Unovisi ni kipindi cha pekee katika malezi ya mashirika ya kitawa. Ni kama kiini chake, na kwa sababu hiyo sheria za Kanisa zinakiratibu kwa uangalifu mkubwa. Aliyejisikia wito, kwanza anaandaliwa miaka au walau miezi ili kuziba mapengo ya malezi ya awali katika familia, shule, parokia n.k. hadi akomae zaidi kiutu na Kikristo. Ndipo anapoanza unovisi ambao kwa kawaida unachukua miaka miwili au walau mmoja Wakati huo mhusika anatulia kabisa mbele ya Mungu wake akijaribu maisha ya shirika lake ili kuona kama anayaweza. Katika hilo ni lazima asaidiwe hasa na mlezi na mafundisho mbalimbali ya kidini: Biblia, liturujia, maisha ya Kiroho, nadhiri n.k. Akiamua na kukubaliwa, anamaliza unovisi kwa kujitoa kwa Mungu walau kwa mwaka mmoja kabla ya kuweka nadhiri za daima. The novitiate, through which life in an institute is begun, is arranged so that the novices better understand their divine vocation, and indeed one which is proper to the institute, experience the manner of living of the institute, and form their mind and heart in its spirit, and so that their intention and suitability are tested. Canon Law 646.