Internal procedures
The Ordinance FMVZ nº3/2020, from February 18th of 2020, is concerning the obligation to present proof of knowledge in the Portuguese language by international undergraduate students from non-Portuguese speaking countries. 

The Ordinance determines (in brief):

  • The proof of knowledge in the Portuguese language will be mandatory for applications for practices activities/internships in the Department of Internal Clinics (VCM) and Department of Surgery (VCI). Furthermore, it will also be mandatory for enrollment in theoretical disciplines of the Veterinary Medicine Course (Art. 1st);
  • Will be accepted the CelpeBras – Proficiency Certificate in Portuguese for Foreigners, with a minimum level of Basic, or a Proof of Portuguese course conclusion, issued by an institution accredited for that purpose, of a minimum workload of 100 hours (Art. 1st); and
  • For the 2nd semester of 2020, the proof of knowledge in the Portuguese language must be sent by the student to us up to one month before the start of the activities at FMVZ-USP. For the 1stsemester of 2021 onwards, the proof of knowledge in the Portuguese language will be requested in the application (Art. 1st and Art. 4th). 

This standard is intended to improve students’ academic and personal performances in activities of high interaction with the public in our School. 

Celpe-Bras

What is the Celpe-Bras?

Celpe-Bras is the Certificate of Competence in Portuguese for Foreigners developed by the Ministry of Education (MEC) of Brazil, and is applied in Brazil and in other countries by the National Institute of Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Celpe-Bras is the only certificate of competence in Portuguese as a foreign language, officially recognized by the Brazilian government. At an international level, it is accepted by companies and educational institutions as proof of competence in the Portuguese language.

In Brazil, it is required by universities for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as in the validation of the diplomas of foreign professionals who wish to work in the country.

The exam is prepared by a technical committee composed of professors from Brazilian universities working in the area of ​​Portuguese for Foreigners.

How is the exam?

The exam is communicative in nature. This means that there are no attempts to measure knowledge about the language, through questions about grammar and vocabulary, but the ability to use language.

In this way, the competence of the interested party is evaluated by his performance in tasks that resemble situations that may occur in real life. Therefore, learning the culture and way of life of Brazilians are essential to succeed in the exam.

What are the application and registration dates?

The Celpe-Bras is applied twice a year (in April and October) and the registrations take place in February/March and August/September, respectively.

Where can I register for the exam?

The candidate must take the exam only in accredited institutions in Brazil or abroad.

How to register for the Celpe -Bras?

The candidate must complete the application form and the questionnaire available on the Celpe-Bras website.

Source: MEC