Hello Kim,
Thank you for the message.
I am a Japanese, and have been here for almost 3 years….
I have been working at a … facility as an RN since last July. Registration process was completed with IELTS scores… Right now I am trying to get a job at a hospital. CELBAN scores help me to take clinical course at an university, therefore I have decided to take CELBAN test which I have never taken.
That is some of my information. I really appreciate to receive the Study Guide and Practice Exams from you.
Without your help I do not know what to prepare for CELBAN.
Since CRNBC has altered English tests to accept and increased the English scores, a large number of people started taking CELBAN test. However, the frequency of the exam dates has not be changed.
I probably write the exam this autumn. Are you aware of current situation regarding CELBAN exam?
Thank you so much.K
Dear K,
Congratulations! It is an honor to meet someone who has accomplished so much. And yet to have a desire to continue your education beyond is impressive. Have you thought about pursuing a Master in Nursing? This is required for you to be a teacher. Or you can further your education and become a Nurse Practitioner.
I am curious, which university requires or accepts the CELBAN? Most require the TOEFL.
I am certain, with you already practicing, that you will do well on the exam. I have worked with others who are already practicing in Canada, and their work experience really helps when it comes to writing reports, for CELBAN Writing, and interviewing patients for CELBAN Speaking. Still, they are wise in that they have sought some guidance and assistance to use both their time and money well.
Yes, I have learned that getting a seat for the CELBAN exam can be difficult as the frequency of exams has gone down in some places. Other places have seats filled well in advance. So it is true, while the scores have gone up the availability of exams do not seem to fill the demand. I have a client in BC who registered in November, and was anticipating writing last month or this month and has yet to get a seat. I have others who travel to other provinces to take exams there, incurring a greater expense. So it is good to prepare early, and register when you are confident.
Does this help?
Kim
Dear Kim 
Thanks. I am following your suggestion from Kwantlen these days.
Hi Kim, i am also stucking on this step. I took IELTS in June, but the scores are not enough to register the clinical course. I got 6.5 of each band except writing was 6. After browsed CELBAN’s website, I still have some questions. Is it valid for lifetime? I mean will I be asked to take another English test for continuing study such as NP or master degree once I pass CELBAN? What are the full marks of all bands? Will the results from combining (speaking+ others) be accepted?
I have workded in the US for almost a year. Do you think I can take advantages from taking CELBAN in stead of IELTS? I was able to work as an RN in the US with the similiar IELTS marks, but the school strongly insists me to provide English requirement. This is a big hard time on me, and I am almost giving up. I am also waiting for the “right timing” to find a job in US if I cannot make it in Canada. Thanks for your time.
Dear Dharma,
Thank you for your question. I am glad that in you found the post about someone else in a similar situation. You have so many questions! I will do my best to answer them one at a time.
Q. Is it valid for lifetime?
A. No. All English exams, when it comes to the Colleges of Nurses expire after two years. If people are not using the language their skill level goes down. The same thing can happen if someone goes back home, and does not speak any English while back home.
Q. I mean will I be asked to take another English test for continuing study such as NP or master degree once I pass CELBAN?
A. Yes, you will be asked to take more English classes. When your exam expires, the college of nurses will contact you, to let you know it is time. You will not be able to continue in your licensure process until you submit a new acceptable score. NOTE: The acceptable score can and does change. It never decreases, but increases. Also note, the exam that you use for one thing is not accepted for another. IELTS is for immigration but the Academic Version is required by the College of Nursing. The TOEFL is required by most universities and colleges.
Q. What are the full marks of all bands? Will the results from combining (speaking+ others) be accepted?
A. Scores on the CELBAN are not combined. Accepted scores are at a university level. Check with your provincial College of Nurses to learn their score, it can be different in different provinces.Also many of the Colleges of Licensed Practical Nurses accept lower scores.
Q. I have worked in the US for almost a year. Do you think I can take advantages from taking CELBAN in stead of IELTS? I was able to work as an RN in the US with the similiar IELTS marks, but the school strongly insists me to provide English requirement. This is a big hard time on me, and I am almost giving up. I am also waiting for the “right timing” to find a job in US if I cannot make it in Canada. Thanks for your time.
A. As noted above different exams are required for different organizations and institutions. Immigration requires one, schools require another, colleges of nurses yet another. This is costly, confusing and inconsistent but it is how things are at this time.
If you want to be a nurse in Canada I recommend the CELBAN over the IELTS, you can read about that on Dear Kim. If you have the ability to improve your IELTS score, I recommend you focus on the Academic Version: then you can use it for both immigration and for your licensure process. But many people find this very difficult. If you have a overall 6+ on the regular IELTS I believe it is high enough for immigration.
If you decide on the CELBAN, all of CELBANPrep resources are available online so you can prepare from where you are in the states. (Where are you, which state?)
Also, when you say school which school do you mean? Do you mean the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta or the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia, or College of Nurses of Ontario? These are not schools, but licensure and registration bodies.
What school do you want to go to? What courses will you take?
As for finding a job in Canada, you can not practice as a nurse until you are registered. You can not become registered until you get an acceptable score on your English. It takes time to learn a language, and to get to a university level. (They do this as a prerequisite for the university courses you may be required to take to upgrade.) What that means is that it is best if you work on your English while being employed as a nurse outside of Canada. It will save you time, money and dignity. You will be able to continue in a well paying position. If you came to Canada without a high enough score, your process would take longer and you would have to work in a lower paying position. This is really hard for many people to do and accept.
So think about your options. Do more research. And feel free to contact me again, if you have more questions.
Kim
Many many thanks for your kindly replying. I am a Canadian now, and that’s why I could work in the US. CRNBC has waived my English requirement due to I’ve worked in US for more than 1125 hours. However, Kwantlen university still asks my English to enroll med/sug clinical practicum despite CRNBC’s exemption. I think I am a very special case because I’ve registered in CRNBC and took SEC. I have completed other supplementary courses at Kwantlen University without English marks.
Here are my extended questions:
1. How close/far to CELBAN pass marks from my IELTS results? (I took acdamic version)
2. You have explained that different English requirements in different fields such as schools or licensure. Do I take the English test evey two years no matter what I do in working or studying in the future? I felt regret that I should have studied when my previous IELTS hadn’t expired. I also intend to study university English as ENGL 1100 at Kwantlen soon just for upgrading and set my level over there. I just finished ESL studies at kwantlen lately. Unfortunately, the English requirement just changed. If I want to study re-entry nursing program, I already meet the language proficiency either my IELTS or my ESL marks. Sigh~
Thanks for your helping.
Dear Dharma,
I do not know all of the requirements for all of the schools and colleges of nursing, and they do change, but I found this on the Kwantlen University website:
* IELTS Academic Module overall band score of 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band (taken within the last two years)
I see that they have other requirements for what they call “vocational” or “university prep”. You would have to contact them. Also in my brief scan of the website I did not see CELBAN as an option. In using the search it seams that the only mention of CELBAN is that they do not have prep classes, but that they do administer the test.
In the case with Colleges and Universities I believe, but am not certain, that scores do not expire. It is with the regulation/licensure bodies that they expire. You would have to confirm with the school. I am sorry I can not be more helpful, in this regard.
As for your special situation, RNs from the US do get special treatment in Canada as the educations systems are considered parallel and equal. So as an RN in the US, you are considered differently than if you were applying to CRNBC from home. Thank you for telling me they still required the SEC. This means you are still being treated as other IENs. I was not certain if this would be required of you, or not.
At the end of the day your Academic IELTS score is high. Practice should help you to increase it, and you should have lots of resources available to you in the US. There are fewer resources to prepare for the CELBAN. The exam would be easier, but the required scores are higher than the IELTS. The most important thing, if you are using your score for education, is to check if CELBAN is accepted, and what score is required. Once you know this, I can better help you.
Sincerely,Kim