Canadian
Experience
Class

Full-Time Experience

“Full time” employment is defined as at least 30 hours per week. If the employment was not full time, then part-time employment that equates to the full time requirement will also be considered (for example, two years of work experience at 15 hours per week equates to the required one year of experience at 30 hours per week). It can also be met by working more than one job. However, all work experience must be paid.

Skilled Work Experience

The work experience must be skilled. Occupations that fall under the TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3 categories of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), are considered to be skilled by the immigration authorities.

This applies to hundreds of occupations so it is difficult to describe which employment specifically is considered to be skilled, but generally speaking, skilled work is work that requires some level of education or special training in order to perform, whereas jobs that just about anyone could do with some basic training are not skilled.

The work experience can be in any skilled occupation, there is no requirement to work in the same field as the subject matter of any previous studies in Canada. The experience can be with multiple jobs and/or with multiple employers, and does not need to be continuous, as long as it adds up to the required one year of skilled experience in three years.

Language Requirements

Another requirement of this category is that the applicant must be able to speak English or French at a moderate or high proficiency level, depending on the skill level of the Canadian work experience the applicant obtained. The applicant will have to undergo language testing to prove their abilities, whether or not they are from an English or French speaking country.

Legal Status Requirement

The work experience must have been obtained while the applicant had legal temporary resident status as a worker. Applicants resident in Canada must have legal temporary resident status at the time they make the application, but do not need to be employed. Those who have left Canada but meet the above requirements can still make an application under the CEC.

In order to be eligible for this program you cannot be a refugee claimant and any work experience gained while working without authorization, while a full-time student, or during self-employment are not counted toward the minimum work requirements.

Assessment

Applications under the CEC category are assessed on a pass or fail basis using the above-described criteria. There is no point system and there is no discretion on the part of an immigration officer. Once the application is completed, candidates will enter the Express Entry pool and their profiles will be ranked according to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.