CELPIP, the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program, is a computer-delivered general English test: CELPIP-General is used for Canadian permanent residence, Australian visas and professional designations, and CELPIP-General LS is used for Canadian citizenship. Both versions are developed by Paragon Testing Enterprises, which started at UBC and is now part of Prometric.
If you are asking "what is the CELPIP test" because an immigration form or a friend mentioned it, this guide covers the basics: what the name means, how the two versions differ, what each one is accepted for, what you actually do on test day, and how the results connect to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). For the full section-by-section breakdown, the CELPIP overview goes deeper.
What does CELPIP stand for, and who makes it?
CELPIP stands for Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program. CELPIP describes itself as "a general English language proficiency test" on its official overview page. The same organization also makes CAEL, a separate test for academic study, which is covered briefly in the FAQ below.
The test was developed by Paragon Testing Enterprises, which began at the University of British Columbia and moved off campus in 2014. According to CELPIP's About Us page, "In 2021, Paragon Testing Enterprises was acquired by Prometric Canada." That is why you will see both the Paragon and Prometric names on CELPIP materials and at test centres.
CELPIP-General vs CELPIP-General LS
When people ask "what is CELPIP General" or "what is CELPIP G", they mean the full four-skill test. CELPIP-G is simply the short form IRCC and many applicants use for CELPIP-General. The second version, CELPIP-General LS, tests only listening and speaking and exists for one purpose: Canadian citizenship.
| CELPIP-General | CELPIP-General LS | |
|---|---|---|
| Skills tested | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Listening, Speaking |
| Main use | Canadian permanent residence (IRCC), Australian visas, professional designations | Canadian citizenship (IRCC) |
| Approximate length | Just under 3 hours (CELPIP lists about 2 hours 50 minutes) | About an hour and ten minutes |
| Where offered | Test centres in Canada and other countries | Canada only |
| Fee in Canada | Around CAD $280–$299 plus tax (CELPIP's own pages list several figures) | Around CAD $195–$199 plus tax |
A few points about the table. The details for each version come from the official CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS pages and the CELPIP Test Taker Guidebook (July 2026). CELPIP's own pages give slightly different totals and fees, so treat these as ranges. The price shown when you register is the one you pay, and CELPIP notes that international pricing varies.
If you need CELPIP for permanent residence, take CELPIP-General. The LS version is not on IRCC's list of accepted tests for Express Entry, so an LS result will not support a PR application.
What is CELPIP used for?
CELPIP is used to prove English ability to government departments and some professional bodies. The main uses are below.
Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry
For Express Entry, IRCC accepts three English tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core, as listed on IRCC's language test page. Your CELPIP-General level in each skill converts directly to a CLB level, and IRCC uses those levels for program eligibility and for points under the Comprehensive Ranking System.
As one example, the Federal Skilled Worker Program requires CLB 7 in all four abilities. Results must be less than 2 years old both when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence. For the scores needed in each program, see CELPIP scores for Express Entry.
Canadian citizenship
Citizenship applicants aged 18 to 54 must show speaking and listening at CLB 4 or higher. IRCC accepts CELPIP General, CELPIP General-LS, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for citizenship. For CELPIP results from April 1, 2014 onward, that means a level of 4 or higher in listening and in speaking. Unlike PR, citizenship accepts language results even if they have expired. The details are in CELPIP score for citizenship.
Australian visas
The Australian Department of Home Affairs accepts CELPIP General for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 at a secure test centre. CELPIP's Australian visa page says the test is accepted "for a number of visa streams, including for permanent residency (PR)", including skilled, employer-sponsored and 485 visas. Score requirements differ by visa, so check the page for your specific visa before booking.
Professional designations
CELPIP-General is also accepted by some professional bodies that need proof of English for licensing or designation. Requirements vary by organization, so confirm with the body that will receive your results.
What does the CELPIP test look like?
CELPIP-General is taken in one sitting on a computer. The overview page describes a personal timer on screen, a word counter for writing and a spell-check. The sections run in this order:
| Section | What it contains | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 6 parts, 38 questions | 46–55 minutes |
| Reading | 4 parts, 38 questions | 43–56 minutes |
| Writing | 2 tasks: an email and a survey response | 53 minutes |
| Speaking | 8 tasks | 15 minutes |
According to CELPIP, "the Listening and Reading Tests contain unscored items used for test development." There is no scheduled break. CELPIP's test day page states that "your test time does not stop for any reason, including washroom breaks."
CELPIP-General LS uses the Listening and Speaking sections only. For timing details and how the total adds up, read how long is the CELPIP test. For a walk-through of the day itself, from check-in to the last speaking task, see CELPIP test day. The speaking format and writing format guides explain each task type.
Is CELPIP online or in person?
CELPIP is taken in person, on a computer, at a test centre. The computer-delivered format describes how you answer, and the place you answer is a test centre. All four sections, speaking included, are completed on the computer in one sitting.
The CELPIP tests accepted by IRCC are taken at a test centre. Australia is explicit on this point: the Home Affairs English language page names "CELPIP Online" among the online tests it does not accept, and only accepts CELPIP General taken at a secure test centre. CELPIP's current website does not describe an at-home option, so if you see one advertised elsewhere, check it carefully against the requirements of the department receiving your results.
Where is CELPIP offered?
CELPIP-General is available at test centres across Canada and in other countries; the location search on celpip.ca covers 41 countries. In India, where CELPIP has run since 2018, CELPIP-General is offered at test centres in many cities (CELPIP lists 25 centres in 15 cities on its India page). CELPIP-General LS is offered in Canada only, which makes sense because it is used for Canadian citizenship.
What is CELPIP General 2014?
"CELPIP General 2014" is the name IRCC used for the CELPIP-General test after its new scoring structure came in on April 1, 2014. IRCC announced the change in an operational bulletin update. CELPIP General 2014 is simply CELPIP-General as scored since that date, so there is no separate product to book.
You may still see the date in IRCC tools. The citizenship language tool, for example, treats CELPIP-General results from before and after March 31 / April 1, 2014 differently. If you are taking the test now, your results fall under the post-2014 structure, and you can ignore the older one.
How is CELPIP scored?
Each skill gets its own CELPIP level, and the levels line up with the Canadian Language Benchmarks. According to CELPIP's test results page, levels 3 to 12 match CLB 3 to 12 one-to-one, and CELPIP level 2 corresponds to CLB 1–2. Listening and Reading are scored by computer, while Speaking and Writing are rated by several trained raters against set criteria. Results usually appear online within 2–4 business days (some CELPIP pages say 3–4), and CELPIP keeps your score report available for 5 years. To understand what the benchmarks mean, read what is CLB, and for raw-score ranges and IELTS comparisons, use the CELPIP score chart.
CELPIP vs IELTS in brief
Both CELPIP-General and IELTS General Training are accepted for Express Entry and citizenship, and IRCC converts results from either test to CLB levels. CELPIP is computer-delivered in one sitting and reports levels that match CLB directly, while IELTS reports band scores that IRCC converts with its own table, so the choice mostly comes down to which format suits you; the CELPIP vs IELTS comparison sets them side by side.
Getting started
Once you know which version you need, the most useful next step is to see the test before you book it. Work through a few tasks from each section so the screen layout, timer and recorded speaking feel familiar. You can practise individual tasks in the PrepAmigo question bank or sit a timed mock test, and the CELPIP preparation guide helps you plan the weeks before your test date.
Frequently asked questions
What is CELPIP in simple terms?
CELPIP is an English test made in Canada that measures everyday English in listening, reading, writing and speaking. People mainly take it to prove their English for Canadian permanent residence, Canadian citizenship or Australian visas.
What is the CELPIP test in Canada used for?
In Canada, CELPIP-General is one of the English tests IRCC accepts for permanent residence through Express Entry, and CELPIP-General LS is accepted for citizenship. Some professional bodies also accept CELPIP-General as proof of English.
What score do I need on the CELPIP exam?
That depends on what you are applying for. You receive a separate level for each skill, and each program sets its own minimum. Citizenship asks for CLB 4 or higher in listening and speaking, while the Federal Skilled Worker Program asks for CLB 7 in all four abilities, and higher levels earn more Express Entry points.
What does CELPIP G mean?
CELPIP G is short for CELPIP-General, the four-skill version of the test. It is the version used for permanent residence, Australian visas and professional designations.
Can I use CELPIP-General LS for permanent residence?
No. CELPIP-General LS only tests listening and speaking, and it is not on IRCC's list of accepted tests for Express Entry. For permanent residence you need CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core.
Can I take CELPIP at home?
The CELPIP tests accepted by IRCC are taken at a test centre. Australia's Home Affairs department lists CELPIP Online among the online tests it does not accept, so plan to sit the test in person at a test centre.
How long are CELPIP results valid?
For Canadian permanent residence, results must be less than 2 years old when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your PR application. Citizenship accepts expired results. CELPIP keeps your score report available for 5 years. For Australia, CELPIP's Australian page gives 2 years, but confirm this on the page for your visa.
What is CAEL, and is it the same as CELPIP?
CAEL is the Canadian Academic English Language Test, also from Paragon Testing Enterprises. It is designed for students applying to Canadian universities and colleges. It is a different test from CELPIP and is not one of the tests IRCC lists for Express Entry or citizenship, so it is not the right choice for an immigration application.
Sources and further reading
- CELPIP test overview, for the definition of CELPIP and its computer-delivered, one-sitting format.
- CELPIP About Us, for Paragon Testing Enterprises and its acquisition by Prometric Canada in 2021.
- CELPIP-General, for the uses, sections and fee of the four-skill test.
- CELPIP-General LS, for the listening and speaking test used for citizenship.
- CELPIP test results, for CELPIP levels, CLB mapping, scoring and results timing.
- CELPIP test day information, for the no-break rule.
- CELPIP India, for test centres in India.
- CELPIP Test Taker Guidebook, July 2026, for section order, timings and LS availability.
- IRCC Express Entry language tests, for accepted tests, CELPIP-to-CLB equivalency and the 2-year validity rule.
- IRCC Comprehensive Ranking System criteria, for how language levels earn CRS points.
- IRCC operational bulletin update, March 2014, for CELPIP General 2014.
- Australian Home Affairs English language requirements, for CELPIP General acceptance from 7 August 2025 and the CELPIP Online exclusion.
- CELPIP for Australian PR, for the Australian visa streams that accept CELPIP.
- CAEL, for the Canadian Academic English Language Test.