PGWP language requirements after a second program depend on your credential level: CLB 7 for degree graduates, CLB 5 for college graduates.
What is the PGWP language requirement?
You must prove your English or French ability when you apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). A PGWP is an open work permit for eligible graduates in Canada. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer without a job offer first.
Since November 1, 2024, most PGWP applicants must submit a language test result. The level you need depends on the type of credential you complete. Degree graduates (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) need Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7. College diploma, certificate, or other non-degree graduates need CLB level 5. You must meet the required level in all four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Meeting the average score is not enough if even one skill falls below the required level. If you applied for your PGWP before November 1, 2024, or you are a flight school graduate, this language requirement does not apply to you.
Note: This article is for general information only and is not immigration advice. These are IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) rules, not ApplyBoard rules. IRCC can update PGWP requirements at any time. Always confirm the current rules on the official Government of Canada PGWP eligibility page before you apply.
What do CLB and NCLC mean?
CLB and NCLC are Canadian systems for measuring language ability. CLB means Canadian Language Benchmarks and applies to English. NCLC means Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens and applies to French.
These systems help IRCC compare results from approved language tests. Your test report will show raw scores, while the PGWP rules refer to CLB or NCLC levels. Use the official conversion chart on the IRCC study requirements page to convert your exact test score, rather than estimating your level.
You may still need an approved English or French test for your PGWP even if your school accepted an English waiver for admission. Read our English Waiver Process for Onshore Students in Canada guide to understand what a waiver does and does not cover.
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Why CLB 7 and CLB 5 are different
The required level changes because IRCC groups programs by credential type. Degree-level programs need the higher CLB 7 or NCLC 7 level. Non-degree college programs need CLB 5 or NCLC 5.
CLB 7 is not simply a higher overall average than CLB 5. IRCC checks each of the four skills separately. A test result can look strong overall but still miss the requirement in one skill, such as writing or speaking.
The exact score you need depends on the test you take. IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. IRCC does not accept the Academic versions of IELTS or CELPIP for a PGWP application, even though schools often accept them for admission. Your test result must be less than two years old on the date you submit your PGWP application.
Table above reflects IRCC guidance current at time of publishing.
Degree-level second program: usually CLB 7
If your second program leads to a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree, you generally need CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four skills for your PGWP application. This rule applies to the credential level, not only to the length of your program. Degree graduates also have no field-of-study restriction: you can qualify for a PGWP regardless of your specific major.
A degree-level program may have different PGWP rules from a diploma or certificate. Confirm that your exact school and program are PGWP-eligible before you begin. Check our PGWP-Eligible Programs in Canada checklist to confirm your program qualifies.
Completing a degree after a diploma does not remove every other requirement. You still need to meet the rules for full-time study, program length, and location of study, and you must not have already received a PGWP after an earlier program.
Diploma or certificate second program: usually CLB 5
If your second program leads to a college diploma or certificate, you generally need CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all four skills. This is lower than the requirement for a degree-level program.
A lower language threshold does not mean the program automatically qualifies for a PGWP. If you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024, most non-degree programs must also match an IRCC-eligible field of study. IRCC groups eligible fields under categories such as agriculture and agri-food, healthcare, STEM, trade, and transport. Read our IRCC Update on PGWP Eligible Fields of Study article for the current list status.
Check the exact program, credential, school, and field of study before you enrol. A school may offer several programs, but not every program shares the same PGWP status.
Combining a degree with a non-degree program
You may be able to get one PGWP that combines the length of two eligible programs, as long as you meet the eligibility requirement for each program and complete the second program within two years of finishing the first. If one of your two programs has a higher language requirement than the other, you must meet the higher requirement to get a combined-length PGWP. In practice, this means that if either of your two programs is a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree, you generally need CLB 7 or NCLC 7 for the combined application, even if your other program only required CLB 5 on its own.
A PGWP is a one-time benefit. You cannot receive a second PGWP after an earlier program, so plan your combined application carefully and confirm both programs' eligibility in writing with your schools before you commit.
Planning two programs in Canada?
Compare eligible degree and diploma pathways side by side, and see how each affects your PGWP length and requirements.
Does an English waiver replace the PGWP language test?
No. An English waiver and the PGWP language requirement are separate issues.
An English waiver may help you meet a school's admission requirement, and it may support certain study permit documents depending on the school and application. IRCC still requires an approved language test result for most PGWP applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024.
Do not rely on a past waiver when planning your PGWP. Your school's letter, an old waiver, or previous English-medium study is not the same as a valid PGWP language test result. If you are unsure, ask your ApplyBoard counsellor or an authorized immigration professional before you apply.
When should you take the language test?
Take your language test early enough to receive your results before you submit your PGWP application. Your test result must be less than two years old on the date you apply.
Check that your result shows all four skills. Keep the official test report and review each score against the required CLB or NCLC level before you submit.
You can take another approved test if your first result does not meet the requirement. A retest can add several weeks of waiting time and a further cost, so plan around your graduation and study permit dates rather than waiting until the last minute.
Warning! Do not wait until your study permit is close to expiring. You have 180 days after receiving confirmation you completed your program to apply. You still need time to collect your completion letter, transcript, passport, and language test result within that window.
How to choose between a degree and diploma second program
Choose your second program based on your full study plan, not only the language level. Other PGWP rules can still affect either choice.
Ask yourself these questions before accepting an offer:
- What credential will my second program award?
- Is the institution a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with PGWP-eligible programs?
- Does my exact program qualify for a PGWP under current rules?
- If my program is non-degree, does it meet the current eligible field-of-study list?
- Can I combine my first and second programs for one PGWP, and within what timeframe?
- Which CLB or NCLC level applies to my combined study history: 5 or 7?
- Is my language test approved by IRCC, and will it still be valid on my application date?
- Have I already received a PGWP after an earlier program?
Ask your school for written confirmation about the credential and program. Then compare that information with current IRCC guidance on the official IRCC PGWP program instructions.
Quick comparison
These are planning categories, not a guarantee of approval. IRCC assesses every application against the rules in effect on your application date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually yes. When you combine two programs for one PGWP, IRCC applies the higher of the two language requirements to the combined application. If either program was a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree, that generally means you need CLB 7 or NCLC 7, even if your other program alone would have only required CLB 5.
No. An admission-stage English waiver does not replace the PGWP language test. Since November 1, 2024, most applicants must submit a valid, current test result in an IRCC-approved test, regardless of any waiver used earlier in their studies.
IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. IRCC does not accept the Academic versions of IELTS or CELPIP, even if your school required them for admission.
Your test result must be less than two years old on the date you submit your PGWP application. Book your test with enough time to receive results and, if needed, retake it before your submission window closes.
Most do, if you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024. Degree graduates (bachelor's, master's, doctoral) are exempt from the field-of-study list. Non-degree programs must generally match an IRCC-eligible field, such as healthcare, STEM, trade, or transport.
Key takeaway
A degree-level second program usually means CLB 7 or NCLC 7. A college diploma or certificate usually means CLB 5 or NCLC 5. You must meet the required level in every language skill, and if you combine two programs for one PGWP, you need to meet the higher of the two requirements.
An English waiver for admission does not automatically waive the PGWP language test. Check your exact credential, program eligibility, combined study plan, and test validity before you apply.
You have time to prepare a strong application. Review your plan, confirm the current IRCC rules, and book your language test well before graduation.
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