CELPIP scores for Express Entry
CLB 9 for Express Entry means CELPIP 9 in each of the four skills. Each skill at CLB 9 earns 31 CRS points, so all four give 124 points without a spouse or partner, or 116 with one. The minimum to enter the Federal Skilled Worker Program is CLB 7 in every skill, worth 68 CRS points without a spouse.
Source: IRCC, CRS criteria and Express Entry language tests, checked 27 September 2026.
Are you at CLB 9 yet? Take a free full-length mock test →
Express Entry measures English in Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB), and on IRCC’s chart your CELPIP-General level is your CLB level. Your CLB decides two things: whether you qualify for a program, and how many CRS points you earn. Every figure on this page comes from IRCC at canada.ca. New to the exam? Start with what CELPIP is.
Is CELPIP accepted for Express Entry?
Yes. IRCC accepts the CELPIP-General test as proof of English for Express Entry. The full list of approved tests is CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. Your results must be less than two years old both when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your permanent-residence application. Use the CLB calculator to convert a score, or the CELPIP score chart for the full conversion table.
About CELPIP and IRCC
CELPIP is one of the English tests designated by IRCC. It is made by Paragon Testing Enterprises and reported on the same scale as the Canadian Language Benchmarks, which is why your CELPIP level equals your CLB. It is computer-delivered in one sitting at a test centre, and Paragon posts results in 2–4 business days. For the full picture of the test, see what CELPIP is.
Minimum CELPIP/CLB score by program
These are the minimums to be eligible. A higher level is almost always better for your ranking (see CRS points below).
| Express Entry program | Minimum language level |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | CLB 7 in all four abilities |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0 or 1 jobs · CLB 5 for NOC TEER 2 or 3 jobs |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | CLB 5 in Speaking & Listening · CLB 4 in Reading & Writing |
How CELPIP/CLB affects your CRS score
Language is one of the biggest parts of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Under the core (human-capital) factors, your official-language proficiency is worth up to 160 points without a spouse or common-law partner (150 with one) — but that total combines two parts: your first official language, worth up to 136 points without a spouse (128 with one), plus a second official language worth up to 24 more (22 with a spouse). For most CELPIP test-takers, English is the first official language, so it is the 136/128 maximum that applies to your CELPIP result. The table below shows the first-official-language points per ability — Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing are each scored separately, up to 34 points each (32 with a spouse).
| CLB level (= CELPIP level), per ability | Points — without spouse | Points — with spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Less than CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 9 | 8 |
| CLB 7 | 17 | 16 |
| CLB 8 | 23 | 22 |
| CLB 9 | 31 | 29 |
| CLB 10 or more | 34 | 32 |
Because the points are per ability, the totals add up fast:
| First-language level (= CELPIP) | Total — without spouse | Total — with spouse |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 or more in all four | 136 | 128 |
| CLB 9 in all four | 124 | 116 |
| CLB 8 in all four | 92 | 88 |
| CLB 7 in all four | 68 | 64 |
Without a spouse, moving all four skills from CLB 7 to CLB 9 adds 56 core points (52 with a spouse). On the same IRCC grid, going from one year of Canadian work experience to five or more adds 40 points (40 → 80).
Source: IRCC, CRS criteria, checked 27 September 2026. Totals are 4 × the per-skill points above.
CLB 9 on CELPIP, IELTS and PTE Core
If you are comparing tests, this is what IRCC counts as the same level. CELPIP is the only one of the three where the score and the CLB are the same number.
| CLB | CELPIP-General | IELTS General Training | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 9 | 9 in each skill | Listening 8.0 · Reading 7.0 · Writing 7.0 · Speaking 7.0 | Listening 82–88 · Reading 78–87 · Writing 88–89 · Speaking 84–88 |
| CLB 7 | 7 in each skill | 6.0 in each skill | Listening 60–70 · Reading 60–68 · Writing 69–78 · Speaking 68–75 |
Source: IRCC, Express Entry language test equivalency charts, checked 27 September 2026. Every level for every skill is on our CELPIP score chart.
Skill-transferability points: where CLB 9 pays off
Beyond the core points, the CRS gives extra skill-transferability points (up to 100 in total) for combining strong language with education or work experience. Language plays a direct role:
- Language + education: up to 50 points — and the top tier requires CLB 9 or higher on all four abilities together with your credentials (CLB 7–8 unlocks a smaller amount).
- Language + foreign work experience: up to 50 points, again with the highest amount at CLB 9+ (CLB 7–8 earns less).
- Trades — certificate of qualification + language: up to 50 points, available from CLB 5 or higher.
This is why CLB 9 is such a common target: it lifts both your core language points and your skill-transferability points at the same time.
French can earn up to 50 extra points
Separately from the core language points above, if you also test in French, IRCC awards additional points on top of your core score: 25 points if you score NCLC 7 or higher on all four French abilities and CLB 4 or lower in English (or take no English test), and 50 points if you score NCLC 7+ in French and CLB 5 or higher on all four English abilities. (NCLC is the French equivalent of the CLB.) For most CELPIP test-takers, the practical takeaway is simple: maximise your English CLB first, since it drives both eligibility and the largest share of your points.
How to reach a higher CLB on CELPIP
Since every CLB level is worth real CRS points, focused CELPIP practice has a direct payoff for your Express Entry profile. Work through our free CELPIP lessons, rehearse under real timing with full mock exams, and check where you stand with the CLB calculator. If you are still deciding which test to take, see our CELPIP vs IELTS comparison. Heading to Australia instead? CELPIP is now DHA-approved too — see CELPIP for Australia.
Source: Government of Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) at canada.ca — Express Entry CRS criteria, Language test results, and the program eligibility pages. Immigration rules and CRS scores can change; Celpip.me is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with IRCC, so always confirm the current requirements on canada.ca before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
What CELPIP score is CLB 9 for Express Entry?
CELPIP 9 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. On IRCC's chart your CELPIP-General level is your CLB level, and IRCC looks at each skill separately, so an 8 in any one skill makes that skill CLB 8.
Is CELPIP accepted for Express Entry?
Yes. For Express Entry, IRCC accepts the CELPIP-General test as proof of English. The other approved tests are IELTS General Training and PTE Core (English), and TEF Canada and TCF Canada (French). Your results must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.
What CELPIP score do I need for Express Entry?
It depends on the program. The Federal Skilled Worker Program needs at least CLB 7 in each ability; the Canadian Experience Class needs CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0/1 jobs or CLB 5 for TEER 2/3 jobs; and the Federal Skilled Trades Program needs CLB 5 in Speaking and Listening and CLB 4 in Reading and Writing. Because CELPIP maps 1:1 to the CLB, a CELPIP level of 7 means CLB 7.
What CLB is a CELPIP 9?
On IRCC's equivalency chart, your CELPIP-General level is the same as your CLB level for each ability — so CELPIP 9 equals CLB 9, CELPIP 7 equals CLB 7, and so on.
How many CRS points is CLB 9 worth?
In the Comprehensive Ranking System, a first-official-language ability at CLB 9 is worth 31 points per ability without a spouse or common-law partner (29 with a spouse). Across all four abilities that is 124 points (116 with a spouse), before any skill-transferability points.
Is it worth improving from CLB 7 to CLB 9?
Yes. Without a spouse, each ability is worth 17 points at CLB 7 and 31 points at CLB 9 — so moving all four abilities from CLB 7 to CLB 9 adds 56 core CRS points (52 with a spouse). For scale, going from one to five years of Canadian work experience adds 40 points without a spouse. CLB 9 also opens the top tier of skill-transferability points.
What IELTS or PTE Core score equals CLB 9?
On IRCC's charts, CLB 9 is IELTS General Training 8.0 in Listening and 7.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking, or PTE Core 82–88 Listening, 78–87 Reading, 88–89 Writing and 84–88 Speaking. On CELPIP it is simply 9 in each skill.
How long are CELPIP results valid for Express Entry?
IRCC says your language test results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.
Every CLB level is worth CRS points
Sit a full, timed CELPIP-style mock, see your CLB estimate for each skill, and find the one holding your CRS score back.
Take the free mock test →