Since November 1, 2024, most international graduates who apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) must show their English or French level with an approved language test. CELPIP-General is one of the accepted tests. The score you need depends on the type of program you finished.
I checked these rules on IRCC's PGWP eligibility and document pages in October 2026. Immigration rules change often, so confirm the current requirements on the official Government of Canada website before you book your test.
The Score You Need
The requirement is the same level in all four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
| Your program | Minimum CLB | CELPIP-General (each skill) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's, master's, doctoral or other university program | CLB 7 | 7 |
| College, polytechnic or other non-university program | CLB 5 | 5 |
| PGWP-eligible flight school | no language requirement | — |
CELPIP levels match CLB levels directly, so CLB 7 means a CELPIP level of at least 7 in every skill. One weaker skill is enough to miss the requirement, even if the other three are high, so it pays to find your weakest skill early. For what each level means and how many correct answers you need in Listening and Reading, see the CELPIP score chart.
Which Test and How Old the Results Can Be
- Take the CELPIP-General test (all four skills). The shorter CELPIP-General LS test is for citizenship and doesn't cover Reading and Writing.
- Your results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your PGWP application.
- IRCC also accepts IELTS General Training and PTE Core (and TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French). If you're choosing between tests, see CELPIP vs IELTS and CELPIP vs PTE Core.
Plan Your Test Date Around Your Application
CELPIP scores usually appear in your online account 2–4 business days after the test. That is quick, but if you don't reach the level you need in one skill, you'll need time to prepare again and retake the test. So don't leave the test for the last weeks before your application: take it early enough to have room for a second attempt. More on timing in CELPIP results: how long they take and how long they're valid.
A good result for the PGWP can also help you later. Express Entry asks for CLB 7 for the Federal Skilled Worker program and for Canadian Experience Class jobs in TEER 0 or 1, so a strong CELPIP-General result may be useful again if it is still less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply.
How to Reach CLB 5 or CLB 7
CLB 5 means you handle everyday situations: you understand common conversations and messages, and you can write a clear email and speak for a minute on a familiar topic. CLB 7 asks for more: well-organized answers, a wider range of vocabulary, and fewer mistakes that make the listener or reader work hard.
- Learn the format first. Read the CELPIP test format so you know every part and its timing.
- Find your weakest skill. Do one full practice test under real timing and look at your four results separately.
- Practise Speaking and Writing with structure. My Speaking templates and Writing model answers show simple structures you can adapt to any question.
- Build topic vocabulary. My free Vocabulary Booster has everyday and more precise words for 10 speaking topics.
If you'd like a full practice test with feedback on Speaking and Writing, join the waitlist for Ready Sprint, my course for the CELPIP test. And if you prefer to prepare with a teacher, you can book a lesson with me.