Admissions  

English Language Proficiency

How to satisfy NAIT's language proficiency requirements

English is the language of instruction at NAIT. If you have previous education outside of Canada in a country that is not on the exempt country list – or you completed your studies in a language other than English – you will need to demonstrate English Language Proficiency (ELP) as part of the admissions process. 

There are 3 ways to meet ELP requirements

You can meet the ELP requirement for NAIT degree, diploma or certificate programs in one of the following ways:

  1. Complete consecutive, full-time studies in English
  2. Complete specific English language courses
  3. Take an ELP test

NAIT’s ELP requirement is different than academic English language arts requirements your program may have. NAIT may also require you to provide additional ELP proof or documentation during the admissions process. Make sure you monitor your To-Do list in your MyNAIT portal.


1. Complete consecutive, full-time studies in English

You will meet this requirement if you have completed at least: 
  • 3 years of high school (or combination of high school and post-secondary) in Canada or in a country on NAIT’s ELP exempt country list  – including completion of Grade 12 English; or

  • 2 years of post-secondary in Canada or an ELP exempt country. 

Your studies must have been in English, full-time, and consecutive.

View list of ELP exempt countries

Applicants with the qualifications listed above from these countries meet the English Language Proficiency requirement.

  • American Samoa
  • Antigua
  • Anguilla
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Botswana
  • British Honduras
  • British Vrigin Islands
  • Brunei
  • Canada (Except Quebec)
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominica
  • Falkland Islands
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Malta
  • Malawi
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Montserrat
  • Namibia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Northern Ireland
  • Pacific Islands
  • Panama Canal Zone
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Puerto Rico
  • Russel Islands
  • Ryukyu Islands
  • Scotland
  • Sechelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • St. Helena
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent & Grenadines
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Turks & Caicos Islands
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Wales
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

 

Canadian accredited schools abroad

If you completed your studies in English at a high school outside of Canada which is accredited to offer the curriculum of a Canadian province, you meet NAIT's ELP requirement. This is different from IQAS or WES recognition.

If I completed my education in English, but my country is not listed above, do I meet NAIT’s ELP requirements?

If you did not complete your English studies in a country on the exempt country list OR you did not attend a Canadian accredited school abroad, then you would need to take an ELP test to demonstrate that you meet NAIT's ELP requirements.  

What to submit

Submit your high school and/or post-secondary transcripts. To learn what transcripts you need to provide, view transcripts and supporting documents.


2. Complete specific English language courses

Achieve acceptable marks in one of the following English language courses:

School or institution Course(s) Minimum required grade

Canadian high schools 
Review out-of-province course equivalencies

  • English 30-1 or
  • English 30-2
  • 65% or higher
  • 70% or higher
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

All three ESL Level 6 courses:

  • NEAP611 - Listening & Speaking, and
  • NEAP621 - Reading & Vocabulary, and
  • NEAP631 - Grammar & Writing
  • Completion (pass)
University of Alberta
  • Completion (pass)
International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC)
  • Pathway 3.2 or Pathway 3.3
  • 75% or higher

What to submit

Are you currently taking one of the courses listed above?

  • You can receive conditional admission into a credit program if you are currently enrolled in NAIT’s ESL Level 6 courses or another course listed above. 
  • Note if you’re taking ILAC pathway courses, you will need to submit proof of your ILAC enrolment, including the end date of your course, to be considered for conditional admission. 

3. Take an ELP test

ELP test scores will soon be changing

NAIT will be changing the accepted tests and minimum scores to make satisfying ELP requirements simpler for applicants. Please check the term and dates below to make sure you are reviewing the correct test scores for the term you applied to.

Applicants to Spring/Summer 2023 and Fall 2023 

Select your program below to know which ELP assessment tests are accepted and the minimum test score. These test scores are applicable only until September 2023. 

Health Science Programs

Assessment test Minimum accepted test score until September 2023
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall score, with:
  • 6.5 in Speaking
  • 6.0 in all other sections
NAIT’s ELP Exam 75% in each section
NAIT’s Level 6 Courses

60% in each of these courses:

  • NEAP611 and
  • NEAP621 and
  • NEAP631
Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB) 8.0 in each section  
TOEFL iBT (Home Edition also accepted)
  • 23 in Speaking
  • 20 in all other sections
Duolingo 115 overall score  

The above test scores are applicable to NAIT’s health sciences programs, including:

  • Advanced Care Paramedic
  • Animal Health Technology
  • Laboratory & X-ray Combined
  • Dental Assisting 
  • Dental Technology
  • Denturist Technology
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Primary Care Paramedic
  • Magnetic Resonance
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Medical Laboratory Assisting
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Medical Radiologic Technology
  • Veterinary Medical Assistant

Respiratory Therapy

Assessment test Minimum accepted test score until September 2023
IELTS Academic
  • 8.0 in Listening
  • 7.0 in all other sections
Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB) 9.0 in each section  
TOEFL iBT (Home Edition also accepted)
  • 23 in Speaking
  • 24 in Reading
  • 28 in Listening
  • 27 in Writing

Bachelor of Applied Information Systems Technology

Assessment test Minimum accepted test score until September 2023
IELTS Academic
  • 6.5 in Speaking
  • 6.0 in all other sections
NAIT’s Level 6 Courses

60% in each of these courses:

  • NEAP611 and
  • NEAP621 and
  • NEAP631
Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB) 8.0 in each section  
TOEFL iBT (Home Edition also accepted)
  • 23 in Speaking
  • 20 in all other sections
Duolingo 115 overall score  

Business Administration

Assessment test Minimum accepted test score
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall score, with no section below 5.0 
NAIT’s ELP Exam 73% or “B” in each section 
NAIT’s Level 6 Courses

60% in each of these courses:

  • NEAP611 and
  • NEAP621 and
  • NEAP631
Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB) 8.0 in each section
CAEL or CAEL Online   70 overall score
Cambridge English Language Assessment

C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency

  • 180 overall score, no section score below 165
TOEFL iBT (Home Edition also accepted) 80 overall score, with no section below 20
Duolingo 115 overall score
Michigan English Test (MET) 59 overall score
University of Alberta Completion of EAP 140 and 145 (or equivalent)
International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) Pathway 3.2 or Pathway 3.3 with a minimum grade of 75%
PTE Academic or PTE Academic online 55 overall score

Provisional admission – Business Administration

Students who do not meet regular ELP listed above for Business Administration but meet the other academic requirements may qualify for provisional admission with ONE of the lower English Language Proficiency requirements listed below. Provisional admissions allows students to complete their NAIT ESL Level 6 courses within the first 12 months of starting the program. 

Assessment test Minimum accepted test score effective Winter 2024 and beyond
NAIT’s Level 5 Courses

60% in each of these courses:

  • NEAP511 and
  • NEAP521 and
  • NEAP531
International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) 6.0 overall score, with no section below 5.5
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic or PTE Academic online) 50, with no less than 40 in each communicative skill 
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or Home Edition is also accepted) 74 overall score 
Duolingo 100 overall score 

Learn more about NAIT's Flexible Learning Options for Business Administration 

All other programs

Assessment test Minimum accepted test score until September 2023
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall score, with no section below 5.0 
NAIT’s ELP Exam 73% or “B” in each section 
NAIT’s Level 6 Courses

60% in each of these courses:

  • NEAP611 and
  • NEAP621 and
  • NEAP631
Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB) 8.0 in each section
CAEL or CAEL Online   70 overall score
Cambridge English Language Assessment

C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency

  • 180 overall score, no section score below 165
TOEFL iBT (Home Edition also accepted) 80 overall score, with no section below 20
Duolingo 115 overall score
Michigan English Test (MET) 59 overall score
University of Alberta Completion of EAP 140 and 145 (or equivalent)
International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) Pathway 3.2 or Pathway 3.3 with a minimum grade of 75%
PTE Academic or PTE Academic online 55 overall score

Applicants to Winter 2024 and beyond

ELP test results are only valid for two years from the test date. Effective Winter 2024 and beyond

English Language Proficiency (ELP) test Minimum accepted test score
IELTS Academic 6.0 in each section
NAIT’s ELP Exam 73% or “B” in each section 
Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLB) 8.0 in each section
CAEL or CAEL Online 60 overall score
Cambridge English Language Assessment B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: 169 in each section
TOEFL iBT; Home Edition is also accepted 20 in each section
Duolingo 115 overall score
Michigan English Test (MET) 59 overall score
PTE Academic or PTE Academic online 58 overall score

Provisional admission – Business Administration

Students who do not meet regular ELP listed above for Business Administration but meet the other academic requirements may qualify for provisional admission with ONE of the lower English Language Proficiency requirements listed below. Provisional admissions allows students to complete their NAIT ESL Level 6 courses within the first 12 months of starting the program. 

Assessment test Minimum accepted test score
NAIT’s Level 5 Courses

60% in each of these courses:

  • NEAP511 and
  • NEAP521 and
  • NEAP531
IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with no section below 5.5
PTE Academic or PTE Academic online 50, with no less than 40 in each communicative skill 
TOEFL iBT
Home Edition is also accepted
74 overall score 
Duolingo 100 overall score 

Learn more about NAIT's Flexible Learning Options for Business Administration 

How to submit your ELP test results

Send your test results to NAIT by doing the following:

  1. Selecting NAIT as a recipient of your test results when registering for your ELP test so we can review and verify your test results online; and
  2. Uploading a copy of your test results in MyNAIT (Open Self Service > Admissions > Submission of Documents). This is an important step to ensure NAIT is notified that you took an ELP test.  

If you take a test but do not complete both steps mentioned above, your admissions decision could be delayed.

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