New regulations on joint organization of foreign language certification exams

This Circular takes effect from October 12, 2025; replacing Circular No. 11/2022/TT-BGDDT dated July 26, 2022 of the Minister of Education and Training .

Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BGDDT has some new points as follows:

Firstly, concretize the policy of promoting decentralization and delegation, creating initiative for local authorities.

Decree No. 143/2025/ND-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government stipulating the decentralization and delegation of powers in the field of state management of the Ministry of Education and Training assigns the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee the authority to approve joint organization of foreign language proficiency exams.

Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BGDDT emphasizes the requirement for the People's Committees of provinces and cities to manage the activities of organizing foreign language proficiency certification exams in the locality according to the Government's regulations; publicly announce and update on the electronic information page the list of approved units, adjusted, extended, and terminated the organization of foreign language proficiency certification exams in the locality.

Second, clearly define the subjects of association and the responsibilities of the associated parties in organizing foreign language proficiency certification exams.

In which, the Vietnamese side is the joint testing organization unit - the testing organization in Vietnam - that has an agreement or cooperation contract with a foreign language proficiency assessment facility, and is primarily responsible for organizing foreign language proficiency certification exams in Vietnam.

The foreign party is the foreign language proficiency certificate-issuing unit. The foreign language proficiency assessment facility is responsible and has the authority to issue foreign language proficiency certificates or the foreign language proficiency assessment facility is authorized or permitted by the foreign language proficiency certificate-issuing unit to organize the certificate-issuing examination.

Third, clarify the concept of legal and popular foreign language proficiency certificates in the world .

Fourth, clearly stipulate that the approval of joint organization of foreign language proficiency certificates does not include the recognition of the levels of those foreign language proficiency certificates as equivalent to the levels of the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for use in Vietnam in the national education system.

Fifth, amend and supplement a number of other regulations to specify the responsibilities of state management agencies, strengthen the responsibilities of parties involved in joint examinations and granting foreign language proficiency certificates, and specify the responsibilities of the parties involved in the process of implementing the joint examinations, organizing examinations, and granting certificates as a basis for state management agencies to conduct post-inspection.

See detailed regulations in Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BGDDT HERE.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/quy-dinh-moi-ve-lien-ket-to-chuc-thi-cap-chung-chi-ngoai-ngu-cua-nuoc-ngoai-post747225.html