Is student work experience countable for Express Entry? All three Express Entry-managed programs require applicants to have eligible pre-existing work experience to apply for PR in Canada. 

However, this article provides an overview of which Express Entry programs enable applicants to use employment experience gained as a student to fulfill the work experience requirement for that specific program. 

Federal Skilled Worker Program 

The Federal Skilled Worker Program highlights that Express Entry applicants might use work experience gained while studying, both in Canada and internationally, towards the fulfillment of this program’s minimum requirements if:  

  • The work completed was paid, either by wages/ commission 
  • There were no gaps in the employment, implying that the employment was continuous 
  • The work completed aligns with all other program requirements 

IRCC also notes that co-op programs and apprenticeships are eligible forms of student work experience so long as they meet the above conditions. 

Canadian Experience Class 

Unlike the FSTP, Canadian Experience Class applicants are not eligible to use work experience gained while studying, either in Canada or abroad, towards this program’s minimum requirements. 

Federal Skilled Trades Program 

Is student work experience countable for Express Entry? Like the CEC, student work experience doesn’t count towards meeting the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. 

How Does Student Work Experience Affect My CRS Score? 

CRS scores are an integral part of the Express Entry immigration process. 

This is because CRS scores are what IRCC uses to rank applicant profiles against each other, which is part of how the department decides who obtained an ITA for PR in Canada. 

IRCC clarifies that Canadian work experience gained while the Express Entry applicant is a full-time student doesn’t count towards their score. However, work experience gained during full-time studies completed abroad does not count towards an applicant’s CRS score. 

What Are The Minimum Requirements For Each Express Entry Program? 

1. FSWP 

The following is a synopsis of the minimum requirements for this program. Well, the requirements are divided into three sections: 

  • Skilled Work Experience 

A minimum of one year of paid, full-time, or equivalent part-time, continuous, skilled employment under the same NOC code is required. 

To be eligible, this work experience must fall under one of the TEER NOC categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3. 

  • Language Ability 

FSWP applicants must obtain a minimum CLB 7 in English/ French for all four language abilities: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. 

  • Education 

FSWP applicants require either of the following: 

  • A certificate/ diploma/ degree from a Canadian high school or post-secondary institution 
  • A completed educational credential and a valid ECA if an applicant has a foreign education

2. CEC 

The minimum requirements of this program are divided into two sections: 

  • Skilled Work Experience

A minimum of one year of paid, full-time, or equivalent part-time skilled work experience in Canada over the three years preceding submission of the application. 

To be eligible, this work experience should fall under NOC TEER categories – TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3.  

  • Language Ability 

CEC language testing requirements vary based on the applicant’s NOC. 

  • TEER 0 and TEER 1 CEC Applicants: CLB/ NCLC 7 for all four abilities  
  • TEER 2 and TEER 3 CEC Applicants: CLB/ NCLC 5 for all four abilities 

Note: There are no education requirements for the CEC, although both a completed Canadian education or one completed abroad – for which the applicant has obtained any ECAs – can improve their CRS scores. 

3. FSTP  

The following minimum requirements are divided into three sections: 

  • Skilled Work Experience

A minimum of two years of skilled work experience in certain eligible NOC groups over the five years preceding submission of the application. 

  • Language Ability 

The FSTP requires one minimum score for speaking and listening (CLB/ NCLC 5) and another for reading and writing (CLB/ NCLC 4). 

  • Job Offer/ Certificate Of Qualification

FSTP applicants must possess either of the following: 

  • A full-time job offer for a total period of at least one year. 
  • A certification of qualification in a skilled trade. 

This certificate is only valid if a Canadian provincial, federal, or territorial authority issued it.