How to Book the CELPIP Test and What It Costs (2026)

Checked 25 September 2026. Every fact below comes from Paragon's site, celpip.ca, or from IRCC on canada.ca, and is linked where it is used.

You book CELPIP online on celpip.ca. Paragon's FAQ says CELPIP test centres do not process any registrations, that online is "the best and easiest way to register", and that there is no walk-in registration (celpip.ca, FAQs). Registration by mail is only for minors registering in Canada (celpip.ca, FAQs).

Step 1: Choose the right test

• CELPIP-General tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. IRCC accepts it for immigration and citizenship (IRCC, language requirements).
• CELPIP-General LS tests Listening and Speaking only. IRCC accepts it for citizenship only (IRCC, language requirements).

Step 2: Know the fee

Paragon's test-format page lists (celpip.ca, Test Format):

• CELPIP-General: $299 + taxes
• CELPIP-General LS: $199 + taxes

Paragon calls these the Canadian price and says international pricing varies. Its older product pages still show $290 + taxes (CELPIP-General) and $195 + taxes (CELPIP-General LS) (CELPIP-General page; CELPIP-General LS page). The two pages disagree, so budget with the higher figure and check the amount at checkout.

Online payment is by Visa, Mastercard or American Express, and full payment must be made with one card (celpip.ca, FAQs).

Step 3: Pick a date and a test centre

Use Paragon's test-date finder to filter by location, test type and date (celpip.ca, Find a Test Date). Paragon's FAQ also says:

• Register well in advance, because test centres have limited capacity and requests are handled in the order received.
• Registration for a sitting closes one business day before the test, or once the sitting is full.
• The test is fully computer-delivered, but it must be taken in person at a test centre. It cannot be taken remotely.
• You must be familiar with using a computer mouse and keyboard.

(All from celpip.ca, FAQs.)

Step 4: Register with the ID you will bring

On test day you must bring the original, valid ID you used to register. It must match your registration details, including your full name and document number. Photocopies and scans are not accepted. If your ID does not meet the rules, you will not be allowed to take the test, and you cannot transfer the test or get a refund (celpip.ca, Test Day Information).

How long the test takes

• CELPIP-General: Listening 46–55 minutes, Reading 43–56 minutes, Writing 53 minutes, Speaking 15 minutes, in one sitting of under 3 hours.
• CELPIP-General LS: about 1 hour 10 minutes in one sitting.

(celpip.ca, Test Format)

Changing or cancelling

From Paragon's FAQ (celpip.ca, FAQs):

• Transfer to another sitting of the same test type in your CELPIP Account, at least 7 days before your test. The first transfer is free. Each later transfer costs $50.00 or the equivalent, plus taxes.
• Cancel at least 7 calendar days before the test and you get a 50% refund. Cancel later and you get no refund.
• Registrations cannot be transferred to another person.

Results, and how long they count

• Scores appear in your CELPIP Account 2–4 business days after the test (celpip.ca, Test Results).
• For temporary and permanent residence programs, IRCC says results must not be more than 2 years old when it receives the application (IRCC, language requirements). For Express Entry they must be less than 2 years old both when you complete your profile and when you apply for permanent residence (IRCC, Express Entry language test).
• For citizenship, IRCC tells you to include your results "even if they're expired" (IRCC, citizenship language proof).

Practising before test day (our product)

celpip.me is our own practice site, not Paragon's. You can start free with no card (celpip.me pricing). Our tests are written by us to the official format, and our scores are practice estimates, not official CELPIP results.

FAQ

Can I register at a test centre? No. Paragon says test centres do not process registrations; register online (celpip.ca, FAQs).

Can I take CELPIP online from home? No. Paragon says the test must be completed in person at a test centre (celpip.ca, FAQs).

How much does CELPIP cost? Paragon's test-format page says $299 + taxes for CELPIP-General and $199 + taxes for CELPIP-General LS (Canadian price). Its older product pages still say $290 and $195 (celpip.ca, Test Format).

Sources (checked 25 September 2026)

• celpip.ca, FAQs: https://www.celpip.ca/take-celpip/faqs/
• celpip.ca, Test Format: https://www.celpip.ca/take-celpip/test-format/
• celpip.ca, CELPIP-General: https://www.celpip.ca/celpip-general/
• celpip.ca, CELPIP-General LS: https://www.celpip.ca/celpip-general-ls/
• celpip.ca, Find a Test Date: https://www.celpip.ca/take-celpip/find-a-test-date/
• celpip.ca, Test Day Information: https://www.celpip.ca/take-celpip/test-day-information/
• celpip.ca, Test Results: https://www.celpip.ca/take-celpip/test-results/
• IRCC, language requirements (standard requirements): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/standard-requirements/language-requirements.html
• IRCC, Express Entry language test: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html
• IRCC, citizenship language proof (step 2): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility/language-proof/step-2.html
• celpip.me pricing (our product): https://celpip.me/pricing