Introduction. The programme of certification examination in the second foreign language (German) is designed for higher education students who graduate from Kyiv National Linguistic University in the educational programme “Foreign Languages and Literatures, Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages and Foreign Literature (English and a second Western European language)” in the speciality 014 Secondary Education, specialization 014.021 English Language and Literature in the full-time form of education. Purpose. The article deals with the components of the programme of the certification exam in the second foreign language (German). Methods. The article employs analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, systematization and generalization of results. Results. The attention is focused on the requirements for higher education students who are certified for the bachelor’s degree. The structure and content of the certification exam in the second foreign language (German) and the assessment criteria are described. An indicative list of questions and recommended literature for preparing for the exam is offered. Conclusion. To sum up, the programme of certification exam in the second foreign language (German) is the final form of comprehensive testing and assessment of the level of students’ foreign language communicative competence. Applicants for higher education must demonstrate at the certification exam fluency in German in its oral and written forms, a good command of the orthographic, lexical and grammatical norms of German as a second foreign language, as well as the ability to correctly implement these norms in various types of speech activities and in different communicative situations.