Language requirements
To prove your language skills in English or French, you need to take an approved language test. To do this:
- schedule your test with an approved agency
- pay the test costs
After you get the results of your test, compare them to the charts below to see what Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level you have.
What to include in your application
If you meet the minimum score of CLB 4 in all 4 abilities, include a copy of the test results with your application.
These results must be less than 2 years old when you apply. Keep a copy of them for your records and future use.
The minimum score depends on the NOC TEER category of your job offer:
- job offer in TEER 0, 1, 2, 3: CLB 5
- job offer in TEER 4 or 5: CLB 4
- no job offer: CLB 7
Language tests we accept
You can take any of these approved language tests:
English
-
CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
- You need to take the CELPIP-General test.
-
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
- You need to take the IELTS General Training test.
- PTE: Pearson Test of English
- You need to take the PTE Core test.
We accept IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) for EMPP candidates only
If you took the IELTS test and want to improve your score on one of the 4 skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking), you may be able to re-test for that skill if
- you’re from a select country
- the re-test is within 60 days of your original test date
- you’re applying for EMPP
Find out more about IELTS OSR.
How to find your language level based on your test results
Use your test results to find your CLB/NCLC level in the tables below:
CELPIP (General)
| CLB level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
IELTS (General Training)
| CLB level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 6 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
PTE Core
| CLB level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 88-90 | 90 | 89-90 | 89-90 |
| 9 | 78-87 | 88-89 | 82-88 | 84-88 |
| 8 | 69-77 | 79-87 | 71-81 | 76-83 |
| 7 | 60-68 | 69-78 | 60-70 | 68-75 |
| 6 | 51-59 | 60-68 | 50-59 | 59-67 |
| 5 | 42-50 | 51-59 | 39-49 | 51-58 |
| 4 | 33-41 | 41-50 | 28-38 | 42-50 |
| 3 | 24-32 | 32-40 | 18-27 | 34-41 |
TEF Canada
If you took your test after December 10, 2023
| NCLC level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 546-699 | 558-699 | 546-699 | 556-699 |
| 9 | 503-545 | 512-557 | 503-545 | 518-555 |
| 8 | 462-502 | 472-511 | 462-502 | 494-517 |
| 7 | 434-461 | 428-471 | 434-461 | 456-493 |
| 6 | 393-433 | 379-427 | 393-433 | 422-455 |
| 5 | 352-392 | 330-378 | 352-392 | 387-421 |
| 4 | 306-351 | 268-329 | 306-351 | 328-386 |
If you took your test between October 1, 2019 and December 10, 2023
| NCLC level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 566-699 | 566-699 | 566-699 | 566-699 |
| 9 | 533-565 | 533-565 | 533-565 | 533-565 |
| 8 | 500-532 | 500-532 | 500-532 | 500-532 |
| 7 | 450-499 | 450-499 | 450-499 | 450-499 |
| 6 | 400-449 | 400-449 | 400-449 | 400-449 |
| 5 | 350-399 | 350-399 | 350-399 | 350-399 |
| 4 | 300-349 | 300-349 | 300-349 | 300-349 |
If you took your test before September 30, 2019
| NCLC level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 263-300 | 393-450 | 316-360 | 393-450 |
| 9 | 248-262 | 371-392 | 298-315 | 371-392 |
| 8 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 280-297 | 349-370 |
| 7 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 249-279 | 310-348 |
| 6 | 181-206 | 271-309 | 217-248 | 271-309 |
| 5 | 151-180 | 226-270 | 181-216 | 226-270 |
| 4 | 121-150 | 181-225 | 145-180 | 181-225 |
TCF Canada
| NCLC level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 549-699 | 16-20 | 549-699 | 16-20 |
| 9 | 524-548 | 14-15 | 523-548 | 14-15 |
| 8 | 499-523 | 12-13 | 503-522 | 12-13 |
| 7 | 453-498 | 10-11 | 458-502 | 10-11 |
| 6 | 406-452 | 7-9 | 398-457 | 7-9 |
| 5 | 375-405 | 6 | 369-397 | 6 |
| 4 | 342-374 | 4-5 | 331-368 | 4-5 |