YMCA LARC provides immigrants in Canada with English and French language assessments for government-funded programs at no cost for eligible clients.
Our Services
The YMCA of the National Capital Region does not offer any language training, just the assessment that is needed to join language training programs. Our services are offered at no cost for eligible clients.
Our language assessments are based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) and the Niveaux de Competence Linguistique Canadiens (BTC-NCLC), the nationally recognized standard that measures speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
We can also provide referrals to community programs included in the government-funded Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral System (CLARS):
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ESL/FSL: English/French as a Second Language
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LINC/CLIC: Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada
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BTW/PFR: Bridge to Work Programs/Placements
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ELT/PAMEC: Enhanced Language Training (higher-level language training)
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OSLT/FLAP: Occupation-Specific Language Training
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ELTOC: English Language Tutoring for the Ottawa Community
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CICAN: Coopération Intégration Canada Au service de la collectivité (CICAN)
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CLIC en ligne La Cité
A certified language assessor will refer you to government-funded English and/or French programs offered by community partners.
Get Started Today!
Step 1: Check your eligibility Immigration Documents.
Step 2: Complete the online form.
Step 3: One of our specialists will contact you to book your language assessment.
Who is Eligible?
We are located in Ottawa and serve Ontario residents, over the age of 18, with one of the following immigration statuses (and required documentation PDF):
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Canadian Citizens born outside of Canada
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Permanent Residents
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Provincial Nominee Program Certificate holders
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Convention Refugees/Protected Persons
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Persons in Canada whose applications for Permanent Resident status are being processed in Canada and who have been informed by a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada of the initial approval of their application subject to an admissibility assessment
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Refugee Claimants
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Temporary workers or students who have obtained initial approval for a concurrent Application for Permanent Residence
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Foreign domestic workers admitted under the Live-In Caregiver Program
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Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) holders
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Temporary Resident Visas for Certain Extended Family Affected by the Crisis in Gaza
" I am writing this email to express my gratitude for the outstanding service you have provided. I had the opportunity to take both the French and English assessments, and the evaluators were incredibly patient and understanding. I will highly recommend your center to newcomers. Thank you once again. "
- Nada
" I am Maryam, a newcomer, I would like to thank you for your services. I have benefited from coming to you, not only for the language assessment, but I also got to know your other services at Y through the reliable and kind staff that you have.
Thank you so much. "
- Maryam