While the Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) is specifically designed for internationally educated nurses (IENs), preparing for the CELBAN can still be beneficial for other internationally educated healthcare professionals. Here are a few ways in which preparing for the CELBAN can help:
Continue readingUpdated 2023
Hi,
Yes I am and I am from the Philippines. We came here with my family as immigrant last July 26 last year. So, we’re only 1year 3months in Canada. I’ve taken IELTS,CLB but not yet of CELBAN. The last time I took the Ielts was last feb here in Canada. It was too bad because I got a score of 6. I took also one in the Phil last June before we came here in Canada and I got OBS of 6.5 which is higher than the recent one. Is CLBPT and CLB the same? Yes, I took already twice of CLB. The first time I had it was last Sept.17 wherein I had scores of 6,7,7,8 (listening, speaking, reading, writing). The second one was in VCC where my scores were 6,7,8,7. G
Continue readingUpdated this week
Hi Kim!
Im so amazed with all the stories that i read, that lead me to write you my story wondering maybe you can help me. T’was my dream to be a nurse when i was a kid! Luckily that. was year 2000,when I becme an RN in the Philippines. Due to financial struggles in our family,i went to Saudi Arabia to help my parents sending mu 4 other siblings to college and gaining experience too. That 7 years was so great for me as a nurse, especially i learned a lot. Then, I decided to come here in Canada under in a caregiver program year, that was 2007 . While i was in that program I took several times in ielts exam but failed. To make story short,I’ve been here now in Canada for almost 7 years and yet my road to become an RN here is still dim out and hoping you can be my light to pursue my dreams. I dont know how to start, im so desperate, frustrated ,hopeless especially i have a 2 year old baby boy now. But with all the stories from your previous studs my hopes reignited.
My last IELTs exam result 2 years ago,reading & listening 6.5 , writting 6 , speaking, 7. CLBPT result just recently: listening 8,Speaking 7,reading 8,writing 6
I did not try Celban exam but Im planning to try at this time.
Mr Kim, I really really need your help! Thank you M
Updated this week
Hi Kim,
I’m doing fine, yes it is nice here in Winnipeg, except for the very cold weather.
I’m from Philippines, I’ve been in Canada for two years. This is the first country that we moved/lived into since we came from the Philippines. I don’t have a CLB score, because I didn’t took that assessment, but I did took CELBAN before, actually I already took CELBAN twice, but unfortunately I’m not lucky to pass.
They said that my weaknesses in writing were as follows:
Weaknesses in speaking:
I need to redo it all again, I hope you can help me, I feel so depressed after I received the score report from celas.
Thanks, M
Updated this week
Hi Kim,
Thank you for your time. I’m doing very good. How are you doing? Winnipeg is very nice place specially this summer season. I am from Philippines. I came here in Winnipeg last September 04, with my husband and two children as an immigrant. Winnipeg is our first stop, I worked before in Qatar as a Registered Nurse, but I left my family in the Philippines so I decided to apply as Manitoba Nominee through the sponsorship of my brother.
Here is my Benchmark Score: Listening – 5, Speaking – 6, Reading – 6, Writing – 6
I never tried IELTS or Celban Examination before. This is my first time, that’s why I’m very nervous because I heard a lot of comments about the exam. There are times that I want to give up because I’m not sure if I can do it. At present, I have double job so it’s hard for me to study but I’m really trying my best. I just want to ask you some tips on how to study like how many hours a day and how many months I need to study before the date of exam. I would be very grateful if you could help me with my journey. I really appreciate your questions about myself and spending time with me.
Sincerely, L
Updated this week
Hi Kim,
I’ve been reading your “Dear Kim” blog articles less than a year. I’ve contemplating to do my bridging program for RN in [province]. I procrastinated though, due to my fear of not passing the IELTS.
[My city] is such a nice place, it’s growing so fast. Sometimes, I like it. Sometimes, I don’t. I came here to Canada 5 years ago as an LPN from the Philippines. I used to be an RN back home. I am currently working in a busy floor, it’s a combination of Labour and Delivery, Postpartum Unit and Gastrointestinal Surgery. Once in a while we also get the not so very young. I have a permanent resident status and just recently submitted my citizenship application.
I love what I do, I know that I was born to be a nurse. Lately, our LPN scope of practice in Alberta has expanded. There are only 3 things an LPN in our unit can’t do. Be an Obstetrical Nurse, spike a blood bag and be a charge nurse. Other that than, LPNs do everything. However, we get paid less. Less than $20/hour.
I want to be honest with you, I want more. I want to get paid more on how good I am.
Does this make me a less nurse? I hope not.
I have a long history with IELTS. Back in 2007, I started taking up the test in Manila for my New Zealand application. They were requiring a band score of 7 on each modules. I took the test 9 times! You know why? Because my writing was always a band score of 6.5. So, I gave up.
I took the plunged again. I sat for IELTS exam. Even though, at the back of my mind, I should’ve taken CELBAN. My test score was L: 8.5 R: 7.5 W: 6.5 S: 7.5 Overall Band Score: 7.5. I was broken-hearted. I was 0.5 away, again.
I speak English everyday at work. I am well-read. I follow CNN newsfeed on social media and loves watching documentaries. I love travelling. I can speak with confidence and smitten anyone with my charming genuine smile, but I suck on writing.
After checking the CELBAN site that test dates and locations will be posted soon, I decided to seek your help. I promised to work hard. I borrowed all the IELTS materials I could borrow from our public library. But, I have nightmares on writing. So, could you please help me prepare for the test? I need your guidance.
Thank you for your time and I hope to talk to you soon.
F
Continue readingPosted in CELBAN classes online, CELBAN courses online, CELBAN near me, CELBAN preparation online, CELBAN Speaking, CELBAN Writing, CELBANPrep University, Disillusioned Dreamers, Enouragement, Secrets to Success, the CELBAN Trap
Tagged CELBAN or IELTS, CELBAN vs IELTS, CELBAN Writing Task 1, CELBAN Writing Task 2, Philippines Experience with the CELBAN
Updated this week
Hello Kim,
As you may have known me, I’m K, from Philippines….I have been following your blog for quite some time now. … I’d like to let you know a bit of myself. I’m a BSN, and currently a registered nurse. I worked in a tertiary hospital here for only 14 months. Since then, I stopped practicing my profession because I’m actually looking for a greener pasture. Otherwise, I wouldn’t flourish knowing that wages here are very, very low and can’t compensate for your wants, needs, and assistance to your very own loved ones. Based on this, maybe you will have an idea that I’m a man with big dreams, and eagerly relentless on pursuing them. =)
…
I believe in the saying that, “success starts with IELTS.” However unfortunately, I already took the IELTS twice (April and July this year), but never found the luck especially in my Writing. Taking the exam twice in a row, I always got 6.0 bandscore in my Writing while the rest of the components L, R and S were okay. My writing sucks, isn’t it? I usually practiced my writing part before like 2x a week. But I admit I almost gave up knowing that I’ve had the same mistakes and no matter how hard I tried to improve my writing skills, I fairly didn’t have the chance of getting 7 especially during my practices. In my mind I believe that writing skill takes a talent, which I obviously don’t have. I’d like to think that I didn’t get a score of 7 because of the technicality of the IELTS writing topics and the topics themselves are difficult to be explained explicitly, to the point that I ran out of ideas, or no ideas to be input at all 😦
However, sooner, I will be reviewing and sitting for the CELBAN may be early next year if everything goes well. Right now, I have this ambivalent feeling, again. To be honest, I really don’t have any ideas right now what CELBAN is all about except its meaning, Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses. I have with me again this feeling of fear, completely mixed emotions because I don’t know how difficult the CELBAN exam is, or if I can make it with just one take. Although a lot of IENs from the agency where I have applied as student visa for Canada took and passed the exam with just one sit, still I’ve lessened down my expectations to make it….How do I improve IELTS or CELBAN writing? Ielts writing topics are getting more difficult than the ones established few years ago.
How is my above writing Ms Kim?…
Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks a lot!
K
Posted in CELBAN classes online, CELBAN courses online, CELBAN near me, CELBAN or IELTS: Grammar Essentials, CELBAN preparation online, CELBAN Speaking, CELBAN Writing, CELBANPrep University, Disillusioned Dreamers, Enouragement, Mastering Your Psychology, Optimizing Your Environment, Secrets to Success, the CELBAN Trap
Tagged CELBAN or IELTS, CELBAN vs IELTS, CELBAN Writing Task 1, CELBAN Writing Task 2, Philippines Experience with the CELBAN
Updated this week
Hi Kim, I am from Philippines and just came 2 months here in Canada
I did my Celban last May without any preparation or any study guide. My score in Listening is 7, Reading 8 Writing 6 and speaking 7 . I was frustrated and I’m planning to take again on November … J
Posted in Busy People ~ Busy Moms & Dads, CELBAN classes online, CELBAN courses online, CELBAN Listening, CELBAN near me, CELBAN or IELTS: Grammar Essentials, CELBAN preparation online, CELBAN Reading, CELBAN Speaking, CELBAN Writing, CELBANPrep University, Disillusioned Dreamers, the CELBAN Trap, Unsuspecting Newcomers
Tagged 10 in CELBAN Listening, Philippines Experience with the CELBAN, Warning
Updated 2021
Hello Kim,
First of all, I would like to thank you for the helpful info that you have given others which I have browsed in your sites. I, too, have similar situations and concerns like many IENS here in Canada trying to pursue their nursing profession.
I am from the Philippines. I am registered nurse back home with clinical experience of about 4 years. I arrived here in Calgary last January of this year, together with my family.
Yes, I have recently taken the CLBPT. My scores are as follow: (7)listening, (8) speaking, (8) reading, (7) writing.
I have not taken any english exams before (IELTS/CELBAN). I plan to take CELBAN very soon. I would just like to know if I can take my CELBAN first, then once I successfully have my results, I plan to apply for the NNAS. As with the NNAS, its about a year period that I must complete the process so as to avoid additional fees for extension. And the CELBAN score is part of its requirements.
I am looking forward to any valuable info from you that can assist me in my test taking CELBAN. I am just like the many that you have encountered who are at the starting point in Canada with not so much resources and finances, but with very big dreams to fulfill here in Canada. I love it here for sure!
Thanks. C.
Posted in CELBAN classes online, CELBAN courses online, CELBAN near me, CELBAN or IELTS: Grammar Essentials, CELBAN preparation online, CELBAN Speaking, CELBAN Writing, CELBANPrep University, Mastering Your Psychology
Tagged CELBAN Writing Task 1, CELBAN Writing Task 2, Philippines Experience with the CELBAN, What makes CELBANPrep different
Updated 2021
Hi! Im working here in canada as a caregiver. Im interested to apply to be LPN and RN here… I dont know if my credentials will be qualify… I have two courses in the Philippines, one Is Business Management graduated then i continue it in field of Nursing,i graduated again last october , I am a Registered Nurse in the Philippines, since February. Can i ask if u allow a voluntary works as NNAS job experience in health care as an evidence for safe nursing?what are the guidelines to assess my credentials here? Fees?Ielts? thank u.Hope u can help me..im bit confuse…God bless!!! M
Posted in Employment
Tagged CELBAN or IELTS, CELBAN vs IELTS, LICG, LPN or RN, NNAS, Philippines Experience with the CELBAN, PR, TFW
Dear Kim 