Canadian Experience Class
Through the Northwest Territories’ Provincial Nominee Program (NTNP), prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the Northwest Territories may receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate, which will allow them to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence.
About Canadian Experience Class
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program in 2008 to offer a dedicated, skilled worker pathway to temporary foreign workers and international graduates who want permanent residence status.
The CEC has become one of Canada’s most prominent immigration pathways for skilled workers. It is an overwhelming success by governments across Canada, communities, employers, and immigration candidates themselves.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration program to help temporary foreign workers and international students apply their Canadian work experience and education towards their Canada PR application. The Canadian Experience Class supports the transition from a temporary to permanent status taking into account the time that the international student or skilled worker spent in Canada while contributing to Canadian society.
The CEC is part of a concerted effort by Canada’s federal and provincial governments to encourage more temporary foreign workers and international students to build their futures in Canada. Research by IRCC, Statistics Canada, and academics is clear: skilled worker candidates have a significant advantage in integrating into the Canadian job market if they have previously lived in the country. The combination of having high human capital criteria plus building social and professional networks in Canada enables CEC immigrants to succeed in the labour market.
In addition to this benefit, candidates with Canadian experience can obtain more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points under Express Entry, which increases their chances of obtaining permanent residence.
Third, CEC candidates who succeed under Express Entry are usually able to get their permanent residence status within six months.
A fourth significant benefit of the CEC is unlike the other two Express Entry programs, candidates who succeed under the CEC do not need to demonstrate to IRCC that they have settlement funds to support themselves financially upon obtaining permanent residence.
To be eligible for the CEC, you must meet the following requirements:
Have obtained at least one year of skilled, professional, or technical work experience in Canada within 36 months of the application date; and
Meet or surpass a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 (“initial intermediate”) for NOC TEER category 2 or 3 jobs or CLB 7 (“adequate intermediate proficiency”) for NOC TEER category 0 or 1 job.
Plan to live and work outside the province of Quebec (individuals with work experience in Quebec and who plan to reside in Quebec may apply to the Quebec Experience Class).
One year (or 12 months) of work experience is defined as at least 1,560 hours of skilled workers in Canada. The 1,560 hours can be obtained through full-time and/or part-time work.
Applicants can remain in Canada throughout the application process. However, the Canadian Experience Class is also open to individuals no longer in Canada, provided they submit their application within three years of leaving their job in Canada.
The Canadian Experience Class requirements are based on a pass-or-fail model. The applicant can enter the Express Entry pool if the minimum requirements are met.
International students who graduate from an eligible educational program in Canada are the leading individuals who gain permanent residence through the CEC.
Here is the most common way to obtain Canadian permanent residence through the CEC as an international student:
Step 1: Complete your educational program at a Canadian-designated learning institution.
Step 2: Apply to IRCC for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Step 3: With your PGWP, obtain at least 1,560 hours of Canadian work experience in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs.
Step 4: Take an English or French language test designated by IRCC and obtain the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirement (a CLB 7 for NOC TEER category 0 and 1 work experience and CLB 5 for NOC TEER category 2 and 3 work experience).
Step 5: Enter the Express Entry pool. If you secure an invitation to apply, IRCC will aim to process your permanent residence application within six months.
Temporary foreign workers can become eligible for the Canadian Experience Class program after obtaining one year of professional work experience in Canada. The most common way to get Canadian permanent residence through the CEC as a temporary foreign worker:
Step 1: Get a Canadian work permit.
Step 2: Obtain at least 1,560 hours of Canadian work experience in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs.
Step 3: Take an English or French language test designated by IRCC and obtain the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirement (a CLB 7 for NOC TEER category 0 and 1 work experience and CLB 5 for NOC TEER category 2 and 3 work experience).
Step 4: Enter the Express Entry pool. If you secure an invitation to apply, IRCC will aim to process your permanent residence application within six months.
To be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class, you must:
- Meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability within writing, reading, listening, and speaking
- Have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada in the last three years before you apply. The work experience must be full-time or an equal amount part-time.
- have gained your work experience by working in Canada legally
Your skilled work experience must be paid work, including paid wages or earned commission. Volunteer work or unpaid internships are not counted.
For part-time work, you can work more or less than 15 hours per week as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours. You can work more than one part-time job to get the hours you need to apply!
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.
There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class. Although if you want to increase your CRS score, you can do so with your Education experience with these two options:
- If you went to school in Canada, you could get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian University or post-secondary institution.
- You can get points for a completed foreign credential or an EAC report if you have foreign education.
- 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 language efficiency tests for:
- Describe the test results in your Express Entry profile
Your language tests are valid for two years after the test result date and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
FAQ for Canadian Experience Class
Yes, as long as you meet the CEC’s eligibility criteria.
Yes, as long as you intend to reside outside of Quebec.
No, you must ensure you obtain work experience that falls under the CEC’s eligibility criteria.
No. Unlike the FSWP and FSTP, you do not need to demonstrate proof of funds if you successfully obtain an immigration invitation under the CEC.
The language requirements depend on the type of job you are working under to be eligible for the CEC. You need to meet the requirements across all four abilities evaluated through your language test (reading, writing, listening, and speaking):
A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least seven across all four abilities is required if you work in a NOC skill level job of 0 or A.
A CLB of at least five across all four abilities is the requirement if you work in a NOC skill level job of B.
You must have worked at least 12 months full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time) in a skilled job in Canada, and the work experience must have been obtained within three years of your application. The 12 months of work experience is defined as at least 1,560 hours of skilled work.
The Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) defines the jobs as follows:
- Skill Level 0: Managerial Jobs
- Skill Type A: Professional Jobs
- Skill Type B: Technical Jobs and Skilled Trades
No, it does not count. Work experience obtained while you were a full-time student (e.g., internship or co-op) does not matter.
The CEC does not have education requirements. However, you can obtain additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points under Express Entry for studying in an eligible Canadian program. Also, you can receive CRS points if you studied in an eligible program overseas that an Educational Credential Assessment ECA supports).
The ways you can improve your CRS score include:
- Ensuring you obtain all the CRS points you are eligible for
- Listing your spouse or partner (if applicable) as the principal applicant if they have a higher CRS score
- Studying for your language test and retaking it until you are satisfied with your language test score
- Get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you have obtained eligible foreign education.
- Try to obtain an eligible job offer from an employer in Canada. Potential CEC candidates have a significant advantage over Express Entry candidates living overseas since CEC candidates can meet employers and network with them while in Canada.
- Similarly, you can try to obtain a provincial nomination.
Click here to read more on how you can increase your CRS score.
If you are a former international student holding a PGWP, you can switch employers and still be eligible for the CEC as long as you obtain qualified work experience. The PGWP is an ‘open’ work permit, meaning you can work for any employer.
IRCC counts your work experience as follows to see if you are eligible for the CEC:
- One year of full-time work is calculated as follows:
- 30 hours of work per week for 12 months = one year of full-time employment (1,560 hours), or
- the equivalent amount of work (1,560 hours) in part-time work, such as:
- 15 hours of work per week for 24 months = one year of full-time employment (1,560 hours)
- 30 hours of work per week for 12 months at more than one job = 1-year full time (1,560 hours)
You can work for more or less than 15 hours per week in part-time roles as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours.
IRCC does not count any hours you work above 30 hours per week.