IRCC Approves New PTE (Pearson Test of English)-All You Need To Know

IRCC will start accepting PTE scores in late 2023, but there is no fixed date or month as of now.

2 February 2023, 9:26 AM EST Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC Canada Immigration News 2023
IRCC Distance Learning

Last Updated On 2 February 2023, 9:33 AM EST (Toronto Time)


On February 1, 2023 program delivery update for IRCC staff confirmed that PTE (Pearson Test of English) has been approved as English proficiency test.

Pearson Canada Inc. is the designated language-testing organization that conducts PTE.

IRCC will start accepting PTE scores in late 2023 as per the update. There is no fixed date or month as of now.

This update is currently for Canada immigration meaning for all the Economic permanent residency (PR) programs.

Economic programs include all the Express Entry categories, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Cargivers, Agri-Food Pilot, Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, Economic Mobility Pathways Project, Atlantic Immigration Program, Quebec Skilled Workers and Business.

PTE will join IELTS and CELPIP as third acceptable English language proficiency test.

In this article, we tried to answer general questions about PTE, CLB levels, and score equivalency with IELTS.

How does PTE test approval affect study permit applicants?

For SDS (Student Direct Stream) study permit applications, only IELTS (English) or TEF (French) are acceptable by IRCC. IELTS or TEF is mandatory requirement by IRCC for SDS.

For general study permit applications, language proficiency test is usually a requirement for getting enrolled in a DLI (college or university). PTE is already accepted by certain DLIs in Canada to enrol international students.

IRCC requires proof of enrolment in a DLI to accept non-SDS application and language test is a supporting document that must be submitted along with visa application.

New IRCC Instructions For Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)

What will be PTE score requirements for Canada Immigration?

English proficiency is measured as Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels for Canada immigration.

Below are IELTS General CLB levels for Canadian Immigration.

CLB LevelReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
108.07.58.57.5
97.07.08.07.0
86.56.57.56.5
76.06.06.06.0
65.05.55.55.5
54.05.05.05.0
43.54.04.54.0

Below are possible PTE CLB levels score that we generated based on IELTS score comparison:

CLB LevelReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
1084768976
966668466
856567656
746464646
629363636
518-20292929
415-1818-202318-20

For Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), minimum language requirement is CLB level 7 in all 4 abilities.

Meaning each module of IELTS should have 6 bands to be eligible for FSWP. In regards to PTE, the possible score requirement could be 46 depending on score comparison.

For IELTS magic number of 8 triple 7 (8 in listening and 7 in rest of the modules), PTE equivalent score could be 84 in listening and 66 in rest of the abilities.

Similarly, for Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), minimum language requirement is CLB level 5.

So, possible PTE equivalent score for CLB level 5 could be 18 in reading and 29 in rest of the modules.

PTE Score Requirement For Express Entry Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

CLB LevelPossible PTE ScoresIELTS Scores
CLB Level 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 jobs46 in each module6 in each module
CLB Level 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 jobs15-18 in reading and 29 each in rest of the modules4 in reading and 5 each in rest of the modules

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About Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC 612 Articles
Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.
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