Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements you must meet to be eligible for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Canada's Express Entry are as follows.

  • You must meet the language requirements needed to compliment your work experience and your job;

  • You must have at least 1 year (in the last 3 years) of skilled work experience in Canada. This experience must have been gained in Canada while working under a temporary resident status with authorization to work;

  • Your education requirements meet the conditions of the TEER category your job is under; and

  • You must be admissible to Canada.

Continue reading to read details of the requirements.

Please note that the requirements mentioned on this page are the minimum requirements to be eligible to apply to Express Entry under Canadian Experience Class.

Language Ability Requirement

To be eligible to apply to any program under Express Entry, you must prove your language skills in one of Canada's official languages, i.e. English, French, or both.

The following language tests are accepted by the Government of Canada for application to any program under Express Entry.

  • For English

    • CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program.
      Note: Only CELPIP-General test is accepted for Express Entry application.

    • IELTS: International English Language Testing System
      Note: Only IELTS General Training option is accepted for Express Entry application.

  • For French

    • TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français, including: compréhension de l’écrit, compréhension de l’oral, expression écrite, and expression orale.

    • TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français, including: compréhension de l’écrit, compréhension de l’oral, expression écrite, and expression orale.

Language Assessment Results are assessed using a language scale titled Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).

You must meet the minimum language requirement of

  • CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 jobs; or

  • CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 jobs.

Click here to view the Language Test Result comparison chart.

Note: Your language test results are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result. Your test results must be valid on the day you apply for Permanent Residence.

Skilled Work Experience Requirement

Skilled Work Experience in Canada is the main requirement to apply to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. You must have at least 1 year (in the last 3 years) of skilled work experience in Canada, before you apply. You must have also gained your work experience in Canada while under a valid temporary status with authorization to work.

1 year of full time work experience is defined as 1,560 Hours of work. You can calculate this using the following ways:

  • 1,560 hours of full-time work at 1 job:
    30 hours/week for 12 months = 1,560 hours

  • 1,560 hours of part-time work:
    E.g., 15 hours/week for 24 months= 1,560 hours
    You can work multiple part-time jobs to meet this requirement.

  • 1,560 hours of full-time work at more than 1 job:
    Total 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1,560 hours

Things to remember:

  • Your work experience must be 'paid experience' and you must have been paid wages or earned commission for your work. Volunteer work or unpaid internships are not counted towards your experience.

  • No more than 30 hours/week is counted towards your work experience.

  • For part time work experience, you can work more or less than 15 hours/week to add your experience up to at least 1,560 hours.

  • You are not eligible to apply for CEC is you are a refugee claimant in Canada.

  • Work experience gained while working without authorization is not counted towards your total work experience.

  • Work experience gained while working without a temporary resident status in Canada is not counted towards Canadian Work Experience.

  • Work Experience gained in Canada must be gained while working in Canada in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job categories in the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC). You can accumulate work experience by working in more than 1 category as long as the job is classified under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

  • Self-employment does not count towards the minimum requirements for CEC.

  • Work experience gained while you were a full-time student (even co-op) does not count towards the minimum work experience requirements for CEC.

Education Requirement

There is no minimum education requirement for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.

Although there are no requirements for education to apply to CEC, you can improve your CRS score and your rank in the Express Entry Pool for immigration purposes.

Admissibility Requirements

You must be admissible under Canada's Immigration Law. There may be reasons like security, criminal, or medical reasons that may make you ineligible. You need to make sure that you are admissible to Canada under its laws.

Disclaimer: Please note that the above-mentioned information on this page (webpage) is for reference, and are stated as described by the Government of Canada. AIO does not own the information. In case of inquires, comments, or other requests, please reach us at inquiries@aioimm.com.