How to be designated as a language testing organization for immigration and citizenship

Are you part of an organization that does formal English or French language testing? We could approve your test to be used to evaluate the skill level and validate potential immigrants’ language abilities.

Why do we ask for proof of language skills?

People have to meet minimum language proficiency requirements in one of Canada’s official languages (English or French) for the program or immigration stream they apply to. This includes:

For most immigration purposes, applicants must provide language test results no matter their mother tongue or the official language in their home country from an approved test taken through an independent language testing organization we have designated.

Applicants may also submit the test results when applying for Canadian citizenship.

What is a designated organization?

“Designated” means we accept the results of an organization’s test as proof of language ability, because the organization and their test meet all our criteria. For example:

  • the test must evaluate the abilities corresponding to a range of proficiency at levels relevant to our programs in
    • listening
    • speaking
    • reading, and
    • writing
  • the test evaluates these abilities and proficiency levels based on the
  • security requirements are met for
    • carrying out the test
    • test logistics
    • marking tests and issuing results
  • the test must be accessible to applicants in Canada and abroad

Based on priorities and operational requirements, we may accept general or select specialized (occupation-specific) language tests that meet all of our designation criteria.

What an organization needs to do

Any independent agency or organization in Canada or abroad may express interest in being designated to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

We may assess the organization based on a language test that they already offer or may offer to the public in the future. However, we’ll determine whether the test meets our priorities and operational requirements before providing the organization with a copy of our submission package.

We are currently seeking applications for:

  • French language general tests
  • select occupation-specific English and French language tests

If you have, or are developing, any of the tests identified above, and want more information about the designation process, contact us at selection@cic.gc.ca.

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