What is Canadian Experience Class?

The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.

Minimum requirements

You must

• have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply (Minimum 1560 hours of work)
• have gained your work experience by working in Canada while under temporary resident status with authorization to work
• meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability

You’re not eligible for the Canadian Experience Class if

• you’re a refugee claimant in Canada
• you’re working without authorization
• your work experience was gained without temporary resident status in Canada

According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means work experienced gained in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job categories. Your work experience can be in 1 or more of these categories.

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

Education

There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class.

If you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool for immigration purposes, 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 institution (high school) or
  • post-secondary institution
  or
• If you have foreign education, you can get points for:
  • a completed foreign credential, and
  • an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes from a designated organization showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
    • secondary institution (high school) or
    • post-secondary institution

Language ability

You must:

• meet the minimum language level of:
  • Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 jobs or
  • Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 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.