How to book the CELPIP test
You book the CELPIP test online, in a CELPIP Account on celpip.ca: choose CELPIP-General (CA$299 + tax) or CELPIP-General LS (CA$199 + tax), pick an in-person sitting from the official calendar, and pay by card. Registration closes one business day before the test, or sooner if the sitting fills.
Source: Paragon Testing Enterprises, CELPIP Test Overview and Canada page, rules checked 11 October 2026; the fees were read again 11 October 2026.
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Booking the CELPIP test in 5 steps
- 1
Create a CELPIP Account
Register online at celpip.ca; Paragon calls online the best and easiest way. CELPIP test centres do not process registrations (Paragon's Canada page says to register in person at its Vancouver head office or its Toronto office). Your CELPIP Account is also where you transfer or cancel a sitting and later download your Official Score Report. Candidates under 18 use Paragon's Registration Form for Minors.
- 2
Choose the right test
Pick CELPIP-General (all four skills) for permanent residence applications, professional designation or a college, university or vocational program, or CELPIP-General LS (Listening and Speaking) for Canadian citizenship, as Paragon's Test Overview describes them. Check which one your program asks for before you pay.
- 3
Pick a date and test centre
Search the official test-date calendar by country, city and date. Paragon's pages describe a computer-delivered test taken at a CELPIP test centre, and we found no at-home option on celpip.ca. Registration for a sitting closes either one business day before the test or once the sitting has reached maximum capacity, and Paragon says dates, times and locations are subject to change.
- 4
Pay the fee
In Canada, CELPIP-General costs CA$299 plus tax and CELPIP-General LS costs CA$199 plus tax. These are the Canadian prices; Paragon says international pricing varies.
- 5
Check your confirmation and ID
Paragon emails a test confirmation with your registration number. Check that your name is spelled exactly as on your ID, and that the ID you bring is the same one, with the same document number, that you registered with. Bring the email, printed or on your phone.
Before you book: what you need
Have ready the ID you will bring on test day (for immigration purposes, usually your passport booklet), with your name, date of birth and document number typed exactly as they appear on it; a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card for the fee; and a clear idea of which test you need. Don’t send your passport away for a visa or renewal before the test: if you can’t show the ID you registered with, you can’t sit the test. Not sure which one? See CELPIP for Express Entry or CELPIP for citizenship. If you’re unsure of the cost, read our full CELPIP test fees breakdown first.
Where you can take CELPIP
CELPIP is taken at a CELPIP test centre. Paragon’s pages describe a computer-delivered test and list sittings by test centre, and we found no at-home option on celpip.ca; Australia’s Department of Home Affairs names CELPIP Online among the at-home tests it does not accept. Paragon’s city list covers large Canadian cities such as Toronto, Mississauga, Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Winnipeg, many smaller ones, and cities in other countries. The official test-date calendar shows the dates, seats and price for each sitting.
How early should you book?
Paragon’s Canada page says registration for a sitting closes either one business day before the test or once the sitting has reached maximum capacity, and that dates, times and locations are subject to change. Seats are capped per sitting, so book once your date is settled.
Choosing your test date strategically
Pick a date that leaves you enough runway to prepare — most candidates need a few focused weeks across all four skills. Working backward from any immigration deadline, allow time for results (Paragon’s pages say 2–4 business days or 3–4 business days) and a possible retake. Retake spacing differs between Paragon’s own pages: its Retake Policy (Test Overview) says you may register for no more than one sitting within five calendar days, its Canada page says sittings must be at least four calendar days apart, and its pages for other countries say thirty. Check the rule for your country before you book a retake. Don’t book before you can realistically hit your target CLB level.
On test day
Arrive 45 minutes early with the ID you registered with and your confirmation email; check-in closes 15 minutes before the start, and latecomers get no refund or transfer. Paragon’s pages put CELPIP-General at about 3 hours in one sitting (some pages say under 3 hours, under 2 hours and 50 minutes or 2 hours and 50 minutes) and CELPIP-General LS at about 70 minutes. Knowing the test format in advance removes surprises and lets you spend your energy on the questions, not the interface.
Need to change your date?
Transfer in your CELPIP Account at least 7 days before the original test date: the first transfer is free, each later one costs CA$50 plus tax. Cancelling at least 7 calendar days ahead refunds 50% of the fee; later than that, nothing. Paragon’s pages for countries outside Canada say 9 calendar days instead. More detail is on our fees page.
Practise before you book
A CELPIP-General sitting costs CA$299 plus taxes. Find out where you stand before you pay for the real test.
Monthly Pass: CA$39.99 for 30 days — all 10 mocks and up to 40 marked Writing or Speaking answers every 30 days. See all plans
Official fee: Paragon Testing (celpip.ca/take-celpip/overview), checked 13 Oct 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register for the CELPIP test?
Online, in a CELPIP Account on celpip.ca; Paragon calls this the best and easiest way. Choose CELPIP-General or CELPIP-General LS, pick a date and test centre from the official calendar, and pay the fee. CELPIP test centres do not process registrations; Paragon's Canada page says in-person registration is at its Vancouver head office or its Toronto office. Candidates under 18 use the Registration Form for Minors.
Is booking the same as registering for CELPIP?
Yes. Paragon uses 'register', people often say 'book'. It is one process, done in your CELPIP Account.
Can I take the CELPIP test online from home?
Not as far as Paragon's pages show. They describe a computer-delivered test taken at a CELPIP test centre, and we found no at-home option on celpip.ca. Australia's Department of Home Affairs says it does not accept CELPIP Online, an at-home test, for visa purposes.
When does CELPIP registration close?
Registration for a sitting closes either one business day before the test or once the sitting has reached maximum capacity (Paragon's Canada page). Test dates, times and locations are subject to change, and Paragon emails you if a change affects your registration.
What ID do I need for the CELPIP test?
The same original, valid, unexpired ID you registered with. For immigration purposes (PR, citizenship, PGWP) a passport booklet or refugee travel document is on Paragon's list for every country, and in Canada Paragon also lists the Canadian PR card and some refugee documents. Photocopies, expired documents and health cards are refused, and a refused ID means no refund or transfer.
What time should I arrive on test day?
Paragon asks you to arrive 45 minutes before the test. Check-in closes 15 minutes before the start; after that you are refused entry with no refund or transfer. Bring your test confirmation email, printed or on your phone.
Can I change my CELPIP test date after booking?
Yes, in your CELPIP Account, at least 7 days before the original test date. The first transfer is free and each later one costs CA$50 plus tax (Policies & Forms). Closer than 7 days, you must contact Paragon, which decides case by case. Paragon's own pages differ: the Test Overview and Canada pages give 7 calendar days and the CA$50 fee without a free first transfer, and the FAQ on celpip.ca's pages for countries outside Canada (we read India, Australia and the United Kingdom) gives 9 calendar days.
When will I get my CELPIP results?
Paragon's own pages differ: its Results page and Test Day Information page say scores are online in your CELPIP Account within 2–4 business days of the test, while its Test Overview page and the FAQ on its country pages say 3–4 business days. You get an email when they are ready and download the Official Score Report as a PDF. Business days do not include weekends or holidays.
Sources, rules checked 11 October 2026 (fees, transfer, cancellation, results time and test length read again 11 October 2026): Paragon Testing Enterprises — Test Overview, Canada page, Test Day Information, Results and Policies & Forms; Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, English language requirements, on CELPIP Online. Paragon’s older FAQs page no longer opens on celpip.ca, so it is not cited. Celpip.me is an independent study resource, not affiliated with Paragon; rules and fees can change, so confirm them on celpip.ca when you book.
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