English Language Requirements (ELR)

Red River College Polytechnic has established English language requirements to help ensure you have the communication skills required to be successful in your RRC Polytech academic program. Answer the following question to determine if you meet ELRs:

Have I successfully completed 3 years of full-time high school (secondary) education in Canada, the United States, or an ELR exempt country where English was the language of instruction?

  • If YES, you meet English language requirements. Apply and then submit your transcripts* for review. If you completed 3 years of full-time high school in a Manitoba French Immersion or Division scolaire franco-manitobaine (DSFM) School, you meet English language requirements.

or

  • If NO, submit proof of meeting an ELR option within 15 days of applying.

or

  • If you completed all of your education in Canada, the United States, or an ELR exempt country in English but you did not graduate high school, submit your transcript* for review within 15 days of applying.

* If your transcripts are from the USA or an ELR exempt country, we will assess an International Credentials Assessment Fee to be paid before your transcripts will be reviewed.

Important Exceptions

The following programs accept only ELR Options 1 or 4:

  • Health Information Management
  • Railway Conductor

The following programs accept only ELR Option 4:

  • Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography - Echocardiography
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Ultrasound
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Spectroscopy
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences (This program has very specific English language requirements for all applicants including those educated in Canada or the USA. Ensure you reference the detailed admission requirements at www.rrc.ca/mls before applying.)
  • Medical Radiologic Technology
  • Nursing
  • Paramedicine – Primary Care Paramedicine

ELR Options
Option # Requirements Instructions Other Information
1. Completion of grades 10 and 11 and enrolment in grade 12 Grades 10, 11 and 12 must be completed in Canada, the United States, or an ELR exempt country where English was the language of instruction. This includes Manitoba French Immersion and DSFM Schools.

Transfer credits awarded for courses completed in a country not listed on the ELR exempt countries list cannot be used towards meeting this requirement.
What to submit:
High school transcript confirming completion of grades 10 and 11, and proof of enrolment in grade 12

When to submit:
Within 15 days of applying. If you submit proof of enrolment, your final transcript must be received by July 15.
This ELR option is NOT available:
If your program’s admission requirements indicate proof of successful completion of grade 12 is required within 15 days of applying (e.g. Nursing, Paramedicine – Primary Care Paramedic)
or
If you are applying to a program listed in the Important Exceptions chart below.
2. Manitoba high school diploma including two credits of English 40S Graduation with a Manitoba high school diploma including:
  • a minimum of five credits at the grade 12 level
  • two credits of English 40S
  • a minimum average grade of 75% for the two credits of English 40S
What to submit:
Final High School Transcript
or
Proof of enrolment in the required Grade 12 courses (only if your program’s admission requirements indicate proof of enrolment is accepted)

When to submit:
Within 15 days of applying. If you submit proof of enrolment, your final transcript must be received by July 15.
This ELR option is NOT available:
If you are applying to a program listed in the Important Exceptions chart below.
3. Post-secondary (PS) education Post-secondary education must have been completed at a recognized/accredited or publically funded institution in Canada, the United States, or an ELR exempt country where English was the language of instruction:

Successful completion of one of the following:
  • A minimum of 2 years of full time post-secondary education with:
    • Minimum GPA of 2.0
    • Minimum of 36 credit hours (3 credit hour format)
    • 1000 to 3000 level courses
    or
  • A minimum of 2 years of full time post-secondary education with:
    • Minimum GPA of 2.0
    • Minimum of 24 credit hours (6 credit hour format)
    • 4000+ level courses
    or
  • Completion of Graduate Studies
What to submit:
Transcript(s)
or
Proof of enrolment in your second year of post-secondary education (only if your program’s admission requirements indicate proof of enrolment is accepted)

When to submit:
Within 15 days of applying. If you submit proof of enrolment, your final transcript must be received by July 15.
This ELR option is NOT available:
If you are applying to a program listed in the Important Exceptions chart below.
4. Approved English language assessment Approved assessments and required language levels are program specific. They are listed on the English Language Assessment webpage of your program.

Assessment results must be dated no more than two years prior to your application date.
What to submit:
Proof of completion of an approved English language assessment at the required levels.

When to submit:
Within 15 days of applying.
We strongly advise you successfully complete the assessment before submitting your application to ensure you can meet language requirements within 15 days of applying.

Once we confirm you meet ELRs, we will request submission of your transcripts* for review.

Approved English Language Assessments

English Language Assessment Minimum Scores for Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas, and Post Graduate Certificates, Post-graduate Diplomas Minimum Scores for Bachelor Degrees and Creative Communication (excluding Nursing) Minimum Scores for Applicable Health Related Programs***
CAEL Online or In-Person Overall band score of 60 Overall band score of 70 and Writing of 60 Overall band score of 70 and Writing of 60††
IELTS Academic Level Overall 6.0 and No band below 5.5 Overall 6.5 and No band below 6.0 Overall 7.0 and No band below 6.5
Password Skills Overall 6.0 and No band below 5.5 Overall 6.5 and No band below 6.0 Overall 7.0 and No band below 6.5††
LINC Certificate 7 8 Successful completion of Communication for Health Care Professions††
Duolingo Language Test 115 and above+ with a min. of 95 in each section 125 and above with a min. of 100 in each section N/A††
New English for Academic and Professional Purposes Successful completion of the program 5 (min 70%) Successful completion of the program 5 (min 70%) N/A††
PTE 54 overall
Min 50 in each skill
60 overall
Min 55 in each skill band
N/A††
TOEFL-ibt Academic Level 80
(20L, 20S, 19R, 21W)
90
(22L, 22S, 22R, 24W)
98
(24L, 23S, 24R, 27W)
Academic English Program for University and College Entrance Program (AEPUCE) Successful Completion Successful Completion N/A††
CELBAN N/A N/A 8, 8, 8, 7††

The Duolingo Language Test will no longer be an approved English proficiency test for applications to the Bachelor of Nursing and Allied Health Programs

††These English Language Assessments will not be accepted by Medical Laboratory Sciences

***Applicable Health Related Programs:

  • Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography – Echocardiography
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Ultrasound
  • Health Information Management
  • Medical Device Reprocessing Technician
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences
    Only accepts the following English language proficiency tests:
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
    • TOEFL iBT
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • IELTS – AC
    • Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTEST)
  • Medical Radiologic Technology
  • MRI and Spectroscopy
  • Nurse Prescriber Reproductive Health/STBBI
  • Nurse Prescriber Travel Health
  • Nurse Re-Entry
  • Nursing
  • Nursing – Licensed Practical Nurse to BN Pathway
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Paramedicine – Advanced Care
  • Paramedicine – Primary Care Paramedic

Approved ELR Exempt Countries

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Dominica
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Ireland
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
The United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories
  • Akrotiri and Dhekelia
  • Anguilla
  • Ascension Island
  • Bermuda
  • British Antarctic Territory
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Falkland Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Montserrat
  • Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
  • Saint Helena
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • Tristan da Cunha
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
US Overseas Territories
  • American Samoa
  • Bajo Nuevo Bank
  • Baker Island
  • Guam
  • Howland Island
  • Jarvis Island
  • Johnston Atoll
  • Kingman Reef
  • Midway Islands
  • Navassa Island
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Palmyra Atoll
  • Puerto Rico
  • Serranilla Bank
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Wake Island
Red River College Polytechnic endeavours to provide the most current version of all program and course information on this website. Please be advised that classes may be scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The College reserves the right to modify or cancel any course, program, process, or procedure without notice or prejudice. Fees may change without notice.