What Qualifies as Work Experience for Express Entry?
The criteria for eligible work experience in Canada’s Express Entry program depend on the specific immigration pathway the candidate is applying under. What counts as skilled work experience can vary between the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Each of these programs has its own requirements for the type and duration of work that qualify. The following sections will explain the specific work experience criteria for each program to help applicants understand what is considered valid.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
For candidates applying to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), eligible work experience must fall under one of four National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2 or TEER 3. The work must meet the following conditions:
- Be in the same NOC as the job listed on your application for Express Entry.
- Be paid work (either wages or commission), not volunteer or unpaid internship.
- Involve performing the duties outlined in the lead statement and the essential duties in the NOC description.
- Include at least 1 year of continuous full-time work (1,560 hours), within the last 10 years.
Candidates can meet the 1,560-hour requirement through:
- Full-time work (30 hours per week for 12 months).
- Equivalent part-time work (e.g., 15 hours per week for 2 years).
- Full-time work at more than one job, as long as the hours add up to 1,560.
It’s important to note that hours worked over 30 per week are not counted for part-time employment.
Students can count work experience gained during their studies toward the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) if they meet the following conditions:
- The work was paid through wages or commission.
- The work was continuous, without any employment gaps.
- All other eligibility criteria for the FSWP are fulfilled.
These provisions allow certain student work to contribute towards the FSWP’s minimum eligibility requirements.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
For Canadian Experience Class (CEC)'s eligibility, candidates must have gained at least one year of skilled work experience, whether part-time or full-time. The work must align with the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories:
- TEER 0
- TEER 1
- TEER 2
- TEER 3
Important Note: Only Canadian-based work experience qualifies under the CEC program.
To be considered eligible, the work experience must meet several key requirements:
- Recency: Work should have been completed within the three years leading up to the submission of the candidate’s application.
- Authorization: Experience must be gained under a valid temporary resident status in Canada.
- NOC Compliance: Duties performed must align with those specified in the NOC’s lead statement for the role. This includes carrying out all essential duties and most of the primary duties.
- Compensation: Experience must be paid (either wages or commission); volunteer roles or unpaid internships are not considered.
Ineligible Work Experience: Self-employed roles and work completed while a full-time student do not qualify for CEC.
Special provisions for physicians
Self-employed foreign national physicians invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency through Express Entry on or after April 25, 2023, may be temporarily exempt from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) restrictions on self-employment. This exemption applies to physicians with experience in “providing publicly funded medical services in Canada.”
These CEC applicants should omit selecting the “self-employed work” option under the “work experience in Canada” section in their Express Entry profile to ensure this experience qualifies as Canadian work experience.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), candidates must have work experience that satisfies the following conditions to be eligible:
- Work Experience of 2 Years: Applicant need 2 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time, along the same criteria as noted for the FSWP above) work experience in a skilled trade* within the five years prior to submission of an application
- Perform All Duties Based On NOC: Eligible work must clearly show that the candidate performed all duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC, including all essential (and most main) duties.
- Work With Compensation: Performed work must have been paid, in exchange for wages or earned commission (ex. volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count towards FSTP eligibility).
Note:In order for any work experience to be eligible under the FSTP, the immigration candidate must have been qualified to independently practice the trade occupation during this time. Otherwise, the individual’s FSTP application will be refused.
Eligible work experience for the FSTP must have been performed in one of the following eight NOC groups:
- Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers (excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers)Major Group 73, general trades
- Major Group 73, general trades
- Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
- Major Group 83, occupations in natural resources and related production
- Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
- Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors (excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors)
- Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers
- Unit Group 62200, chefs
