notice specifies that the test will take place «according to the operational procedures communicated to candidates by individual email convocation». Actual venue, platform link, candidate ID, and operational instructions arrive via individual PEC.

The two operational scenarios:

• Scenario A — at a MITUR venue: the candidate travels to a Ministry-assigned venue, accesses a Ministry-provided workstation, and the Commission examines remotely via the digital platform. This was the model used for the June 5 written test at the five hubs of Rome, Milan, Caserta, Catania, and Cagliari.
• Scenario B — fully remote: the candidate connects from their own private workstation (personal PC + webcam + microphone), and the Commission examines remotely via the platform with continuous proctoring surveillance.

The actual format for the individual candidate will be revealed in the individual email convocation.

What to prepare in any case (applies to both scenarios): valid ID (mandatory for initial identification); familiarity with the proctoring platform used by MITUR (it will be the same as Concorsi Smart/Formez PA, already known to those who took the written test); technical and content mastery of the Program subjects — nothing changes here compared to a traditional oral exam.

If you are assigned the remote mode (Scenario B), strict technical requirements: PC with a working webcam, microphone, stable internet connection (at least 5 Mbps upload), updated browser. Isolated, well-lit room, no other people present (even a partner shouldn’t walk behind you during the test). Audio active throughout. The proctoring platform does an environment scan at the start (you have to rotate the webcam or a mirror to show the room) and then monitors your face and movements with AI throughout the test.

Frequent proctoring mistakes leading to suspension and exclusion: phone visible on the desk (even turned off), notes stuck to the monitor, eyes drifting toward a second screen, someone entering the room, momentary loss of your face from the video frame, leaving your seat even for a few seconds.

Setup test: do a complete test of your setup at least three days before the exam. Don’t find out at 9:00 AM on exam day that the microphone doesn’t work or the connection is unstable. Test with a friend on a video call whether audio comes through clearly, whether the webcam properly captures your face and the background, whether your connection can sustain a 30+ minute continuous upload.

12. Intensive study plan: 15 days to be ready

Given that the orals start by the end of June and today is June 8, the available time ranges from 15 to 22 days. Enough — if it’s well organized.

Week 1 (days 1-7): content consolidation

Days 1-3: complete review of Section I (art history). For each site, the six-element outline (section 6). Three sites a day, exposition out loud and timed.

Days 4-5: Section II (geography and history). Mind map per region, timeline by eras. Out-loud exposition on two regions a day.

Days 6-7: Section IV (regulations). Schematic summaries of the main legislative texts. Practice on typical questions like “difference between…”, “obligations of the organizer…”, “role of the tourist guide in the Tourism Code…”.

Week 2 (days 8-14): technical-practical and language preparation

Days 8-11: preparation of the 40 guided-visit simulations from Section III. Four a day: Italian outline + adaptation in the foreign language + audio recording and playback.

Days 12-13: complete simulations against the clock. Draw a site at random, you have 5 minutes to prepare, then 10 minutes of exposition (5 in Italian + 5 in the language). Replicate exam conditions as closely as possible.

Day 14: regulation review + general oral-interview simulations. Opening questions, depth questions, unexpected questions.

Day 15 (exam eve): no new study. Quick outline review. Rest. Hydration. Early wake-up, clothes ready the night before, printed registration receipt and ID in plain sight.

13. Exam day, step by step

The oral and technical-practical tests take place on the same day, one after the other. The sequence is: identification, oral test, brief wait for the eligibility result, technical-practical test, communication of the final outcome.

Arrival (T-30 minutes): 30 minutes before the summons, you show up at the venue (or log into the proctoring platform). ID and registration receipt. If you’re in proctoring, log in well in advance to manage any technical glitches.

Oral test (T+0): the Commission calls you in. Greeting, introduction (brief: first name, last name, chosen foreign language), opening of the interview. The Commission asks the first question — usually on a Section I or II site. Answer without rushing, structure, examples, synthesis. The following questions chain on. Part of the interview is in the foreign language.

Oral eligibility result: the Commission confers privately. If you’re eligible (≥25/40), the score is communicated and you’re assigned, by random draw, the Section III site on which you’ll do the technical-practical.

Technical-practical preparation (5-10 minutes): you have a defined time to organize your thoughts. No written notes — just your memory. Breathe. Recall the outline for the site drawn.

Technical-practical test: guided-visit simulation in Italian (about 4-6 minutes) and then in the foreign language (about 3-5 minutes). The Commission may interrupt you for clarifications.

Final result: the Commission retires again. If you’re also eligible on the technical-practical (≥25/40), you’ve passed the exam. The license certificate and ENGT enrollment follow within the Ministry’s technical timeframes.

14. The mistakes that fail well-prepared candidates

They are not gaps in study, they are gaps in strategy and in behavior at the exam. I collect them from accounts of the early 2025 sessions and from feedback from those who passed (and those who didn’t pass) the exam.

Mistake 1 — Memorizing instead of reasoning. When the Commission asks “tell me about the Forum of Pompeii” and you recite the Wikipedia page, you’re worth zero on b) “communication capacity” and you lose points on a) “depth.” The Commission wants to see how you reason, not how much you’ve memorized.

Mistake 2 — Overestimating time. An eight-minute answer to a two-minute question shows a lack of synthesis. Stopwatch in hand during prep.

Mistake 3 — Pretending to know when you don’t. The Commission spots it immediately. Better to say “this specific aspect I don’t know with the confidence I’d like; I can speak about the general context” than to invent. Honesty about an uncertain detail doesn’t penalize; invention does.

Mistake 4 — Ignoring the foreign-language check. Six points may seem few, but they’re 15% of the total. Those who prepare only in Italian play with 34/40 — and with a 25/40 threshold, the margin is razor thin.

Mistake 5 — Dressing poorly or showing up untidy. Criterion c) “aptitude for the profession” 0 to 5 points is also evaluated on this. A tourist guide is a public figure. Dress as you would on the first day of work in front of a group of foreign tourists.

Mistake 6 — Arguing with the Commission. If the Commission corrects an error or suggests a deeper take, accept the correction, thank them, rephrase. The argument is always lost.

Mistake 7 — Neglecting posture and eye contact. Especially in proctoring: look at the webcam, not at the screen. You’ll seem more present and more confident.

Mistake 8 — Going from memory on the technical-practical. The guided-visit simulation is not the reading of a script. It’s a live performance. If the Commission perceives that you’re reciting, you lose points on c) “aptitude for the profession.”

15. After licensing: enrollment in the ENGT

Candidates who pass all three tests can apply for enrollment in the National Register of Tourist Guides (ENGT), established under art. 6 of Law 190/2023 at the Ministry of Tourism. Enrollment is the mandatory requirement to legally practice the profession nationwide.

The application is filed on the Ministry’s portal (ministeroturismo.gov.it) or through the system indicated by the Commission. You’ll need: license certificate, ID, any exemption documentation or additional language certifications, and a photo. On the ENGT, your profile will display first name, last name, foreign language (or languages) for which you’ve earned the license, and any specializations.

Enrollment is valid nationwide and for the entire professional life, barring disciplinary measures. There’s no annual renewal, but continuing professional development is required (training courses, regulatory updates) — the sector regulation details the modalities.

Once enrolled in the ENGT, you’re a licensed Tourist Guide under Italian law. You can work independently, in collaboration with tour operators and travel agencies, with museums, with cultural institutions. Rates are not regulated by law — the market sets them, and with the license your fees grow significantly compared to those who operate without title.

16. In summary

The 2026 national licensing exam for the Tourist Guide profession is now at its decisive phase. The written test of June 5 made the first selection. The oral and technical-practical tests — whose schedules were published today, June 8, 2026, on the inPA portal — will begin by the end of June and conclude in the following weeks.

The regulatory framework is solid: Law 190/2023, Ministerial Decree 88/2024, the call of April 29, 2026 (Prot. 63838), Decree no. 76879 appointing the Commission, criteria and grids approved by minutes no. 1 of May 20, 2026. You know the rules of the game. The scoring grid too. The syllabus sections are clear.

What’s left is the work you do in the next 2-3 weeks. Sections I and II reviewed by outlines (not by memorization), Section III prepared as guided-visit scenarios in two languages, Section IV consolidated on the regulatory front, foreign language trained in real conversations (not just passive study), 15 days organized without gaps and without overlaps, exam eve with rest, exam morning with calm and a clear head.

And at the exam — or in front of the webcam — a professional attitude: open posture, direct gaze, steady voice, always synthesis, honesty about limits, calm about the Commission’s corrections. The profession is that of the tourist guide: a public figure who narrates Italy to visitors. The Commission is looking for someone who is already — in essence — that figure.

If you’re among those admitted to the oral tests, you’ve already done a big part of the path. Don’t waste it in the last two weeks by underestimating the interview preparation. And don’t waste it in the last two hours with poorly managed tension.

Best of luck.

17. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many candidates passed the written test of the 2026 tourist guide exam?

According to the official press release of the Italian Ministry of Tourism on June 8, 2026, 7,844 candidates were found eligible from the written tests of June 5, 2026 (scoring 25/40 or above). All of them will move on to the oral and technical-practical tests, which start by the end of June 2026.

When do the oral and technical-practical tests of the 2026 tourist guide exam begin?

The oral and technical-practical tests begin by the end of June 2026, as officially announced by the Italian Ministry of Tourism on June 8, 2026. Individual schedules were released on June 8 on the inPA portal: each eligible candidate receives the personal summons in their inPA private area, which has full legal notification value.

How does the oral test of the tourist guide licensing exam work?

The oral test is an interview in Italian on the subjects of Sections I, II, and IV of the Exam Syllabus (art history, archaeology, geography, history, tourism law, accessibility and inclusivity, cultural heritage and landscape), combined with a check on the foreign language chosen by the candidate (minimum CEFR B2). Scored out of 40, with a 25/40 passing threshold. The Commission votes unanimously.

How does the technical-practical test work?

The technical-practical test consists of a guided-visit simulation in Italian and in the chosen foreign language, on a destination drawn at random from the list of Section III of the Syllabus (40 sites). It takes place on the same day as the oral test, immediately after passing it. Scored out of 40, threshold 25/40.

What foreign-language level is required?

The required level is B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) — “upper intermediate.” The check happens both in the oral test (worth 0-6 points on the grid) and in the technical-practical test. Exemption is available under art. 4 of Law 190/2023 for those who hold a high school diploma or higher degree in that foreign language earned at a foreign school or university.

Can the oral test be taken remotely?

Yes. The oral and technical-practical tests can be held in person at the venues indicated by the Ministry, or remotely with online proctoring. The mode is communicated individually to the candidate on the inPA portal along with the summons. Proctoring requires a PC with a working webcam, microphone, stable internet connection (at least 5 Mbps upload), and an isolated room.

What’s the passing threshold and how does the scoring work?

Each of the three tests (written, oral, technical-practical) is scored out of 40, with a passing threshold of 25/40, pursuant to Articles 6, 7, and 8 of the Exam Call (Prot. 63838 of April 29, 2026) in implementation of Art. 5 of Law 190/2023 and Ministerial Decree 88/2024. The license is earned only by passing all three tests. For the oral, the 40 points are distributed across four criteria (Annex 5.b approved by the Commission with minutes no. 1 of May 20, 2026): a) knowledge and depth of the disciplines 0-15, b) communication and logical development 0-14, c) aptitude for the profession 0-5, d) command of the foreign language 0-6.

How long does the oral test last?

The call doesn’t set a predetermined duration. In practice, the interview lasts between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the number of questions the Commission asks and the depth of the answers. The technical-practical test that follows typically lasts 8-12 minutes total (Italian + foreign language).

What happens if I don’t pass the oral test?

Those who don’t pass the oral test (score below 25/40) are not admitted to the technical-practical test and don’t earn the license in this round. To try again, you’ll need to participate in the next national call that the Ministry of Tourism will issue according to the cadence set by the implementing Regulation (Ministerial Decree 88/2024).

Where do I see my individual summons for the oral tests?

The summons is available only on the inPA portal (www.inpa.gov.it) in the candidate’s private area, accessible with SPID, CIE, CNS, or eIDAS. All official communications — schedule, venue, mode (in person or proctoring), date and time — go through inPA with full legal notification value. Candidates must keep their personal area and the PEC declared at application time actively monitored.

Where can I review my scored written test?

The outcome and the scored written test are accessible on the Concorsi Smart platform run by Formez PA at formez.concorsismart.it, candidate’s private area, SPID login.

What should I study for the technical-practical test?

You need to prepare an 8-to-12-minute guided-visit simulation for each of the 40 destinations in Section III of the Exam Syllabus (Annex 3). The exact site you’ll be tested on is drawn at random on the day of the test. For each destination prepare: opening (60-90 seconds), three or four stops on the ideal route with specific element and story, closing with a memorable synthesis. All in Italian + adaptation in the chosen foreign language.

Once I pass the exam, when do I get the license?

After passing all three tests (written, oral, technical-practical) with a score ≥25/40 each, candidates can apply for enrollment in the National Register of Tourist Guides (ENGT) at the Italian Ministry of Tourism. Enrollment timing depends on the Ministry’s technical procedures. ENGT enrollment is the mandatory requirement to legally practice the profession nationwide.

Which manuals and simulators should I use for the oral tests?

For complete preparation across the three tests, TourLeaderPro provides the Tourist Guide Exam Manual 2026 (systematic preparation on the syllabus) and the Tourist Guide Exam Simulator 2026 (4,000 questions across 100 simulations to practice on all subjects). Both available in PDF/Kindle/print at tourleaderpro.com and on Amazon (search for “Edizioni Cinematic Tours”).

📘 TOURLEADERPRO RESOURCES FOR THE 2026 TOURIST GUIDE EXAM

Tourist Guide Exam Manual 2026 — the systematic TLP guide for the three tests, with focus on syllabus, regulations, site cards by region, and oral exposition techniques. ➜ CONSULT THE MANUAL ON TOURLEADERPRO.COM

Tourist Guide Exam Simulator 2026 — 100 simulations × 40 questions = 4,000 questions to practice for the written test and to review Sections I, II, and IV of the syllabus in “test” mode. ➜ ACCESS THE SIMULATOR

Both available on Amazon too — search for “Edizioni Cinematic Tours” or use the direct link on the product page at tourleaderpro.com.

Related deep-dives:

• Tourist Guide Exam 2026: The Most Complete Guide
• Italian Tourist Guide Exam 2026: Written Test on June 5
• Tourist Guide Exam 2026 Commission Appointed: What Changes with Formez PA
• National Tourist Guide Exam 2026: Syllabus, Dates and How to Prepare
• Italian Tour Leader Licensing 2026: National Reform and Ruling 196

Official sources (verified June 8, 2026):

• Italian Ministry of Tourism — Press release June 8, 2026 “Tourist guides, Ministry: written tests completed. Oral and technical-practical tests within June” — ministeroturismo.gov.it (official source for the 7,844 figure)
• inPA Portal — Official call www.inpa.gov.it (with Annex 3 Syllabus, Annex 4 Criteria, Annexes 5.a-5.d Grids)
• Italian Ministry of Tourism — Tourist Guide section ministeroturismo.gov.it/professioni-turistiche/guida-turistica-2/
• National Platform for Tourist Guides (MITUR) portaleprofessioni.ministeroturismo.gov.it/tour-guides
• Concorsi Smart platform (Formez PA) formez.concorsismart.it — access to scored tests and outcomes via SPID
• Travelnostop — Written test attendance figures, June 8, 2026 (travelnostop.com)
• Italian Law no. 190 of December 13, 2023 “Discipline of the Tourist Guide profession” — on Normattiva
• Ministerial Decree of March 11, 2024, no. 88 Implementing regulation of Law 190/2023 — on Normattiva
• Italian Legislative Decree no. 79 of May 23, 2011 Tourism Code — on Normattiva
• Italian Legislative Decree no. 42 of January 22, 2004 Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape — on Normattiva
• Call Prot. 63838 of April 29, 2026 + Director’s Decree no. 76879 of May 19, 2026 (Commission appointment) + Minutes no. 1 of May 20, 2026 (criteria and grids) — all downloadable from the attachments section of the call on inPA

Disclaimer: this article is general information, not professional advice nor authentic interpretation of the call. The figure of 7,844 eligible candidates and the start of the oral and technical-practical tests within June 2026 are official communications from the Italian Ministry of Tourism on June 8, 2026 (source). Attendance figures per venue are sourced from Travelnostop, June 8, 2026. For their own individual position, each candidate must refer to the individual summons published on the inPA portal. Legislation is evolving: please verify the current status of the texts cited at the date of reading.