CELPIP and immigration to Canada

The CELPIP test is offered at locations across Canada. Additional international test locations have been added around the globe, including in Dubai, New York City, Manila, as well as Brazil, Singapore, Mexico, South Africa, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and more. If you are in or near one of the global testing centres, CELPIP may also be an option.

About CELPIP

Since first being offered to Canadian immigration applicants in 2012, the CELPIP test has offered an alternative means for applicants to prove their English ability. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) currently recognizes three English language tests for immigration purposes: CELPIP-General, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) – General Training Test, and Pearson’s Test for English (PTE) Core.

The CELPIP-General test assesses general levels of functional English competency in workplace and community contexts. Like the IELTS-General test, the CELPIP-General test consists of four components: speaking, reading, writing, and listening.

The CELPIP test is administered by Paragon Testing Enterprises, a subsidiary of the University of British Columbia (UBC).

It’s also important to note that:

• CELPIP test takers have six months following their test to request a re-evaluation of their results, if they wish to do so (before this change in 2019, candidates had only six weeks to request a re-evaluation); and
• CELPIP test takers who wish to retake the exam only have to wait four days between tests, rather than the 30 days that was previously required.

Applications submitted to any of Canada’s federal economic immigration programs are managed under the Express Entry immigration selection system.

Getting into the pool

All potential immigrants under Express Entry need to prove ability in English or French (or for extra points, both). This includes native English and French speakers, no matter where they come from or which school they went to. Express Entry is a level playing field, and every point matters as candidates vie for that all-important invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

There are different pathways to entering the pool, with Canada offering three separate programs within Express Entry. If you are not sure which program(s) you may be eligible under, see our guides:

• Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC): For workers evaluated under a unique FSWC points system. Eligible individuals must obtain at least 67 points out of 100. Up to 28 points are available for language ability, rising to up to 33 points for individuals with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
• Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC): For tradespersons with relevant experience.
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): For individuals with ongoing or recent work experience in Canada.

For the purposes of entering the Express Entry pool, language criteria are set depending on which of the three programs an individual may be eligible for.

Unlike the IELTS and TEF tests, which have alternative marking systems, CELPIP test results are issued with marks from 1 to 12, exactly the same as the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs). The results in the table below show the CLB required (the same as the CELPIP result required) to enter the pool per program and per language ability.

*The above table assumes that the individual is otherwise eligible for the listed program(s). Obtaining CELPIP test results equal to or better than the results listed above does not guarantee entry to the pool.

Important thresholds

As you can see, the language criteria for entering the pool are different for different candidates, depending on the program they are eligible under. However, once in the pool all candidates are ranked using the same points system, known as the Comprehensive Ranking System, or CRS.

Candidates who entered the pool with CELPIP results equivalent to CLB 8 or below can make incremental gains in their CRS points total if they can prove improvements in their language skills having re-sat a test. However, something special can happen if you reach CLB 9, also known as ‘initial advanced’ level. This is because under the ‘skills transferability’ factors of the CRS, language ability is paired separately with education level and work experience gained outside Canada. Up to 100 CRS points are available for these combinations. These bonus points are in addition to the points received for improving language skills under the human capital factors.

Reaching CLB 9 can make or break a candidate’s prospects for immigration to Canada.

To show this, let’s take a hypothetical example. Stephanie is a candidate in the pool. Upon entry to the pool, she had proven English ability equivalent to CLB 8. She is 29 years old, has a Master’s degree, and three years of work experience outside Canada. She does not have a job offer, a provincial nomination, or any family members living in Canada. This gave her an initial score of 387 CRS points. However, she re-took a CELPIP test and made marginal improvements across the four abilities, bringing her results to the equivalent of CLB 9 in all four. In doing so, her score increased to 469 CRS points! Such a score is typically more than enough to secure an ITA.

Spouse/common-law partner ability

Single candidates and candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner are assessed slightly differently under the CRS. For candidates with a spouse or partner, up to 20 points are available for the spouse or partner’s first language ability, with five points available for each of the four language abilities. Therefore, valuable CRS points can be obtained if the spouse or partner also sits a language test, such as CELPIP. But how many points, exactly? The table below has the answers.

NOTE: CELPIP results are considered valid by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for two years from the date of issuance of the results. Once CELPIP results become invalid, the affected candidate is removed from the pool and will not be eligible to be issued an ITA for permanent residence. Therefore, candidates whose results may become invalid are encouraged to sit another test before that possibility becomes a reality.

Express Entry is not the only way to immigrate to Canada as an economic migrant. There are also a range of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), with many PNP streams managed entirely outside Express Entry. In addition, individuals and families wishing to settle in the province of Quebec are subject to different eligibility requirements. And don’t forget all the investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed people who want to make Canada home – there are programs for them too.

No matter which program is pursued, it is nearly certain that a prospective economic immigrant to Canada will need to prove language ability. How language test results affect a person’s eligibility or points totals, if applicable, depends on the program or stream. Suffice to say, language is almost always a crucial factor among Canada’s economic immigration programs. As such, potential applicants are encouraged to take the matter seriously, even if they are a native speaker of the language.

The CELPIP, IELTS, and PTE Core tests assess candidates across four modules, namely speaking, reading, writing, and listening. There are, however, a number of differences between the tests.

Here’s an overview of the key features of the English language tests for Canadian immigration:

You can read our comprehensive guide to English language tests for Canadian immigration, but briefly some other considerations include:

• Anecdotal evidence suggests that the process of sitting a CELPIP test is shorter than sitting an IELTS test, the latter sometimes taking far longer than the advertised 2 hours and 45 minutes as candidates wait to complete the speaking module.
• There are more targeted online test preparation resources, such as practice tests and testimonials, for the IELTS test, as this is offered in far more international locations and has been around longer.
• CELPIP test results correlate directly with CLBs, while IELTS results do not. This does not offer any inherent advantage either way, but CELPIP test results may be more easily understood in the context of Canadian immigration programs and how many points may be awarded for your English ability.
• The IELTS speaking component is conducted with another person designated for this task, whereas the CELPIP speaking component is delivered on a computer.
• If you are dissatisfied with your results, you can request a re-evaluation of your test. CELPIP gives you six months to request a re-evaluation. Generally, IELTS gives you six weeks to request a re-evaluation.
• If you wish to retake the test, IELTS allows you to register for another exam as soon as you are ready. Meanwhile, CELPIP requires that you wait at least four days between tests.

The CELPIP test is a complete English language testing program that assesses general levels of competency. The test consists of the following components:

• Listening (47–55 minutes)
• Reading (55–60 minutes)
• Writing (53–60 minutes)
• Speaking (15–20 minutes)

Total test time is around three hours.

On test day, candidates should bring with them the ID they used to register. Candidates should arrive in good time before the beginning of the test.

The entire test, including the speaking component, is delivered on a computer.

If you are ready to book your CELPIP test, you can find test dates and locations here.