- Take CELPIP-General, not CELPIP-General LS. IRCC needs results in all four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- University graduates need CLB 7 in every skill, which is a CELPIP 7. College and other non-university graduates need CLB 5, a CELPIP 5.
- Your results must be less than 2 years old when you apply. The rule covers PGWP applications made on or after November 1, 2024.
For a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), you take the CELPIP-General test and need CLB 7 in all four skills if you studied at a university. College and other non-university graduates need CLB 5 in all four skills, which means a CELPIP 5 or higher in each one.
This guide explains the rule, which CELPIP test counts, and how to time your test so the results are ready before your PGWP deadline. All rules below come from IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) pages, checked in October 2026.
The PGWP language rule
If you apply for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024, you must send proof of your English or French skills. IRCC sets the level with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB), the scale it uses for all language requirements.
Here is what IRCC asks for, as of October 2026:
- Who needs it: everyone who applied for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024. If you applied before that date, the rule does not apply to you.
- The one exception: graduates of a PGWP-eligible flight school do not need to prove their language level.
- All four skills: your test must show your level in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- Age of results: your results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application.
- Approved tests only: for English, IRCC accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core.
- In person: IRCC's documents page says language tests should be taken in person.
One detail catches people out. Your PGWP document checklist shows the language results as an optional document. IRCC says you must still include them if your study program has a language requirement. Do not skip the upload because the checklist calls it optional.
CLB level by program
Your required level depends on the kind of program you finished, not on its length. IRCC lists three groups:
- Bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree: CLB 7 in all four skills.
- Any other university program: also CLB 7 in all four skills.
- College, polytechnic or other non-university program: CLB 5 in all four skills.
So the line falls between university and non-university programs. A one-year graduate certificate from a college needs CLB 5. A university certificate or diploma needs CLB 7, the same as a degree.
The minimum applies to each skill on its own. Strong scores in three skills do not make up for one low score. If you need CLB 7 and get 7 in three skills and 6 in writing, you do not meet the requirement.
Field of study is a separate rule
Some graduates must also have studied in an eligible field of study. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates have no field of study requirement. For other programs, it depends on when you applied for your study permit. This rule has nothing to do with CELPIP, so check IRCC's field of study page for your own case.
Which CELPIP test to take
Take CELPIP-General. IRCC's PGWP documents page names CELPIP and says, "You should take the CELPIP-General test."
Do not book CELPIP-General LS by mistake. The LS version tests only listening and speaking. The CELPIP website says it is designated by IRCC for citizenship applications. A PGWP needs all four skills, so an LS result cannot meet the rule.
The two names look alike on the booking page, so check before you pay. Our guide to CELPIP-General vs General LS explains the differences in more detail.
CELPIP scores for CLB 5 and 7
CELPIP makes this part easy. On IRCC's PGWP conversion table, each CELPIP level from 4 to 10 matches the same CLB level in every skill.
That gives you two simple targets:
- CLB 7 (university graduates): at least 7 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- CLB 5 (college and other non-university graduates): at least 5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
CELPIP reports a level from 1 to 12 for each skill, so read the four numbers on your score report. Check each one against your target. For the full conversion, and the IELTS and PTE equivalents, see the CELPIP score chart and CLB calculator.
If you plan to apply for permanent residence later, aim above the PGWP minimum where you can. PR programs set their own levels, and higher CLB levels earn more points in Express Entry.
Timing your test
Two clocks run at the same time, and you need both to line up.
Your PGWP window
IRCC says you must apply for your PGWP within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program. Your study permit must also have been valid at some point during those 180 days. IRCC has more advice on keeping your status while you wait for your marks.
Your results
CELPIP says scores appear in your CELPIP account 2 to 4 business days after your test date. Weekends and holidays do not count. You then download your official score report as a PDF and upload it with your application.
A simple plan
Work backwards from the date you want to apply:
- Book early. Booking weeks ahead gives you a wider choice of dates and centres.
- Leave room for a retake. If you score below your target in one skill, you need time to book another test and wait for new results.
- Check the 2 year limit. Results from an earlier test must still be less than 2 years old on the day you submit.
- Do not wait until day 170. A late test leaves no time to fix a low score.
You can take the test in your final term, before you graduate. That way your results are ready when your completion letter arrives.
How to prepare
CELPIP-General takes about three hours in one sitting, all on a computer. It has six listening parts, four reading parts, two writing tasks and eight speaking tasks.
If you studied in English for two or more years, the language may feel easy. The format is what surprises people. Speaking is recorded into a microphone on a timer, and writing must fit 150 to 200 words per task.
Here is an original example in the style of CELPIP Reading Part 1, Reading Correspondence. It was written for this post by CelpMock and is not an official question.
To see where you stand, start with our free sample test. It takes about 50 minutes, covers one part of each section on the real timers, and gives you a level for each skill. For a full study plan, read how to prepare for CELPIP.