Canadian Experience Class

CEC: All You Need to Know !

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an Express Entry immigration program that offers permanent residency to skilled workers with at least one year of Canadian work experience.

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Updates in CEC

As of March 25, 2025, Express Entry candidates will no longer receive extra CRS points for a valid job offer, including those with an LMIA. This change was implemented through the ministerial instructions.

CEC Encouraging Skilled Workers to Settle in Canada.

The Government of Canada appreciates the contributions of skilled workers and strives to grant them permanent residency.

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Obtain a Canadian work permit

Having the right to work in Canada is essential for this program. Some may qualify for an open work permit, such as IEC participants or spouses of international students and workers. Others need an employer-specific (closed) permit, like those with an LMIA or Intra-Company transfers.

Complete a year of work in Canada

Eleven-and-a-half months will not be enough — you need at least a year of work experience (or more, if part-time) in order to be eligible under the Canadian Experience Class

Ensure you meet other eligibility criteria

Take an approved language test—IELTS or CELPIP for English, and TEF or TCF for French. Candidates proficient in both languages can earn extra points for their second language ability.

Create an Express Entry profile

Provide personal information, including self-declared details like work history and documented proof, such as language test results.

You must:

meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply. The work was:
- full-time or
- an equal amount in part-time
have gained your work experience by working in Canada legally

According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification, skilled work experience means:

Managerial jobs (skill level 0)
Professional jobs (skill type A)
Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill type B)

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

Self-employment and student work experience

Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as a co-op work term) doesnâ€™t count under this program.

There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class

But, if you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, 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 (high school) or
- post-secondary school

If you have foreign education, you can get points for:
- a completed foreign credential, and
- an Educational Credential Assessment report from an approved agency showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
  1. secondary (high school) or
  2. post-secondary school

You must:

meet the minimum language level of:
- Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or
- Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for NOC B 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.

You must be admissible to Canada.

You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers. If you plan on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers for more information.