Which language tests does Express Entry accept?
Checked against official sources, October 2026
For English, Express Entry accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. For French, it accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your application.
Who this is for
Health professionals preparing an Express Entry profile.
What the official guidance says
- Accepted English tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training (IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted for Express Entry) and PTE Core.
- Accepted French tests: TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
- IRCC measures English with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and French with the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC).
- Minimum language levels are set per program (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades); IRCC’s page shows the levels for each.
- Your results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.
- You schedule the test with an IRCC-approved agency and enter the results in your profile.
What it does not mean
- IELTS Academic is not the option IRCC lists; it specifies IELTS General Training.
- The language test for immigration is not necessarily the one your nursing or medical regulator wants. Check both.
- Minimum levels are not the same as competitive scores; higher scores can add CRS points.
What to do next
- 01Check what your regulator requires for licensing as well as what IRCC accepts.
- 02Book the right version of the test with an approved agency.
- 03Plan the timing so results are still under 2 years old when you apply for permanent residence.
Questions
Is IELTS Academic accepted for Express Entry?
IRCC lists IELTS General Training as the accepted option, and does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry.
How long are Express Entry language results valid?
They must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application.
Official sources
Checked October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
Plan the whole route, not just the visa
Migo’s Canada plans separate the language evidence your regulator needs from the test immigration accepts, and link both official pages, so you do not book the wrong test. Ask the free AI assistant if you are unsure which applies.
Related guides
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.