After the strong interest registered with the 2025 announcement – which had attracted over 29,000 applications (and attracted a lot of controversy, given the small number of those admitted to the tests following the first: less than 300 people out of over 12 thousand present at the written test) – the Ministry of Tourism has published the new 2026 exam announcement for the qualification to the profession of tourist guide.
This is a national procedure that allows registration in the National List of Tourist Guides (ENGT), established with the reform of the sector (law no. 190/2023), with the aim of standardizing requirements and skills across the entire territory. Let’s see the details of the announcement, the exam tests, and how to best prepare.
Entry requirements: who can participate
Those who:
- have reached the age of 18;
- they are Italian citizens, EU citizens or in compliance with immigration regulations;
- enjoy civil and political rights;
- have not received convictions incompatible with the practice of the profession;
- I have a secondary school diploma or higher qualification (three-year, specialist, master’s or old system degree).
A specific degree is therefore not mandatory and even graduates can access, making the selection once again open to a very large pool of candidates.
Application for participation and announcement
The application must be submitted exclusively online via the inPA portal, using SPID, CIE or other digital identity systems, no later than 19 May 2026, 1.00 pm, with the obligation to:
- compilation of the curriculum vitae;
- indication of the foreign language chosen;
- payment of a participation fee of 10 euros.
All official communications (test calendar, results, invitations) will take place via the same portal, with the value of notification.
Selection tests: structure of the exam
The exam is divided into three tests, each with a maximum score of 40 points and a passing threshold set at 25/40:
- Written test: multiple choice test (40 questions – and not 80 as in 2025 – in 40 minutes), carried out digitally and in Italian (this can also take place in decentralized locations and also with multiple subsequent, non-contextual sessions);
- Oral test: interview on the exam subjects with foreign language verification (minimum level B2), with the aim of evaluating communication skills, knowledge and in-depth study of the contents;
- Technical-practical test: simulation of a guided tour, in Italian and in the foreign language chosen by the candidate, with the aim of evaluating the practical skills of the tour guide, the ability to conduct guided tours and provide relevant information.
The final practical test represents a qualifying element of the selection, because it directly evaluates the candidate’s operational and communication skills in a real context. The oral and technical-practical tests can take place in person or through the use of IT tools and digital platforms, even with remote surveillance methods (proctoring).
Exam subjects: what to study
The subjects to prepare for are clearly indicated in the announcement and cover both cultural and technical-regulatory areas. In particular, the written test focuses on:
- art history;
- geography;
- history;
- archeology;
- tourism law, accessibility and inclusiveness of the tourist offer;
- discipline of cultural heritage and landscape.
The same subjects are then explored in depth in the oral test, which also evaluates presentation skills and mastery of the contents. Added to these is the linguistic component and, in the practical test, the ability to translate theoretical knowledge into an effective narrative during a guided tour.
On the occasion of the 2025 call, we specifically dealt with the preparation of the technical-practical test in this articleand a dedicated study volume is also available, with in-depth information on all the sites and museums of the ministerial program and digital tutor support, also suitable for last minute study:
