Learn about English language proficiency (ELP) requirements at NorQuest College.
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency as part of the admissions process. For most programs, there are five ways to meet ELP requirements.
1. Complete high school in Canada.
Your studies must have been in English at an approved Canadian high school with at least three consecutive years of full-time academic study and completion of Grade 12 English or its equivalent.
2. Complete a recognized post-secondary degree or diploma program in Canada.
The program must have involved at least two full years of full-time, consecutive academic study in English.
3. Complete at least three consecutive years of full-time secondary or post-secondary study in English in an ELP recognized country.
These studies must include satisfactory completion of Grade 12 English or its equivalent. It cannot include English as a Second Language or Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada courses.
View our list of ELP recognized countries
Applicants who have successfully completed at least three consecutive years of full-time secondary or post-secondary study in English in one of these countries may meet English language proficiency requirements for NorQuest programs.
- American Samoa
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Cameroon1
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Fiji
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Grenada
- Guam
- Guyana
- India2
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Montserrat
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Philippines3
- Republic of Ireland
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- South Africa
- St Helena
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Tanzania
- The Gambia1
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Virgin islands
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Notes:
1 — Individuals educated under the British education model only; to be confirmed by the General Certificate of Education.
2 — Individuals educated in secondary and senior secondary schools affiliated with the CBSE and CISCE examining bodies only. Post-secondary studies are not considered towards the needed years of education.
3 — Must be confirmed with a letter from the applicant’s previous high school and/or university that specifies the language of instruction was English.
ELP exemptions do not apply to the Pharmacy Technician program.
If you were educated in English in a country not listed above, after you have applied for admission you may Contact Admissions to send evidence of the language of instruction of your previous studies for further review.
4. Complete NorQuest College ESL Intensive coursework that the program has identified as acceptable for meeting ELP.
5. Achieve an acceptable score on an ELP test.
View your program below to see the test scores we accept.
Band B
ELP requirements until July 2022
-
CLBA — No section score below 4
-
IELTS Academic — 4.0
-
TOEFL iBT — 32
-
CELPIP General — 4
-
Duolingo — 75
-
NorQuest coursework
Minimum of:
- 80% in ESLS 4000 or 4100, and
- 80% in ESLW 4000 or 4100
ELP requirements from September 2022 to August 2023
-
CLBA — No section score below 4
-
IELTS Academic — 4.0
-
TOEFL iBT — 32
-
CELPIP General — 4
-
Duolingo — 75
-
NorQuest coursework
Minimum of:
- 80% in ESLS 4000 or 4100, and
- 80% in ESLW 4000 or 4100
Band C
Until September 2022
-
CLBA — >No section score below 5
-
IELTS Academic — 5.0
-
TOEFL iBT — 40
-
CELPIP General — 5
-
Duolingo — 85
-
NorQuest coursework
Minimum of:
- 80% in ESLS 5000 or 5100, and
- 80% in ESLW 5000 or 5100
After September 2022
-
CLBA — No section score below 5
-
IELTS Academic — 6.0
-
TOEFL iBT — 40
-
CELPIP General — No longer accepted
-
Duolingo — 85
-
NorQuest coursework
Minimum of:
- 80% in ESLS 5000 or 5100, and
- 80% in ESLW 5000 or 5100
Band E
-
IELTS Academic — 6, no section score below 5.5
-
TOEFL iBT — 71
-
Cambridge English Language Assessment — 170-179
-
CAEL — 60
-
PTE Academic — 54
-
Duolingo — 105
-
NorQuest coursework
Minimum of:
- 80% in ESLS 7000 or 7100, and
- 80% in ESLW 7000 or 7100
Band E
-
IELTS Academic — 6, no section score below 5.5
-
TOEFL iBT — 71
-
Duolingo — 105
-
CLBA — No section score below 7
Band F
-
IELTS Academic — 6.5, no section score below 6.0
-
TOEFL iBT — 84, no section score below 21
-
Cambridge English Language Assessment — 180+, no section score below 165
-
CAEL — 70, no section score below 70
-
PTE Academic — 59, no section score below 56
-
Duolingo — 115
-
NorQuest coursework
Minimum of:
- 80% in ESLS 8000 or 8100, and 80% in ESLW 8000 or 8100; or
- 50% in ESLG 1898 and 1899; or
- 50% in ESLG 1860 and 1861
Band G
-
IELTS Academic — 6.5, no section score below 6.0
-
TOEFL iBT — 91; no score below 21 in listening, 23 in speaking, 22 in reading, 25 in writing
-
MELAB — 81; no score below 80 in listening, 3+ in speaking, 83 in reading, 80 in writing
You must provide proof of ELP before admission. Language proficiency test results must meet the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) language proficiency requirements. ELP test results must have been obtained within two years of the start date of your program.
Band H
-
IELTS Academic — No score below: 7.5 listening, 7 speaking, 6.5 reading, 7 writing
-
TOEFL iBT — 94
-
CELBAN — No score below: 10 listening, 8 speaking, 8 reading, 7 writing
-
NorQuest coursework
Minimum of:
- 50% in ESLG 1860 and 1861
Explore your English proficiency test options.
TOEFL
Request that your results be mailed directly from TOEFL to NorQuest College.
Visit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for more information.
IELTS Academic
Use Contact Admissions to send us your test report form number so that we can confirm your results online.
Visit IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System) for more information.
Cambridge English Language Assessment
Use Contact Admissions to send us your Statement of Results number and date of birth, or share your results with NorQuest College through the Candidate Results website.
Visit Cambridge English Language Assessment for more information.
PTE Academic (or PTE Academic Online)
Use Contact Admissions to send us your Score Report Code or share your results with NorQuest College through your candidate account.
Visit PTE Academic for more information.
CAEL
When completing the test, indicate you are seeking admission to NorQuest College so we can confirm your results online.
Visit CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) for more information.
CELBAN
A test for internationally educated nurses. When completing the test, indicate you are seeking admission to NorQuest College so we can confirm your results online.
Visit CELBAN (Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses) for more information.
Duolingo
Share your results with NorQuest College through the Duolingo portal.
Visit Duolingo for more information.
CELPIP
For foundational programs only. When completing the test, indicate you are seeking admission to NorQuest College so we can confirm your results online.
Visit CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) for more information.
CLB
For foundational programs and Health Care Aide only. Submit your original CLBA, CLBPA, or CLBPT results to the Office of the Registrar.
Arrange for your CLB test through:
Language Assessment, Referral & Counselling Centre8212 118 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5B 0S3
Note: CLBPT results cannot be accepted for Health Care Aide.
Visit CLB (Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks) for more information.
In cases where contradictory evidence has been received, NorQuest College may need further evidence of ELP. Examples of contradictory evidence include low grades on English-based courses, low scores on English placement or ELP tests, and/or significant communication difficulties.
Following college policies and procedures, the Office of the Registrar makes the final determination of whether evidence of ELP is needed for an applicant. If ELP is needed from you, this item will appear on your 'To Do' list in MyQuest.