Federal Skilled Worker Program

To be eligible, you must:

• in the same type of job as your primary NOC

• within the last 10 years

• paid work (volunteer work, unpaid internships don’t count)

• at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC)

• at least 1 year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours per week), continuous:

  • full-time at 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

  • equal amount in part-time: 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

  • full-time at more than 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

You must show that you did the duties set out in the occupational description in the NOC. This includes most of the main duties listed. If you can’t show that your work experience meets the description in the NOC, you aren’t eligible under this program.

Language ability. You must get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities (writing, reading, listening, and speaking).

Education. If you went to school in Canada, you must have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school.

If you have foreign education, you must have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an approved agency showing that your foreign education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree  from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school

Selection factors. If you meet all the conditions set out in the minimum requirements, we’ll assess your application based on these selection factors:

• age

• education

• work experience

• whether you have a valid job offer

• English and/or French language skills

• adaptability (how well you’re likely to settle here)

These factors are part of a 100-point grid used to assess federal skilled workers. You earn points for how well you do in each of the six factors. Your total points will show if you qualify for the Express Entry pool. The current pass mark is 67 points.

Canadian Experience Class

To be eligible, you must:

• at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last three years (before you apply). The work was:

  • full-time OR

  • an equal amount in part-time

• gained your work experience in Canada with the proper authorization

• planned to live outside the province of Quebec

Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as on a co-op work term) does not count under this program.

Language ability. You must meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability: NOC 0 or A CLB 7/NOC B CLB 5.

Skilled work experience. To be eligible for the CEC, you need to have Canadian skilled work experience within three years of applying. Skilled work experience means:

• Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)

• Professional jobs (NOC skill type A)

• Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)

Your experience must be at least

• 12 months of full-time work

  • 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours), OR

• equal amount in part-time hours, such as:

  • 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

  • 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than one job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

You must show that you did the duties set out in the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the main duties listed. If you don’t show that your experience meets the description in the NOC, we will not accept your application.

Education. There is no education requirement for Canadian Experience Class. But you can earn points for your education under Express Entry, if:

• you went to school in Canada, and have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school

• you have foreign education, and you have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency showing that your foreign education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree  from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school.

Federal Skilled Trades Program

To be eligible, you must:

• plan to live outside the province of Quebec,

• have at least two years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the five years before you apply,

• meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), except for needing a certificate of qualification, and

• have an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.

Language ability. You must get the minimum language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 for reading and writing, and take a language test approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that shows you meet the level for speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Education. There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But, if you want to earn points for your education under Express Entry, you either need: a Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree or (1) a completed foreign credential, and (2) an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by CIC.

Skilled work experience. Skilled Trades currently eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these major and minor groups of the NOC:

• Major Group 72, industrial, electrical and construction trades,

• Major Group 73, maintenance and equipment operation trades,

• Major Group 82, supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production,

• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators,

• Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks, and

• Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers.

These major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations. (All are NOC skill type B.) You must show that you did the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC, including all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.