Entry-to-Practice
Exam (EPE) Info

Entry-to-Practice Exam (EPE) Info

 

The Entry-to-Practice Exam (EPE) tests Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) candidates on their knowledge, skills, and judgment related to advising international students.

Passing the exam confirms that you can provide competent and ethical immigration advice to international students.

If you want to apply for a licence as a RISIA, you must pass this exam first.

The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, any external exam preparatory courses or programs.

 

The EPE will assess your knowledge of—and your ability to apply—specific immigration legislation, regulations, procedures, and professional ethics and responsibilities.

The new EPE takes into account the new Essential Competencies for RISIA Practice as the College transitioned in 2020 from knowledge-based to competency-based education and assessment. Accordingly, the College's new EPE aligns with the new competency framework. The competencies tested on the exam are those required for entry-level practice that have the most direct impact on the protection of the public and influence on effective and ethical practice.

Exam Format

  • offered electronically online
  • closed-book licensing exam consisting of 125 independent and case-based multiple-choice questions to be completed within a 3-hour time limit.
Number of attempts

  • You may attempt the exam a maximum of 4 times.
  • If you are unsuccessful on your 4th attempt, you are only eligible to apply again after:
    ○ Completing a waiting period of one year after your 4th attempt, and
    ○ Completing or recompleting International Students and Immigration Education Program at the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE).
Exam Application

  • To create an exam application in the College Portal , create or log in to an existing account. Once logged in, click on the “Initial Licence” tab and then click the “Submit EPE Qualification Application ” link to provide your ID and educational information and pay the application fee. 

    When your Qualification Application is approved, click the “Submit EPE Registration Application” link to choose the language and date and request accommodations if needed, then pay the exam fee. You will only see exam dates for which you qualify.

 

Deferrals

  • If you wish to defer your exam to a later date, you must:
    ○ Log in to the College Portal.
    ○ Submit your EPE Registration Application and pay the exam fee.
    ○ Go to the Initial Licence  tab and click on the “Start Entry-to-Practice Deferral Application” button.
    ○ Pay the $75 deferral fee before the identified deadline.


Assessment Accommodations

For more information about what you need to know for the EPE, read the RISIA ENTRY-TO-PRACTICE EXAM CANDIDATE GUIDE.

The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, any external exam preparatory courses or programs.