Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is ideal for candidates who have recent Canadian work experience and are seeking permanent residence Canada. CEC is also one of the fastest routes to Canadian permanent residence, taking as little as three to four months to process!
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check if you qualify under the Canadian Experience ClassWhat is the Canadian Experience Class program?
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is an immigration stream under the Express Entry system in Canada, specifically designed for certain temporary foreign workers and foreign student graduates who have already gained skilled work experience in Canada. This program aims to help these individuals transition from temporary to permanent residence status.
CEC is managed under the Express Entry system and uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank interested candidates. Applicants who have competitive CRS scores will receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Who is eligible for Canadian Experience Class Program?
In order to be eligible for CEC, a candidate must have at least 12-months of full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time), skilled work experience in Canada. The Canadian work experience must have been acquired within the previous three years from the date of the application.
CEC is not an option for foreign nationals who do not have recent Canadian work experience.
Canadian Experience Class requirements
To count your 12 months of Canadian work experience towards your CEC application, it must meet the following conditions:
- Be obtained in Canada within the 36 months before the date of submission of the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).
- Your work experience in Canada can be classified into one of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3, based on your training, education, experience, and job essential duties.
- Be lawfully obtained, paid work experience in Canada.
An applicant cannot count work experience obtained while engaged in full-time studies in Canada.
In addition to the Canadian experience requirement, CEC has several other eligibility criteria which must be met in order to submit:
- Language: Reach a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 on an approved English or French language test for NOC skill level 0 or A jobs. Reach a CLB 5 for NOC B jobs.
- Residence in Canada: Intend to live outside of the province of Quebec.
If a candidate fulfills these criteria, they can create an Express Entry profile for the Canadian Experience Class program. However, it’s important to remember that meeting Canada’s fundamental admissibility criteria, including clean criminal records and satisfactory medical conditions, is also essential, as certain offenses or health issues may lead to inadmissibility.
How to calculate your Canadian Experience Class CRS points
Express Entry holds rounds of invitations and invites CEC candidates based on their CRS scores. To calculate your points for CEC, you simply need to use Canadim’s handy CRS calculator tool.
CALCULATE MY POINTSCan I apply to the Canadian Experience Class program from outside of Canada?
Yes. As long as you meet the basic eligibility requirements for CEC as mentioned above, you can apply from anywhere in the world.
Is proof of funds required for Canadian Experience Class?
Proof of funds is not a requirement of the CEC program. You will not be required to provide any documentation regarding your finances.
Does internship experience in Canada count towards my Canadian Experience Class application?
It depends. If your paid internship is not part of your education, then you may count it towards the Express Entry work experience requirement.
Beyond the CEC: Discover More Paths in Canada’s Express Entry
If you haven’t acquired skilled work experience in Canada or don’t meet the minimum requirements for the CEC program, there are more available options.
The Express Entry program in Canada includes two more immigration streams: the Federal Skilled Workers Program, suited for skilled professionals with foreign work experience, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, designed for skilled tradespeople.
Additionally, Express Entry also offers specific category invitations based on various criteria. The current categories for these targeted invitations include individuals with French-language proficiency, healthcare occupations, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations, trade occupations, transport occupations, and agriculture and agri-food occupations.
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