Federal Skilled Trades Language Requirements

Whether you are considering applying for the Federal Skilled Trades program or are already preparing your documents, you should also prepare to take a language test. As part of the requirement for the Skilled Trades program, you will have to demonstrate your language proficiency in one of Canada’s two official languages; English or French.

This test will need to be conducted by a third party designated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. When reviewing your application, an Immigration Officer will want to see that you have the necessary language capabilities of being a productive and contributing member of the Canadian labour market and able to adequately function in the work place. It is difficult to work with a language barrier and in order to qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades program; you will need to prove that this will not be an issue for you.

Where to Get a Language Test

In order for your language proficiency to be assessed, you will need to have it completed by a designated third party. These organizations are as follows:

English

• CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (General test only)
• IELTS: International English Language Testing System (General Training test only)

French

• TEF: Test d’évaluation de français (both modules must be submitted in order to demonstrate results for all four language abilities)

If you do not submit the results of your official language proficiency test with your application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, your application will not be processed and will be returned to you as incomplete.

Your test results must not be more than two years old at the time that you submit your application.

How to Obtain a Language Test

You must take a language proficiency test from an agency designated by CIC before starting the immigration process and submitting your application to Citizenship and Immigration.

1. Make arrangements to take a language proficiency test with a designated testing agency and pay the test costs
2. Do not request that your language test result be sent directly to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You will need to submit your original language proficiency test results with your complete application.
3. Determine if you meet the language proficiency requirement.

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)

The CLB/NCLC levels which correspond to the CELPIP are:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The CLB/NCLC levels which correspond to the IELTS are:

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)

The CLB/NCLC levels which correspond to the TEF are:

4. Keep a copy of your language proficiency test results for your records and future use. You may use these results in the future if you choose to submit another application as long as they are not more than two years old at the time your application is received.