Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Minimum requirements

You must:

• meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability
  • writing
  • reading
  • listening
  • speaking
• have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply. The work experience must be:
  • full-time or
  • an equal amount in part-time
• have gained your work experience by working in Canada legally

According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification, skilled work experience means:

• managerial jobs (skill level 0)
• professional jobs (skill type A)
• technical jobs and skilled trades (skill type B)

Your work experience can be in 1 or more NOC 0, A or B jobs.

You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the National Occupational Classification. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.

Note: Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as a co-op work term) doesn’t count under this program.

Education

There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class.

But, if you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, there are 2 ways you can do this.

• If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
  • secondary (high school) or
  • post-secondary school

OR

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

Language ability

You must:

• meet the minimum language level of:
  • Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or
  • Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for NOC B jobs
• take approved language tests for:
  • writing
  • reading
  • listening
  • speaking
• describe the test results in your Express Entry profile

Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Admissibility

You must be admissible to Canada.

Where you can live in Canada

You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers