The definition of eligible work experience in Express Entry depends on the program the applicant has applied under.  

In simpler terms, what is considered eligible skilled work experience varies depending on whether a particular applicant is applying to CEC, FSTP, & FSWP. 

The following outlines what does & doesn’t qualify as skilled work experience for every program. 

Federal Skilled Worker Program 

Under this program, eligible applicants must have worked in a job in Canada or abroad that falls under one of the following categories: NOC TEER – Training, Education, Experience, & Responsibilities. 

  • TEER 0 
  • TEER 1 
  • TEER 2
  • TEER 3 

For work in any of the above TEER categories to be deemed eligible, applicants must prove that they ‘performed their duties set out in the lead statement of professional description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties & most of the major duties listed.

The work completed in a job under any of these TEER categories should also: 

  • Have the same NOC as the job an applicant would like to use for their Express Entry immigration application. 
  • Have been paid for work where the applicant received wages/ earned commission. 
  • Have been obtained as one year of continuous work in the last ten years. 
  • Have not been volunteer-based or an unpaid internship. 

There are three different ways an applicant can satisfy this condition: 

  1. Full-time at one job: 30 hours per week for 12 months = 1560 hours in total. 
  2. Equal amount at any number of part-time jobs. For instance, working 15 hours per week at two different jobs for one year or 15 hours per week at one part-time job for 24 months would equally satisfy this condition.
  3. Full-time at more than one job 

Special Student Provisions

If an applicant also meets eligible work experience of the following three conditions, work experience gained during their studies might count towards meeting the FSWP’s minimum eligibility requirements: 

  • The applicants must have been paid wages or a commission. 
  • The applicants’ work must have been continuous, with no gaps in employment. 
  • Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements for FSWP. 

Canadian Experience Class 

CEC applicants must have at least one year of skilled work experience, either part-time or full-time, in accordance with the same criteria as noted above for FSWP in a profession that fits one of the following four NOC TEER categories. 

  • TEER 0
  • TEER 1 
  • TEER 2
  • TEER 3 

Note: Skilled work experience for CEC eligibility must have been obtained in Canada only. 

In order to qualify as eligible work experience under CEC, performed work must also have been: 

  • Completed in three years before submission of applicant’s application
  • Gained by working in Canada while authorized to do so under temporary resident status
  • Performed to an extent which satisfies all duties set out in the lead statement of professional description in the NOC, including all essential duties & most listed major duties
  • Paid work, completed in exchange for wages/ earned commission 

Ineligible Work Experience: Self-Employment & Students 

Self-employed eligible work experience & experience gained while an applicant was a full-time student doesn’t count towards fulfilling the minimum eligibility requirement for the CEC. 

Special Provisions For Physicians

Self-employed foreign national physicians who were invited to apply for PR in Canada via Express Entry on or after April 25, 2023, are exempt from the CEC’s usual self-employment conditions if they have work experience in offering publicly funded medical services in Canada. 

CEC applicants who fit in this description must not click the ‘self-employed work’ checkbox under ‘work experience in Canada’ to have their work experience counted as Canadian experience when creating their Express Entry Profile. 

Federal Skilled Trades Program 

Under the FSTP, applicants must have work experience that satisfies the following conditions to be eligible: 

  • Two years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within five years before submission of an application. 
  • Eligible work must clearly show that the applicants performed all duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in NOC, including essential duties. 
  • Performed work must have been paid in exchange for wages/ earned commission. 

Note: In order for any work experience to be eligible under FSTP, the immigration applicant must have been qualified to practice the trade profession during this time independently. Otherwise, the individual’s FSTP application will definitely be refused. 

In addition, eligible work experience for FSTP must have been performed in one of the following NOC groups: 

  • Major Group 72, technical trades, & transportation officers, as well as controllers.
  • Major Group 73, general trades
  • Major group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture, & related production 
  • Major Group 83, professions in natural resources & associated production
  • Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing, & utilities supervisors, as well as utilities operators & controllers
  • Major Group 93, central control & process operators & aircraft assembly assemblers, as well as inspectors 
  • Minor Group 6320, cooks, bakes, & butchers
  • Unit Group 62200, chefs