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Canada · English test

CELPIP score for PR, Express Entry and work permits

There’s no single passing score. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets a minimum Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level for each program, and a level on CELPIP-General, the four-skill version of the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP), counts as the same CLB level. The Federal Skilled Worker Program asks for CLB 7 in all four skills. The CELPIP score for permanent residence (PR) through the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Trades Program can be lower, depending on the job or the skill.

  • CLB 7Federal Skilled Worker minimum, each skill
  • CLB 5Lowest Canadian Experience Class level
  • CELPIP-GeneralThe version Express Entry needs
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Updated November 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What’s the minimum CELPIP score for PR?

IRCC gives these minimums as CLB levels, which are the same numbers as your CELPIP-General levels. For the Canadian Experience Class, the level depends on your job’s training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) category in the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

ProgramMinimum CELPIP level
Federal Skilled Worker7 in each skill
Canadian Experience Class, TEER 0 or 17 in each skill
Canadian Experience Class, TEER 2 or 35 in each skill
Federal Skilled Trades5 in speaking and listening, 4 in reading and writing

Higher levels earn more points. In the Federal Skilled Worker grid, each skill gets 4 points at CLB 7, 5 points at CLB 8 and 6 points at CLB 9 or higher, up to 24 points for your first official language. Language is also one of the core factors in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that ranks Express Entry profiles.

See the score chart →

Which CELPIP for PR?

CELPIP-General. IRCC’s Express Entry page says you must take the CELPIP-General test, so CELPIP-General LS results won’t do for Express Entry. Paragon also lists Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) and the Start-Up Visa as routes where CELPIP is used, and says the score you need depends on your program. If you’d rather take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), IRCC accepts its General Training test for Express Entry, with the same CLB minimums.

Check how long results last →Compare CELPIP and IELTS →

CELPIP for a Post-Graduation Work Permit

IRCC accepts CELPIP for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), as Paragon announced on November 4, 2024. The minimum depends on what you studied:

  • A bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, or another university program: CLB 7 in all four skills.
  • A college, polytechnic or other non-university program: CLB 5 in all four skills.
  • A PGWP-eligible flight school: no language requirement.

When you register for a PGWP, Paragon says to choose IRCC as your main reason for the test, then permanent or temporary residence.

Sources: IRCC · CELPIP and 6 more. Checked November 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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