Many immigrants start their journey in Canada as temporary foreign workers and recent graduates who join the Canadian workforce for better employment opportunities. Given the recent focus on providing permanent residence pathways for temporary workers in Canada due to the pandemic, the option of immigrating to Canada is all the more lucrative.
One of the most popular immigration pathways for foreign workers with Canadian work experience is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program. It is also one of the federal economic immigration programs managed by the federal Express Entry system. Therefore, it offers an expedited path to permanent residence.
What Are the Requirements for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program?
As a temporary foreign worker, you will be required to meet the following requirements:
- Have at least 12 months of Canadian work experience in an occupation classified as National Occupational Classification (NOC) code Skill level 0, A, or B
- Gain work experience from a lawfully obtained paid occupation
- Have the required education level
- Demonstrate language proficiency in English or French with a level 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for Skill level 0 or A occupations and level 5 for Skill B occupations
- Intend to live outside the province of Quebec
Work experience gained as an international student will not be valid if it is a part of your study program. However, if it was a paid employment separate from your study, then it may be considered.
What Occupations Are Eligible for the Canadian Experience Class Program?
While there is no specified list of occupations that are eligible for this program, as mentioned above, only occupations classified as NOC Skill level 0, A, or B will be considered.
Skill level 0 classifies management jobs such as restaurant managers, mine managers, etc. Skill level A classifies professional jobs that usually require a college-level degree, for example, doctors, dentists, architects, etc. Skill level B classifies technical jobs and skilled trades occupations that usually require a college diploma or specialized training, for example, electricians, plumbers, chefs, etc.
