The English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR) is a requirement for all licensing candidates in British Columbia and must be satisfied prior to exam registration. However, if licensing is your intention, we strongly recommend that you consider satisfying the ELPR before you register for your course.
As a requirement of the Real Estate Services Act, all licensing candidates for Real Estate Trading Services must satisfy the ELPR by achieving a level 7 or higher on each of the four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) of the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program - General (CELPIP-G) test on the same test score report. Scores from multiple test attempts cannot be combined. It is not possible to register for the final exam of the licensing course until the ELPR has been met.
Candidates are responsible for registering for the CELPIP-G test and paying the applicable test fee. You can view or get notified about the CELPIP-G Test Schedule in your area. Please note that if you have taken the CELPIP-G test in the past, a score report can only be used for 3 years from the date of the test to meet the ELPR.
CELPIP - General Test Results: Once you receive your CELPIP - General test results from Paragon Testing, you will need to email your CELPIP- General exam registration number and PIN code (located below the name and address information on your score report) to elpr@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca for electronic record grade verification.
Candidates may be granted an exemption to the CELPIP-General exam if they:
- hold a conferred Bachelor's degree or higher degree (e.g., Master’s degree) from an accredited university, college or technical institute at which English is the primary language of instruction; or
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- have been licensed for real estate services in another Canadian jurisdiction with English language standards and have satisfied that jurisdiction's English language requirements. Candidates wishing to use this exemption should review the information at BCFSA before registering for a licensing course.
Previous BC licensees wishing to re-activate an expired licence should also contact the BC Financial Services Authority at licensing@bcfsa.ca for advice before registering for a licensing course.
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Please note that it is not possible to use any of the following to meet the ELPR:
- Associates degrees
- Degree coursework completion letter (Note: A degree can only be used once it has been formally conferred and added to official degree transcripts)
- Diploma or certificate programs (including post-graduate diploma or certificate programs)
- English as a second language classes or programs (e.g., LINC) or other language proficiency tests (e.g., IELTS, CAEL, CLB, LPI)
- Evaluation reports from other agencies or professional bodies (e.g., WES, IQAS, ICAS, Professional association reports) (Note: The ELPR is specific to the ICES Comprehensive Report, confirming both degree equivalence to a Bachelor’s degree or higher degree (e.g., Master’s degree) in Canada and that the degree was taught in English only (with no other languages shown in the Language of Instruction section of the report))
- High school graduation (or English 12)
- Licensing with other professional bodies (e.g., CPA/CGA, Red Seal, engineering or medical associations, aviation licence)
- Undergraduate English courses
- Work experience
