What is a PLA course and how does it work?
PLA stands for Português Língua de Acolhimento. It is a system in which certified training providers deliver Portuguese courses at set levels. An A2 PLA course typically runs 150 to 200 hours of instruction, with a minimum attendance requirement, and ends in a certificate documenting the level reached.
It is a system, not a single institution
PLA is not one course or one provider. It is a framework within which DGERT-certified training entities deliver Portuguese courses at various levels. Complete an A2-level PLA course with a certified provider and you receive a certificate documenting your proficiency.
What the course involves
Hours. An A2 PLA course typically comprises 150 to 200 hours of instruction, which aligns with the general guidance for reaching A2.
Schedule. How long that takes depends on the format:
- Intensive, 20 or more hours a week: roughly 8 to 10 weeks.
- Standard, 10 to 15 hours a week: roughly 12 to 20 weeks.
- Part-time, 5 to 8 hours a week: roughly 20 to 40 weeks.
Attendance. Most courses require a minimum attendance rate, typically 80% to 90% of scheduled hours. That is both a DGERT requirement and a practical one: you cannot reach A2 without doing the hours.
Content. A well-structured A2 course covers the four skills against the A2 descriptors: everyday vocabulary, basic grammar, practical situations, and enough reading, writing, listening and speaking to function in ordinary life.
What the certificate should say
Check that it clearly states the level achieved (A2), the course hours completed, and the DGERT certification number of the issuing entity. A certificate missing any of those invites questions you do not want on a citizenship file.
Before you enrol
Verify the provider's DGERT certification. It is public information, available through DGERT's official website, and any legitimate provider will hand you their number and encourage you to check it. Evasiveness about DGERT status is a red flag worth acting on.
Subsidised courses exist and can be free or very low cost for eligible residents. Private courses range from a few hundred euros upward.