Benefits of CELBAN
Communication is an integral part of health care. Communicative competence promotes safe and effective care, and must be demonstrated by those seeking professional registration across Canada. The Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) offers candidates the opportunity to demonstrate English language proficiency through nursing related communication tasks that are both familiar and relevant.
CELBAN is one of two tests accepted by nursing licensing bodies across Canada as evidence of language proficiency for licensure. So why choose CELBAN?
CELBAN is a Nursing-Specific Language Assessment
Since 2015, more than 13,000 CELBAN tests have been administered to IENs across Canada. Examinees have indicated their appreciation of an approach to a language proficiency assessment that is relevant and helpful as they fulfill the language requirements for practice in Canada.
As an occupation-specific language assessment, CELBAN assesses performance on language and communication tasks that are typical of the nursing environment. These tasks have been carefully designed based on an analysis of nursing language. Some examples of these tasks are:
- Giving instructions: a routine type of interaction with colleagues and patients
- Gathering information: a critical component of the patient assessment process
- Providing explanations: a critical component of patient education
When practicing for CELBAN, prospective examinees should focus on the language and communication requirements of professional practice. In this way, preparing and practicing for the test is time well spent also preparing for a potential role in nursing.
CELBAN Provides Customized Feedback
A benefit of a nursing-specific language proficiency exam is that preparation for the exam inherently strengthens the language skills required to effectively practice nursing in Canada. In addition to exam results, CELBAN examinees receive individualized feedback on their performance on the Speaking and Writing Tests. This actionable feedback comes in the form of strengths and weaknesses. Examinees can apply the feedback to the development of language skills that will support their professional registration efforts.
CELBAN is Accessible
The CELBAN Centre manages all exam registrations, accommodations and any issues that may arise for examinees. Unlike many of the larger, global language proficiency exams, CELBAN is focused on the assessment of nurses seeking licensure in Canada. We offer kind, hands on support for our examinees.
In 2020, the CELBAN was adapted for an online delivery. Although initially the effort was focused on developing an exam that could be delivered safely, the online CELBAN is now more easily accessible by IENs across Canada and beyond. We have designed the online CELBAN to retain its originality and reliability, but also offer the opportunity for examinees to complete the exam remotely.
CELBAN is Reliable & Valid
CELBAN is an exam designed by the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks and managed by Touchstone Institute. As a Touchstone Institute exam, CELBAN is administered and maintained by competency examination experts. Nursing professionals and language exam specialists collaborate on test development to ensure that the content is accurate and current.
CELBAN is a valid and reliable measure of English language proficiency. Ongoing psychometric analyses, quality assurance checks, test security measures, and stakeholder surveys allow the test administrators to maintain test integrity. As CELBAN moves forward,
Touchstone Institute and the
Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks remain committed to a plan of responsible test maintenance that involves ongoing development to ensure that the test remains suited to its intended purpose.