Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Canadian Experience Class is for people who have lived and worked in Canada in a skilled occupation and want to make that temporary stay permanent. It rewards the adaptation that comes from working and living in Canada — language ability proved on the job, familiarity with Canadian workplace norms, and established community ties.

How it works

The CEC is one of the three programs managed through Express Entry. You create a profile, receive a CRS score, and enter the pool. IRCC runs periodic rounds of invitations and invites the highest-ranked candidates to apply for permanent residence. In addition to general-pool draws, IRCC may run category-based draws that target candidates with specific occupations or attributes — CEC candidates are eligible for any draw for which their occupation or profile qualifies.

Eligibility basics

• At least 1 year of paid, full-time skilled work experience (or the equivalent in part-time hours — 1,560 hours total) in Canada within the 3 years before you apply. Experience must be in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
• Work must have been performed while you were authorized to work in Canada under a valid temporary resident status, and you must have been physically present in Canada during that time.
• Self-employment does not count. Work experience gained while you were a full-time student (including co-op terms) does not count.
• Language ability tested by an approved test (IELTS or CELPIP for English; TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French). Minimum levels depend on your NOC TEER: CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 occupations; CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 occupations. Test results must be less than 2 years old when you apply.
• No minimum education requirement for the CEC specifically.
• You and all accompanying family members must be admissible to Canada.