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Canadian Experience Class

The CEC is a distinct class of persons who may become permanent residents on the basis of their Canadian experience and who:

  • intend to reside in a province or territory (other than Quebec)
  • maintained legal temporary resident status during their qualifying period of work experience in Canada.
Work Experience Criteria
  • Need to have worked 30 hours per week
  • May be FT with one employer or combined PT positions with more than one employer
  • Must have been undertaken for a total of a 12-month period
  • Must have been undertaken in the last 36 months
  • Must be designated as NOC A, B or 0
  • Must have undertaken the majority of the duties as express for the NOC
  • Cannot coincide with studies in Canada or be in a self employed capacity.
Employment Requirements

For the purpose of CEC applications, the “Employment Requirements” listed in the description of each NOC occupation are not applicable.

So, even if your client does not have the listed educational requirements for the occupation, as long as they can show that they have undertaken the main duties as expressed in the NOC, they can meet this criterion.

Selection Criteria

Selection factors are set forth in R87.1.

Officers will assess the applicant in each of the following areas, based on the information and documents provided in the application:

  • Legal temporary resident status
  • English or French language proficiency
  • Work experience
Assessing Temporary Status

To be eligible for the CEC, the applicant must have had legal temporary resident status during the period of work [R87.1(3)(C)].

Foreign nationals such as refugee claimants in Canada and undocumented workers, whose work experience would be accumulated while they have no temporary resident status in Canada, are not eligible for CEC.

Assessing Language

For applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience at Skill Type O or Skill Level A of NOC [R87.1(2)(b)(0)], they must obtain a benchmark of:

CLB 7 or higher for each of those abilities

For applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience at Skill Level B of NOC [R87.1(2)(b)(ii)], they must obtain a benchmark of:

CLB 5 or higher for each of those abilities

Language test results must not be more than two years old at the time of application. Only results provided from the following organizations are accepted under this class:

  • English: IELTS or CELPIP
  • French: Test d’évaluation de Français (TEF)
Assessing Work Experience

12 months of full-time equivalent Canadian skilled work experience at NOC O, A or B acquired in Canada, within the 36 months preceding the date their application is made.

R87.1(3)(b)

The applicant does not have to be employed at the time of application, but they must have legal status during the period of work experience.

Any periods of self-employment or unauthorized work will not be included in calculating the period of work experience.

Any work performed during the same time as studies will not be included in calculating the period of work experience.

Final Assessment

The Canadian Experience Class is assessed purely on a Pass or Fail and not on a point system.

  • maintenance of temporary resident status during periods of work experience in Canada
  • proficiency in English or French
  • qualifying Canadian skilled-work experience