- Minimum for TEER 0 to 3
- CLB / NCLC 6 in all four abilities
- Minimum for listed skilled trades
- CLB / NCLC 5
- Minimum for TEER 4 to 5
- CLB / NCLC 4
- Minimum, physicians
- CLB / NCLC 6
- Points available
- 15 for ability + 10 for bilingualism = 25
- How it's measured
- Your lowest of listening, reading, writing, speaking
- Accepted English tests
- IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, PTE Core
- Accepted French tests
- TEF Canada, TCF Canada
- Validity
- 2 years from the test date
For a TEER 0 to 3 job offer, your eligibility floor is CLB 6. Meeting it earns 4 of 15 language points, leaving 11 points on the table. Reaching CLB 9 claims all 15, and adding French pays another 5.
What CLB actually is
Canadian Language Benchmarks is the national English standard on a 1 to 12 scale. NCLC is the French equivalent. Programs never score raw test numbers; every accepted test converts to CLB/NCLC first. That is why score reports that look different can share a CLB, comparing an IELTS band to a CELPIP level directly is meaningless. Convert your own scores →
How language is scored
| Your CLB / NCLC level | Language points | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 9 or higher | 15 | Clears every pathway |
| CLB 8 | 12 | Clears every pathway |
| CLB 7 | 8 | Clears every pathway |
| CLB 6 | 4 | Minimum for TEER 0 to 3 |
| CLB 5 | 0 | Listed skilled trades only |
| CLB 4 | 0 | Minimum for TEER 4 to 5 |
| Below CLB 4 | 0 | Cannot apply |
Add bilingualism and language is worth 25 of the 130 points, more than any other category except employment. It is also the fastest to move.
| Bilingualism | Points |
|---|---|
| CLB 6+ in English and NCLC 6+ in French, all four abilities each | 10 |
| One official language | 5 |
Why your weakest ability is the only one that counts
Ontario takes the lowest of four abilities as your level. Listening, reading and speaking at 9 with writing at 6 makes you CLB 6, worth 4 points, not 15.
- Identify the single band capping your file before booking; usually writing or speaking, one band below the rest.
- Prepare for that ability only; improving a strong skill changes nothing on this grid.
- Check single skill retake availability and whether the program accepts one.
- Budget six weeks (book, sit, results); you cannot wait for the 30-day EOI window.
Accepted tests
| Test | Language | Scale | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS General Training | English | Bands 1 to 9 | The Academic version is not accepted. |
| CELPIP-General | English | Levels 1 to 12 | Maps one to one with CLB: the simplest to interpret. |
| PTE Core | English | 10 to 90 per skill | PTE Academic is a different test and is not accepted. |
| TEF Canada | French | Varies by ability | Use the "Équivalence ancien score" column, not the /699 score. |
| TCF Canada | French | Mixed | Listening and reading /699; speaking and writing /20. |
Four language mistakes that cost applications
- Results expiring mid process. Valid at submission, not registration.
- Taking the Academic version. IELTS Academic / PTE Academic are not accepted.
- Stopping at the minimum. CLB 6 clears the gate and leaves 11 points unclaimed.
- Entering TEF scores from the wrong column. The /699 score produces the wrong CLB; use the equivalency column.
Language requirements FAQ
What applicants ask before booking a test, or a retake.
What CLB level do I need for the OINP?
CLB or NCLC 6 in all four abilities for a TEER 0 to 3 job offer, CLB 5 for listed skilled trades occupations, and CLB 4 for a TEER 4 to 5 job offer. Self employed physicians need CLB 6. These are eligibility minimums; you can meet them and still score very few language points.
What is CLB?
Canadian Language Benchmarks is the national standard used to describe English ability on a 1 to 12 scale. NCLC is the equivalent French scale. Immigration programs do not read raw test scores; they convert every accepted test into a CLB or NCLC level and score that.
Which language tests does the OINP accept?
For English: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core. For French: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Academic versions of IELTS and PTE are not accepted. Results must be less than two years old when you apply.
How is language scored in the OINP?
On your lowest of the four abilities. CLB 9 or higher earns 15 points, CLB 8 earns 12, CLB 7 earns 8 and CLB 6 earns 4. Below CLB 6 scores nothing. A separate bilingualism factor pays 10 points for CLB 6+ in both English and French, or 5 for one language.
Does my lowest ability really decide everything?
Yes. Three abilities at CLB 9 and one at CLB 6 makes you a CLB 6, worth 4 points instead of 15. Targeting a retake at your single weakest ability is usually far more efficient than trying to improve across the board.
How long are language test results valid?
Two years from the test date. They must still be valid when you submit, not merely when you register your expression of interest, a distinction that catches people whose results expire during the process.
Can I be exempt from the language test?
Eligible recent Ontario graduates may be exempt from submitting a test in some circumstances. The exemption is narrow and fact-specific, so confirm it applies to you before relying on it, an exemption from testing is not an exemption from the points consequences.
Is it worth taking a French test as well?
Often yes. The bilingualism factor pays 10 points instead of 5 for CLB 6+ in English and NCLC 6+ in French across all four abilities each. NCLC 6 is a lower bar than most applicants assume, and it is 5 points for one additional exam.