The inability to administer CELBAN in-person during this pandemic has compelled Touchstone Institute and the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) to reflect on the current delivery model and consider more sustainable options. With a view of ensuring more widespread and safe access to IENs, we are moving CELBAN to an online, computer-based delivery model. This means CELBAN will no longer be administered in-person at existing test sites in Canada.

We acknowledge how important this test is for IENs on their registration pathway. Our goal is to resume testing in early 2021 so you can get back to taking the exam in a safe manner and meet your timeline.

No. This pandemic has compelled Touchstone Institute and the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) to reflect on the current delivery model and consider more sustainable options. With a view to ensuring more widespread and safe access to IENs, we are moving CELBAN to an online, computer-based delivery model. This means CELBAN will no longer be administered in-person at existing test sites in Canada.

At this time, you do not need to do anything. The CELBAN Centre team will be in contact with you to ensure you are given priority in test date selection when we are ready to relaunch registration. You also still have the option to cancel your past registration from now until then and be provided with a full refund. All cancellations still require that a Cancellation Request Form be submitted from our website.

We acknowledge how important this test is for IENs on their registration pathway and our aim is to resume exam registration and testing in early 2021. We will notify you once we have relaunched CELBAN registration through our newsletter. Please subscribe to The CELBAN Centre’s monthly newsletter here.

Please subscribe to The CELBAN Centre’s monthly newsletter here for more updates and news about the CELBAN, upcoming test dates, test preparation materials, and volunteer opportunities.

The CELBAN is an assessment for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) who need to provide evidence of language proficiency to a Canadian Nursing Regulator.

PR status and visas are not required in order to take CELBAN. However, you must meet the personal identification requirements that will be outlined in the coming months as we release new information regarding the relaunch.
 

The CELBAN Centre remains accessible to answer any questions or concerns by phone at 1-844-550-5053 or by email at celban@tsin.ca. All of our test preparation resources are available on our website, and Official Test Result reports can be sent to an institution of your choice by submitting an Additional Transcript Request Form.
 

To receive additional copies of your Official Test Results, an Additional Transcript Request Form must be submitted. A $25 fee applies for each additional transcript requested.

The minimum scores required for registration are set by Canadian Nursing Regulators and are as follows:

• Listening: CLB 10
• Speaking: CLB 8
• Reading: CLB 8
• Writing: CLB 7

The speaking component of the exam will be delivered online, and will remain an interactive interview with an assessor present, as this is a key component to an authentic and highly relevant language assessment of IENs’ communicative competence.
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The CELBAN Centre does not offer partial tests. Applicants must successfully complete the listening, reading, writing and speaking components in a single test session, regardless of any previous passing scores. Test Result Reports will not be issued with scores from two different test sessions. Combining scores across two different test sessions is not permitted.
 

CELBAN test scores are valid for two years.

The CELBAN Centre offers a number of different resources to help you prepare for your test. Learn more about preparing for CELBAN. Some resources may still make references to in-person testing; however, do not hesitate to review these resources as each continue to offer great practice tips that are helpful in preparing you for each component of the exam.

Yes. In advance of this relaunch we will be making new test practice materials available for free to help you prepare for CELBAN in its new format. We will be sending updates through our newsletter once it becomes available. Please subscribe to The CELBAN Centre’s monthly newsletter here.

Although there are some test preparation courses available at school boards, colleges, and through private providers, we do not endorse any test preparation programs. If you decide to invest in such a program, make sure that the program is reputable and that you get good references from others who have attended. Learn more about preparing for CELBAN.