International Student Services

LAPC accepts the following exams listed below. Submit an official score report to the college. Some reports must be sent directly from the testing agency while others can uploaded with your application supplemental documents.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Minimum score of 45 iBT or 5.5 Essentials
  • Request your electronic score report be sent to Los Angeles Pierce College. The DI code for LAPC is 4398.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Minimum score of 4.5
• Duolingo English Test: Minimum score of 75
  • Request your electronic score report be sent to Los Angeles Pierce College
• Pearson English Language Test | PTE Academic: Minimum score of 39
  • Request your electronic score report be sent to Los Angeles Pierce College
• International Test of English Proficiency (iTEP): Minimum score of 3.2 Undergrad
• LanguageCert Academic: Minimum score of 50
• Cambridge English Qualification: Minimum score of B2 
• Cambridge International AS & A Levels: A level placement
• Eiken Test in Practical English Proficiency (STEP Eiken): Minimum score of level 2A
• GTEC (Japan): Minimum score of 946

If English is your native language, or if you attended two or more years of secondary school or higher where English was the primary language of instruction, submit your official school transcripts as proof of English language proficiency.

If you completed college level English Composition at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university with a minimum "C" grade, you may submit your transcripts as proof of English proficiency.  

LAPC has partnerships with language schools in the U.S. The college accepts completion of approved English as a Second Language (ESL) courses as proof of English proficiency. Contact our office for more information about conditional admission via language school partnerships.

If you completed an approved ESL course, submit your official transcript from the language school. The approved courses are listed below. 

• American English College: Completion of level 6
• AOI College of Languages: Completion of level 6
• California Language Academy:  Complete of level 5
• California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Intensive English Program: Completion of Level 7 and 8
• ELS Academic English Programs: Completion of level 109 or higher
• English Language Center (ELC): Completion of level 600A or higher
• Harvest English Institute: Completion of level 4 or higher
• Kaplan:  Completion of Higher Intermediate Level
• Language Systems International College of English: Completion of level 6 or higher
• Mentor Language Institute (MLI): Completion of high intermediate level (Track 2) or higher
• Poly Languages Institute: Completion of level 6
• USC International Academy Intensive English Program: Completion of level 5

International students are eligible to enroll in credit level English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at LAPC. These courses count for unit credit and prepare the student for academic reading and writing. Some of the advanced level ESL courses are transferable at the university level. Enrolling in credit level ESL classes requires some basic English proficiency. We encourage applicants to take one of our accepted English proficiency exams to determine admissions eligibility. Some of these exams are offered online for your convenience.

International students who need to take ESL classes may take them along with their academic program courses. Pierce issues I-20s for academic programs only. This includes Associates Degrees and Certificates of Completion. The college does not currently issue I-20s for ESL courses alone.

If you have any questions, please contact our office for more information.