World Language Certificate and Bilingual and Multilingual Seal Overview

  • Minnesota World Language Certificate Minnesota Gold Bilingual Seal Minnesota Platinum Bilingual Seal

    Registration for 2025-26 Bilingual Seal test dates will be announced at a later date.

    Students need to bring their chromebook and headphones to the exam. School sites will have a limited number of headphone sets available on a first come, first serve basis.

    Cost: Students taking the Bilingual Seal Exams (Arabic, ASL, Chinese (Mandarin, Traditional), English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, and Spanish) will incur a testing fee (to be announced at a later date).

    Exams can be paid for through the Parent Vue, School Pay application.

    The Minnesota World Language Proficiency Certificate and Bilingual and Multilingual Seals were created by the state of Minnesota as an official recognition of proficiency in a language in addition to English. Students who prove their proficiency, either through study or as native speakers, will have a notation entered on their high school transcript to reflect their functional abilities in the language. Additionally, college credit can be awarded to students who attend or transfer to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and select other postsecondary institutions within three years of graduation from the Anoka-Hennepin school district. *Note: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities award college credit only when the test was taken in grades 10, 11, or 12. Therefore; it is NOT recommended to take an assessment in 9th grade if the goal is to obtain college credit.  

    The Minnesota Department of Education provides support to Anoka-Hennepin regarding the world languages program. A frequently asked questions document includes basic information for students interested in pursuing the certificate and/or seal.

Types of awards

  • World Language Proficiency Certificate

  • Bilingual and Multilingual Seals

What is proficiency?

  • Proficiency, Explained

  • What level of proficiency do I need to earn a World Language Certificate?

  • What level of proficiency do I need for a Gold Bilingual Seal?

  • What level of proficiency do I need for a Platinum Bilingual Seal?

Testing

  • What tests are accepted by the Minnesota Department of Education?

  • When is the next test date?

  • How do I register to test?

Languages currently available

  • Amharic

  • Arabic

  • Dakota/Lakota

  • Dari

  • French

  • German

  • Hebrew

  • Hindi

  • Hmong

  • Italian

  • Japanese

  • Karen

  • Korean

  • Mandarin (traditional or simplified writing)

  • Ojibwe

  • Oromo

  • Pashto

  • Polish

  • Portuguese

  • Russian

  • Somali (Maxaa or Maay Maay)

  • Spanish

  • Swahili

  • Tamil

  • Thai

Which colleges and universities grant credit for the bilingual seal?

  • Participating Institutions