The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of the three federal programs managed through Express Entry. Express Entry is an online system used to manage applications from skilled workers who can contribute to Canada’s economy. The CEC is for skilled workers that have gained Canadian work experience in the years before applying for Express Entry.
Determining Your Eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class
In order to apply under the Canadian Experience Class, skilled workers must have the equivalent of 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada in the three years before they apply. In addition to meeting the required language level for your occupation classification.
Minimum Work Experience Required
Applicants must have at least 12 months skilled work experience in Canada in the last 3 years before they apply. This can be met through full-time or part-time employment or a combination of the two. It can also be met by working more than one job. You have to work at least 1,560 hours and receive paid wages or earned commission. The total hours needed are calculated based on a 30-hour work week and the Government of Canada will not consider the hours you work above 30 hours a week.
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.
Education and Occupation
Although there are no educational requirements to apply under the Canadian Experience Class, you must meet a specific occupation classification as part of the definition of skilled work experience. The Government of Canada follows the National Occupational Classification (NOC) and only applicants who fall under specific skill levels/type will be considered. The specific CEC classifications are:
- Skill Level 0 – managerial jobs, such as restaurant managers, marketing and public relations, financial managers…etc.;
- Skill Type A – professional jobs that usually require a university degree, such as doctors, dentists, engineers…etc.;
- Skill Type B – technical jobs and skilled trades that require either a college diploma or apprenticeship, such as bakers, technicians, plumbers…etc.
Free Express Entry CRS Calculator
We have years of experience assisting applicants with their permanent residence applications through the Express Entry system. See if you qualify by calculating your CRS score.
Language Requirement
Applicants must also meet the required language level needed in each language ability—writing, reading, listening, and speaking. The language level required will depend on your occupation classification. The Government of Canada uses the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) to measure the varying English language ability of prospective immigrants and citizens. For each language ability there is a designated test to assess your proficiency. Applicants must at least score a Canadian Language Benchmark of 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs and 5 for NOC B jobs in all four ability areas.
Language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid when you apply permanent residence.
Provincial Nomination and the Canadian Experience Class
If you are eligible under the CEC, you can also be nominated by a province or territories and have extra points added to your CRS score.
The related program under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream. This stream allows workers with the required skills and experience the opportunity to settle in Ontario. To apply for this stream, you must first make a valid profile in the IRCC’s Express Entry system and have received a notification of interest from Ontario. Once you have received a notification of interest, you can apply to be nominated by the Government of Ontario. Successful nominations can be added to your Express Entry profile and are confirmed electronically by the province.
Candidates for Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream have to meet the additional eligibility requirements. On top of meeting the one year of cumulative paid work experience totaling 1’560 hours and language proficiency with Canadian Language Benchmark of 7, prospective nominees must also have a Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree or equivalent education through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report. In addition, you must also show that you can support yourself and any dependents by meeting the minimum necessary settlement funds for your family size, as well as have intent to live and settle in Ontario. The Government of Ontario determines your intention by examining your past history and connection to Ontario, including work, study, past visits, property, or personal relationships.
Canadian Experience Class Latest Draw Information
After completing your Express Entry profile, you will be entered into the Express Entry pool. The Express Entry pool ranks candidates using their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The highest-ranking candidates are selected from the pool and invited to apply for permanent residence. Express Entry draws take place approximately every two weeks.
The past four Express Entry draws invited thousands of applicants to apply for permanent residency from all programs, including the Canadian Experience Class.
| Express Entry Draw Date | Invitations to Apply | Lowest CRS Score in Draw |
| Jul 6, 2022 | 1,500 | 557 |
| Jul 20, 2022 | 1,750 | 542 |
| Aug 6, 2022 | 2,000 | 533 |
| Aug 17, 2022 | 2,250 | 525 |
The last Canadian Experience Class specific draw was in September 14, 2021 where 2’000 invitations were issued and 462 was the lowest CRS score. Please use our free Express Entry Calculator to help determine your CRS score.
How We Can Help
If you are interested in making an application for permanent residence under the CEC, the Law Office of Matthew Jeffery has extensive experience with this type of case and can help you. Please contact us for further information.
