The Italian language

There are six levels of proficiency in Italian: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2
They follow the QCER (Quadro comune europeo di riferimento per la conoscenza delle lingue – the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFR), the common European guidelines for language education. The QCER is an international system for assessing proficiency in foreign languages, developed by the Council of Europe in the early 1990s.
BASIC USER (A1–A2)
A1 – BEGINNER level
A2 – ELEMENTARY level · INDEPENDENT USER (B1–B2):
B1 – INTERMEDIATE level
B2 – UPPER INTERMEDIATE level · PROFICIENT USER (C1–C2):
C1 – ADVANCED level
C2 – MASTERY level

When you need an Italian language certificate

To obtain a long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno lungo periodo): level (livello) A2
To apply for citizenship (cittadinanza): level B1
To enrol and study at university: level B2
For foreign teachers of Italian working in an Italian setting: level C2

Anyone who wishes to obtain an EU long-term residence permit in Italy (permesso di soggiorno lungo periodo, art. 9 of the immigration law) must, under the Ministry of the Interior decree of 4 June 2010, pass an Italian language test corresponding to level A2 of the international framework (QCER). Ministero dell’Interno – Decreto 4 giugno 2010

Procedures for the Italian language test provided for by Article 9 of Legislative Decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998, introduced by Article 1, paragraph 22, letter i) of Law no. 94/2009 (published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale, General Series, no. 134 of 11 June 2010)
To obtain A2 certification you need to pass a test,
by sending an online application to your local Prefettura (Prefecture) through the dedicated website https://portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it/; within 60 days you will be given the date and time of the test. (If you fail, or cannot attend on the set date for any reason, you can send a new application 90 days after the date of the previous test.)
You can also attend CPIA courses (state education courses for adults).

Anyone who wishes to apply for citizenship (cittadinanza) must have an adequate knowledge of Italian, at no lower than level B1.

In addition, with the approval of Decree no. 132 by M. Salvini of 1 December 2018, an adequate knowledge of Italian at no lower than level B1 is required in order to apply for Italian citizenship.

Please note! Bear in mind, however, that not all schools issue certificates that are accepted for this application.
Only certificates from institutions recognised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education are valid.
Namely:
Università degli Studi di Roma;
Università per Stranieri di Perugia – CELI;
Università per Stranieri di Siena – CILS;
Società Dante Alighieri – PLIDA.

CELI: CELI certificates are managed by the University for Foreigners of Perugia (Università per Stranieri di Perugia), which has a special version for immigrants, “CELI Immigrati”.
You can find a list of the centres where you can take the CELI test here: https://www.unistrapg.it/it/certificati-di-conoscenza-della-lingua-italiana/centri-d-esame-celi
CILS: CILS certificates are issued by the University for Foreigners of Siena (Università per Stranieri di Siena).
It offers a special certificate valid for citizenship applications, “CILS B1 Cittadinanza”, which is structured differently from the other tests. You can find a list of the centres where you can take the CILS test at https://cils.unistrasi.it/84/68/Italia.htm
PLIDA: PLIDA certificates are managed by the Società Dante Alighieri.
Here you can find the various centres where you can take the PLIDA test.
CERT: CERT certificates are managed by Roma Tre University in Rome.
You can find out how to register, and the dates and venues of the CERT exam, at https://certificazioneitaliano.uniroma3.it/
The exams are based on four different skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Before you sign up for a course or take an exam, you can also look at the Europass language reference grid to understand what each level involves. A1 corresponds to a basic level, while C2 is comparable to native-speaker command of the language.
Depending on your level, you can take the exam at an official accredited centre. For the exact costs, how to apply and the exam dates, you will need to contact the centre nearest to where you live. There are several exam sessions a year, and when you apply you can also choose when to take it.

You can sign up for the exam through a CAF (Centro Assistenza Fiscale – tax assistance centre); many of them offer this service. Or you can register online directly with one of the institutions listed above.

CPIA:
CPIAs (Centri Provinciali per l’Istruzione degli Adulti – adult education centres) are public centres that provide education for adults, including free Italian courses. Every main province in Italy has its own CPIA, which holds classes on different days and at different times depending on your level.
To find the CPIA nearest to you, search Google for “CPIA + [city]” (for example, CPIA Torino). Large cities may have more than one CPIA. The CPIA’s website explains how to register, but this portal is usually used:
https://suite.sogiscuola.com/registri/RMMM67300X/cpia/iscrizioneAlunni.php
Local organisations:
Depending on where you are, there may be organisations offering free courses.
For example:
Bologna:
ApriMONDO Centro Poggeschi – Centro Amilcar Cabral, via San Mamolo 24, tel.: 3207514063, segreteria@aprimondo.org
Scuola d’Italiano By Piedi, Via De’ Buttieri 13/b, tel.: 3517447127, bypiedi@gmail.com
Associazione Interculturale UNIVERSO, Piazza XX Settembre 7 – Porta Galliera, tel.: 0518556042, helpdesk@universointerculturale.it
Milan:
Naga Har, via San Colombano 8, tel.: 023925466, coordinamento.har@naga.it
Fondazione Franco Verga, tel.: 028693194, formazione@fondazioneverga.org
Rete Scuole Senza Permesso, info@scuolesenzapermesso.org
Naples:
Università degli Studi di Napoli L’Orientale, Via Nuova Marina 59, 4th and 5th floors of Palazzo del Mediterraneo, claor.self@unior.it
Palermo:
Centro Astalli, piazza Santi Quaranta Martiri 10/12, tel.: 0919760128, astallipa@libero.it
ItaStra – UniPa Scuola di lingua Italiana per stranieri, Piazza Sant’Antonino 1, 90127, Palermo, scuolaitalianostranieri@unipa.it
Rome:
Scuole Migranti lists the various free Italian course options in the Lazio region on its website. You can find the location nearest to where you live and contact the centre for more information.
Turin:
Associazione la Tenda, Via Giovanni Botero 2, Monday 15:00–17:00, Wednesday 9:00–11:00, tel.: 0115622165, ass.la_tenda@yahoo.it
Il Passo Social Point, via Leinì 68/b, Monday to Friday 9:00–18:30, torinoinclusioneitaliano@diaconiavaldese.org

You can prove your Italian at level A2 in one of the following ways:

An Italian language test, booked online with your local Prefettura (Prefecture) through the platform https://portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it/AliSportello/ali/home.htm using your SPID (public digital identity): you must pass the test, and the Prefettura will send the result to the Questura (police immigration office).
A language certificate at no lower than level A2 from an accredited institution
A language certificate from a CPIA stating that you reached at least level A2 at the end of a course
A lower secondary school diploma («terza media» in Italian) or an upper secondary school diploma obtained in Italy, including one obtained at a CPIA.
Also, under art. 3 of the immigration law, you are not required to take the test if:
You hold a certificate issued by certifying bodies recognised by the Ministry of Education;
You have attended CPIA courses (state education courses for adults);
You have obtained a lower or upper secondary school diploma, or one from a CPIA (licenza media o superiore)
You are a university professor, a translator or a journalist-correspondent accredited in Italy.
Children under 14.

Proving your Italian for citizenship.
To obtain Italian citizenship by marriage or by residence, you must prove your knowledge of Italian at level B1.
You must prove your B1 level of Italian through:
A language certificate of at least level B1 obtained from an accredited institution (see below)
A language certificate from a CPIA stating that you have reached at least level B1
An Italian educational qualification («titolo di studio» in Italian) recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education or Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at any level (primary, lower secondary or upper secondary school diploma or university degree), including one obtained at a CPIA.
You do not need to prove your Italian if:
You hold an EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo)
You have a certified language learning disorder

You can study Italian online or in person. Which route suits you best is your own choice. But you should be clear that, to obtain a language certificate, you must use only official accredited centres. Good luck. Glory to Ukraine!