The ELPAC test has been developed by EUROCONTROL (the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation) to meet ICAO and European Commission language proficiency requirements in English for operational air traffic controllers.

Since the first ELPAC training and accreditation workshop in September 2007, 186 persons from 26 countries have been accredited as administrators, markers and examiners.

In order to maintain the testing standards among ELPAC examiners, refresher workshops have been established. Since October 2008, 8 refresher workshops welcomed 52 participants from 11 countries.

To date, over 2890 ATCOs from more than 17 countries have been tested using the ELPAC test. Some countries have already completed their initial testing programme; others are due to start this year.