CELPIP wiki

How to Book the CELPIP Test

Booking CELPIP is a 10-minute online task; the decisions that matter are which test version you register for and how confident you are in your date, because the reschedule and cancellation rules turn on a 7-day threshold.

Quick answer

Book online at celpip.ca; the 7-day rule governs changes.

Short answer: You book CELPIP by creating an account at celpip.ca, choosing the test version — CELPIP-General (4 skills, used for PR and Express Entry) or CELPIP-General LS (Listening and Speaking, used for citizenship) — then picking a test centre and date and paying online. As of mid-2026 the posted price is CAD 290 + taxes for CELPIP-General and CAD 195 + taxes for LS. Cancellations at least 7 calendar days before test day are refunded at 50%; inside 7 days the fee is forfeited, per the official policies.

The most common booking mistake is registering for the wrong version: pathways that need Reading or Writing scores require CELPIP-General, while LS covers only Listening and Speaking. Confirm your program's requirement before paying.

Steps

The practical sequence

1. Confirm the version

General for PR and Express Entry; LS only where Listening and Speaking suffice.

2. Create the account

Register at celpip.ca with a name that exactly matches your ID.

3. Choose centre and date

Pick a date you can hold: changes inside 7 days get expensive.

4. Pay and calendar the rules

Note your 7-day reschedule/cancellation deadline the moment you book.

In short: version check -> account with ID-matching name -> centre + defensible date -> deadline noted.

Rules that matter

The 7-day threshold is the whole cost story

Per the official policies, a cancellation request at least 7 calendar days before the session refunds 50% of the fee; inside 7 days you forfeit the full amount, and rescheduling likewise depends on the 7-day line with a fee. Booking a defensible date beats booking the earliest one.

What you need to book

A CELPIP account, a valid government-issued ID whose name matches your registration exactly, and payment. ID mismatches cause test-day refusals, not booking errors.

Before you pick a date

Count backwards from when your program needs results: scores post within days, but a retake cycle (4-day minimum gap plus rebooking) can add weeks if the first attempt falls short.

Common pitfalls

Where this goes wrong in practice

Pitfall

Wrong version

Booking LS when the pathway needs Reading and Writing scores means paying for the wrong test entirely.

Pitfall

Name mismatch

The registered name differs from the ID, which surfaces on test day when it is too late to fix cheaply.

Pitfall

Optimistic dates

A date chosen before checking preparation reality collides with the 7-day forfeiture rule.

FAQ

Questions people ask

How do I register for the CELPIP test?

Create an account at celpip.ca, choose CELPIP-General or CELPIP-General LS, select a test centre and available date, and pay online. Registration and ID name must match exactly.

How much does CELPIP cost to book?

As of mid-2026, official pages list CELPIP-General at CAD 290 + taxes and CELPIP-General LS at CAD 195 + taxes in Canada. Regional pricing outside Canada is set locally; confirm on the official booking flow.

Can I cancel or reschedule after booking?

Yes, with the 7-day rule: cancellations at least 7 calendar days out receive a 50% refund; inside 7 days the full fee is forfeited. Rescheduling is also governed by the 7-day threshold and carries a fee - check the official policies page for current amounts.

Official sources

Verify the current rules before relying on them

Policies, fees, and timelines are set by the test provider and IRCC and can change. This page was checked against official pages in July 2026; the links below are authoritative.

Related guides

After booking, set up the preparation loop