Northern English test minimums
Scores are from Northern's international applicants page. The higher diploma scores apply to Instrumentation & Control Engineering Technician, Medical Laboratory Technician, Paramedic and Practical Nursing; the higher post-graduate scores to Emergency Management, Terrorism Pandemic, Health Care Management and Project Management. TOEFL is given for the internet-based test only; a score on the new 1–6 scale is not stated.
Duolingo is not accepted for Fitness and Health Promotion, Medical Laboratory Technician, Paramedic, Personal Support Worker, Practical Nursing, Emergency Management, Terrorism Pandemic, Health Care Management or the BScN. Oxford ELLT is 6.0 (no band below 5.5) for diplomas and 7 (no band below 6) for post-graduate and health programs.
| Level | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most certificates and diplomas | 6.0, no band less than 5.5 | 79+ | 58+ | 105+ |
| Instrumentation, Med Lab, Paramedic, Practical Nursing | 6.5, no band less than 6.0 | 88+ | 60+ | 125+ (Instrumentation only) |
| Most post-graduate certificates | 6.0, no band less than 6.0 | 79+ | 60+ | 110+ (105+ for Global Business Entrepreneurship Technology) |
| Emergency Mgmt, Health Care Mgmt, Project Mgmt and others | 6.5, no band less than 6.0 | 88+ | 60+ | 125+ (Project Management only) |
| BScN (Nursing) | 6.5, no band less than 6.0 | 88+ | 60+ | Not accepted |
Validity and what Northern does not state
Test results must be dated within the last 24 months. Northern says some programs may have higher requirements on their program pages. A position on IELTS One Skill Retake and on IELTS Online is not stated by Northern.
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →Exemptions and pathways
Applicants from listed countries are exempt, some only with a medium-of-instruction letter (the Philippines and Rwanda). India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka are not on Northern's list. Below the minimum, Northern points to the NC–Oxford ELLT digital test and an English pathway with Seneca Polytechnic's English Language Institute.
Study permit and PGWP: separate rules
Northern College's scores decide admission only. IRCC sets no minimum English score for a study permit; any language condition is written into your letter of acceptance (see IELTS for a Canada study permit). The Post-Graduation Work Permit is a separate test again. IRCC's PGWP eligibility page asks for CLB 7 in all four skills if you graduate with a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree or from any other university program, and CLB 5 for any other college, polytechnic or non-university program, so a bachelor's degree earned at a college still needs CLB 7. On IELTS General Training, CLB 7 is 6.0 in every skill and CLB 5 is Reading 4.0 and Writing, Listening and Speaking 5.0 (IRCC score table). The PGWP takes IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core, not IELTS Academic, and college programs also face a field-of-study rule if you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024 (see IELTS for the PGWP).
Frequently asked questions
Does Northern College accept PTE?+
Yes. PTE 58+ for most certificates and diplomas, and 60+ for post-graduate certificates, the higher-requirement diplomas and the BScN.
Does Northern College accept Duolingo?+
For many programs: 105+ for most diplomas and 110+ for most post-graduate certificates. It is not accepted for the BScN, Practical Nursing, Paramedic and several other listed programs.
What IELTS do I need for a Northern post-graduate certificate?+
6.0 with no band less than 6.0 for most, and 6.5 with no band below 6.0 for Emergency Management, Terrorism Pandemic, Health Care Management and Project Management.
What IELTS does Northern's BScN require?+
IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. Duolingo is not accepted for the BScN.
Does the Northern College IELTS score count for the PGWP?+
No. The college's score is an admission rule on IELTS Academic. For the PGWP, IRCC asks for CLB 7 in every skill after a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree (a college degree included) and CLB 5 after other college and polytechnic programs, proved with IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core.
Keep reading
Related
- Cambrian College IELTS requirement
- Canadore College IELTS requirement
- IELTS for Canada
- IELTS for the Canada PGWP
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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