Work Experience for Express Entry immigration relies on the type of program a candidate plans to choose. Express Entry is an effective application system that manages immigration applications through its three chief programs. These happen to be the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the FSTP, and the Canadian Experience Class.
The work experience requirement to be eligible for Express Entry immigration will depend upon whether you will apply through the Federal Skilled Trade Program, the FSWP or the CEC.
There are certain factors that will or will not contribute to your Express Entry work experience. This is with regard to each program.
Work experience for Express Entry immigration – The Federal Skilled Worker Program
Candidates with eligibility for FSWP are those who have had work experience in a job. The job experience could have been in Canada or outside. The job must fall under any of the four categories of NOC (TEER).
These include TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3. Additionally, candidates must comply with the NOC lead statement and confirm that they have experience in performing the duties mentioned in it. This will make them eligible for the above four TEER categories (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities).
The work or job in the TEER categories must also meet the following requirements:
- They must possess the same NOC for the job they would like to include in their Express Entry application for immigration.
- The work experience must be a paid one. This implies that they must have earned wages or commissions for their work.
- The work must be of a one-year continuous period. This indicates 1,560 hours, equal to thirty hours per week, within the previous ten years.
- The candidates must not show their work as volunteer experience or unpaid job.
The following three ways can help you overcome the above situations:
- Showing work experience in one full-time job. This must equal 1,560 hours, implying thirty hours a week in twelve months.
- The same amount in different part-time occupations, with a minimum of 30 hours per week.
- Full-time work experience in more than one job.
- In part-time employment, hours beyond 30 hours a week do not count.
Special provisions for students
Candidates who successfully fulfill the following conditions might also fulfill the FSWP eligibility requirements, as their experience while studying will count toward the eligibility criteria of FSWP:
- The person must have received salaries or commission.
- Their work experience must have been continuous, without any employment gaps.
- The individuals must also fulfill all other FSWP eligibility conditions.
Canadian Experience Class
The CEC candidates must showcase work experience of 1 year of skilled experience. This could be either full-time or part-time. The same eligibility criteria as that of FSWP will apply for CEC. Also, the occupation must fall under the NOC TEER categories (TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3).The eligibility condition for TEER categories requires skilled work experience obtained within Canada only.
To be eligible under the work experience requirements of CEC, they must adhere to the following conditions:
- The work experience must have been obtained before submission of the application.
- The Temporary Resident Status must authorize the person to gain experience in Canada.
- The person must demonstrate their ability to fulfill all duties of the job as mentioned in the lead statement of the NOC job description.
- Gaining work experience in terms of paid service or commission. Volunteer or unpaid job do not count under CEC.
Also, self-employed experience or work experience while being a full-time student doesn’t count under CEC eligible work experience.
Physicians have access to special provisions
Those foreign national Physicians with temporary and self-employed experience who received ITAs for Canadian PR through Express Entry on or after April 25 this year can do away with the typical self-employment conditions. This is possible if they have work experience in offering publicly funded medical services in the country.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
The FSTP eligibility criteria requires candidates to be eligible for the following conditions:
- Two years of full-time work experience or equivalent part-time experience in a skilled trade within the five years following their application submission.
- The eligible work experience under FSTP requires one to perform all duties described within NOC’s lead statement. It also includes all the essential duties.
- The candidate must have acquired work experience in terms of paid work or in exchange for commission. Like other programs, unpaid or volunteer work will not count under FSTP eligibility.
The FSTP eligibility requirement requires a candidate to have been authorized and trained to work independently under the same occupation. Its work experience must been acquired in any one of the following NOC groups:
- Technical Trades, Transportation Officers and Controllers;
- General Trades;
- Natural Resources, agriculture and related production – Supervisors;
- Manufacturing, Processing, and Utilities Supervisors; Utilities Operators and Controllers;
- Cooks, bakers, and butchers;
- Central Control and Process Operators; Aircraft and Assembly Assemblers and Inspectors;
- Chefs
