- CELPIP stands for Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program. It is an English test taken on a computer at a test centre.
- IRCC accepts CELPIP-General for permanent residence and the PGWP. For citizenship, IRCC looks only at Listening and Speaking.
- You get a level from 1 to 12 in each skill, and the level number matches the CLB level that IRCC uses.
CELPIP stands for the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program. It is a computer-based English test that Canada's immigration department accepts for permanent residence, work permits and citizenship.
This is a start here page. It explains what the test is, who needs it and how it works, then points you to the guides that go deeper. Facts were checked on celpip.ca and canada.ca in October 2026.
What CELPIP stands for
The full form of CELPIP is Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program. That is the wording on the CELPIP test format page and on IRCC's Express Entry page. IRCC means Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the federal immigration department.
In plain words, CELPIP is a test of everyday English. It is not an academic test. The tasks come from daily life and work, such as an email to a neighbour, a workplace meeting or a news report.
You will see a few other names for the same test:
- CELPIP-General: the full test, with all four skills. This is the version most people mean when they say "CELPIP".
- CELPIP-G: IRCC's short name for CELPIP-General. Its citizenship page uses "Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General Test (CELPIP-G)".
- CELPIP-General LS: a shorter version with only Listening and Speaking.
What the test measures
The CELPIP test format page says the test measures your English in four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. You get a separate result for each one.
Four skills in one sitting
CELPIP-General is one sitting of about three hours, all on a computer. The sections come in this order:
- Listening: 6 parts, with multiple choice questions.
- Reading: 4 parts, also multiple choice.
- Writing: 2 typed tasks, an email and a survey response.
- Speaking: 8 short tasks that you answer into a microphone.
There is no separate speaking day and no examiner in the room. Your spoken answers are recorded and rated later. For every part by name, with question counts and timings, read our CELPIP test format guide.
CELPIP-General and LS
CELPIP-General LS has only the Listening and Speaking sections. The official guidebook gives it about one hour in one sitting. CELPIP says the LS test is accepted only for Canadian citizenship.
So the choice is simple. Take the full test for permanent residence or a work permit. The LS test is an option for citizenship. Our post on CELPIP-General vs LS explains which one fits your application.
Who accepts CELPIP
As of October 2026, these are the main uses that official sources confirm.
Canadian immigration
IRCC lists three English tests for Express Entry: CELPIP, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. For CELPIP, you need the CELPIP-General version. CELPIP's own list of IRCC uses includes:
- Permanent residence: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and various Provincial Nominee Programs.
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): for applications made on or after November 1, 2024, IRCC asks for language results. University graduates need CLB 7 in all four skills, and college graduates need CLB 5.
- Start-up Visa Program.
- Canadian citizenship: IRCC asks for CLB 4 or higher in Listening and Speaking only.
CLB means Canadian Language Benchmarks, the scale IRCC uses to set language requirements. Check IRCC's page for your own program before you book. The rules belong to IRCC, not to the test.
Australia
CELPIP's list says Australia's Department of Home Affairs accepts the test "for visa application purposes". The list does not say which visas. Check the Home Affairs website for the visa you plan to apply for.
Professional bodies, schools and employers
The same CELPIP page lists many professional regulators in Canada and Australia. Examples include several provincial Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, the Ontario College of Teachers, Engineers Australia and CPA Australia. It also lists a number of Canadian colleges and Australian TAFE institutions.
Each body sets its own rules, such as the level it needs and how old your results can be. Confirm the details with that body directly. The list does not say whether each one accepts the LS version.
Scores and CLB levels
CELPIP does not give a pass or a fail. You get a level from 1 to 12 in each skill. Higher is better, and 12 is the top.
The chart on the CELPIP test format page matches each level to a CLB level. From level 3 up, the numbers are the same: a CELPIP 7 in Reading is CLB 7 in Reading. That makes your results easy to read against an IRCC requirement.
Because each skill gets its own level, one weak skill can hold you back. The PGWP, for example, asks for the same CLB level in all four skills. To turn your levels into CLB and check them against a target, use our CELPIP score chart and CLB calculator.
Taking the test
Where and how
You register online, then choose a test centre and a date. The CELPIP website lists more than 200 test centres in over 40 countries. On test day, you sit at a computer with headphones and a microphone.
Fees differ by test centre and country, and the LS test costs less than the full test. Check the price on the booking page before you pay.
Results and how long they last
Your results appear in your online CELPIP account in 2 to 4 business days. CELPIP emails you when they are ready, and you download the score report as a PDF. Paper score reports are no longer sent.
How long results stay valid depends on who reads them. In October 2026, CELPIP's format page said two years, while its results page said five. IRCC's own rules decide for immigration:
- Express Entry and the PGWP: results must be less than two years old when you apply.
- Citizenship: IRCC accepts results "even if they're expired", as long as the levels are high enough.
CELPIP vs IELTS
IRCC accepts both tests for permanent residence, and the same CLB level counts the same on either one. The main differences are in format. CELPIP is one computer sitting, uses one North American accent and records your speaking. IELTS General Training uses several accents and has a live examiner for speaking. CELPIP levels match CLB directly, while IELTS bands need IRCC's conversion chart. Our full comparison of CELPIP vs IELTS covers each section and helps you choose.
If you want to see CELPIP for yourself, try our free sample test. It has one part of each section on the real timers, takes about 50 minutes and gives you a level for each skill.