Formal assessment (ESL examination)
If you are unable to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement through proof of previous academic study, a formal assessment is required. Exams are valid for 2 years after the test date. Applicants will be assessed on the basis of their most recent English Language Proficiency results.
Accepted exams and scores vary by program. Visit your program page to see the accepted exams and required scores for applicants without 3 years of consecutive, full-time academic study where the language of instruction was in English.
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Programs
- Advanced Care Paramedic
- Animal Health Technology
- Laboratory & X-ray Combined
- Dental Assisting Technology
- Dental Technology
- Denturist Technology
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Magnetic Resonance
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Medical Laboratory Assisting
- Medical Laboratory Technology
- Medical Radiologic Technology
- Veterinary Medical Assistant
English Language Proficiency
For the programs listed above, ELP can be met with ONE of the following exams:
- NAIT English Language Proficiency Exam
Minimum 75% or higher in each of the four components
- NAIT’s Level 6 Courses NEAP611, NEAP621 and NEAP631
Successful completion of all 3 courses with 60% or higher in each course
- Completion of the Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB)
with minimum test scores for each component
- 8 in the Speaking component
- 8 in the Reading component
- 8 in the Listening component
- 8 in the Writing component
- IELTS (Academic Format)
with minimum band scores for each component
- 6.5 in the Speaking component
- 6.0 in the Reading component
- 6.0 in the Listening component
- 6.0 in the Writing component
- TOEFL IBT (Internet Based)
- 23 in the Speaking component
- 20 in the Reading component
- 20 in the Listening component
- 20 in the Writing component
English Language Proficiency
For the Medical Transcription program, ELP can be met with ONE of the following exams:
- NAIT English Language Proficiency Exam
Minimum 75% or higher in each of the four components
- NAIT’s Level 6 Courses NEAP611, NEAP621 and NEAP631
Successful completion of all 3 courses with 60% or higher in each course
- IELTS (Academic Format)
with minimum band scores for each component
- 6.5 in the Speaking component
- 6.0 in the Reading component
- 6.0 in the Listening component
- 6.0 in the Writing component
- TOEFL IBT (Internet Based)
- 23 in the Speaking component
- 20 in the Reading component
- 20 in the Listening component
- 20 in the Writing component
English Language Proficiency
For the Respiratory Therapy program, ELP can be met with ONE of the following exams:
- Completion of the Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB)
with minimum test scores for each component
- 9 in the Speaking component
- 9 in the Reading component
- 9 in the Listening component
- 9 in the Writing component
- Completion of IELTS (Academic Format)
with minimum band scores for each component
- 8.0 in the Listening component
- 7.0 in the Reading component
- 7.0 in the Speaking component
- 7.0 in the Writing component
- Completion of TOEFL IBT (Internet Based)
- 23 in the Speaking component
- 24 in the Reading component
- 28 in the Listening component
- 27 in the Writing component
English Language Proficiency
For the Bachelor of Applied Information Systems Technology program, ELP can be met with ONE of the following exams:
- NAIT’s Level 6 Courses NEAP611, NEAP621 and NEAP631
Successful completion of all 3 courses with 60% or higher in each course
- Completion of the Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB)
with minimum test scores for each component
- 8 in the Speaking component
- 8 in the Reading component
- 8 in the Listening component
- 8 in the Writing component
- IELTS (Academic Format)
with the minimum band scores for each component
- 6.5 in the Speaking component
- 6.0 in the Reading component
- 6.0 in the Listening component
- 6.0 in the Writing component
- TOEFL IBT (Internet Based)
- 23 in the Speaking component
- 20 in the Reading component
- 20 in the Listening component
- 20 in the Writing component
English Language Proficiency
For the Business Administration with English as a Second Language program, ELP can be met with ONE of the following:
- Completion of NAIT ESL Level 4
Minimum grade of 73% in each component
- NAIT's ESL Placement Test
Minimum score of Level 5
Applicants who select this option will need to submit an application to ESL in order to book the placement test.
- IELTS (Academic Format)
5.5 Overall Band Score – with the following in each component
- 5.5 in the Speaking component
- 5.5 in the Reading component
- 5.5 in the Listening component
- 5.5 in the Writing component
- Pearson Test of English - Academic
- Overall score of minimum 50
- TOEFL IBT (Internet Based)
- Overall score of minimum 74
English Language Proficiency
For all other programs, ELP can be met with ONE of the following exams:
- NAIT English Language Proficiency Exam
Minimum 73% or “B” in each of the four components
- NAIT’s Level 6 Courses NEAP611, NEAP621 and NEAP631
Successful completion of all 3 courses with 60% or higher in each course
- IELTS (Academic Format)
with minimum overall band score of 6.5 with no band less than 5.0
- Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)
- Completion of the Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB)
with minimum test scores for each component
- 8 in the Speaking component
- 8 in the Reading component
- 8 in the Listening component
- 8 in the Writing component
- Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
Minimum score of 85
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
Minimum overall score of 55
- TOEFL
- TOEFL IBT (Internet Based)
Minimum total score of 80 with no individual component below 20
- TOEFL Paper Based
Minimum Score of 550
- University of Alberta
Successful Completion of ESL140 and ESL145, which is now equivalent to EAP140 and EAP145
Learn more about NAIT's English Language Proficiency test