You may be eligible for a free language assessment and classes if you are one of the following:

• A permanent resident of Canada or a PR applicant with a valid work permit

• A protected person

• A Canadian citizen born outside of Canada

• An individual awaiting statutory CIC checks

• A Nova Scotia nominee and their dependants

• An international graduate with a valid work or post graduate permit

• An Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) candidate or an AIP candidate's dependant(s)

No. The following options are available to those seeking for proof of their language skills for citizenship purposes:

• LINC programs (both online and in class) issue
  certificates that are accepted for this purpose.

• CELPIP Test

• IELTS General Test

• Submit an online application form through our website.

• Drop off the application by the door at our office on Quinpool. Blank application forms are available to those who do not have computers and can not submit the form online.

Yes. We offer online and in-person testing services throughout of Nova Scotia.

All. Depending on your computer and English language skills, we can offer you the option to take the test online from your home computer. If this is a challenge, we will make other arrangements for your test.

Yes but we will need to determine if you are eligible for online assessment. Our staff will ask you questions to find out if you can take the test online.

• A proctor is a person who will check your immigration documents before your test and will help you to log in and log out of the website which we use for the test.

• A proctor is also a person who might become a valuable source of information about local services for newcomers in your area.

We strive to keep our waiting times short; however, due to the pandemic restrictions the waiting times can be longer.

Appointments are made from Monday to Friday for the following time slots:

• 9:30 – 11:30 am

• 1:00 – 3:00 pm

• Evening assessments can be offered by request. Unfortunately, we do not offer tests on the weekends.
  

• Try to schedule your test on a day when you do not have other appointments.

• Get lots of sleep the night before.

• Do a relaxing activity before you come.

If you have an in-person assessment, bring yourself and your immigration documents (i.e. Canadian passport, Permanent Resident card, nominee letter, AIPP designation letter, work permit and letter proving you have applied for permanent resident status).

If you are scheduled for online assessment, please have a valid photo ID on you to prove your identity. Make sure that your Internet connection is stable and follow the assessor's guidelines.

No. Please make arrangements for somebody to look after your children while you are taking the test.

Your in-person assessment at LENS will take around 2 hours (online test - 2.5 hours). Please bring a mask to cover your face during the intake in our office on Quinpool.

First, you will have your test and a short meeting - Language Education Counselling - with your assessor who will discuss your results and what programs you are eligible for.

The test - in-person or online - consists of:

• 15-20 minute listening and speaking interview

• 30 minutes of reading (multiple choice)

• 30 minutes of writing (three writing tasks of different complexity)

• Face-to-face Language Education Counselling will be around 10 - 15 minutes long
  (An email with the assessment report and assessor's recommendations will be sent to clients who took the online test 24 hours after the test)

You can use the CLBPT results to:

• find out how well you can speak, listen, read and write in English

• enroll into a government-funded language course

• set your personal language learning path

• prove your English language skills to your employer or apply for a professional course at a college.

During the pandemic your test results are valid for up to 2 years (24 months).

Please inform us about this situation as soon as possible. We will arrange a second assessor to look at your test papers and will let you know about our decision promptly.