Canadian experience class (CEC)

An Overview of CEC

The CEC (Canadian Experience Class) is a program launched by the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) and is a pathway that’s designed for international graduates and temporary foreign workers, who desire to procure a permanent residence status.

CEC Benefits

The research done by the IRCC and Statistics Canada shows that skilled worker applicants have a major edge in terms of effortlessly blending into the Canadian job market if they have previously lived in Canada. Having quality professional and social connections and having high human capital criteria (based on factors such as age, education, work experience, etc) empowers them to be successful and accomplished careers.

CEC Eligibility Criteria

Here are the following requirements to be eligible for CEC:

• Plan to work and live outside of Quebec (apply for Quebec Experience Class instead)
• Obtain at least a year of experience in skilled, technical, and professional work within a year and a half of the application date, and
• Obtain at least a score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or equivalent to NOC B jobs, or
• Obtain at least a score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or equivalent to NOC 0 or A jobs

Note: 1,560 hours equals one year of work experience, and can be obtained through full-time/part-time work. Throughout the application process, the candidates can reside in Canada, however, the CEC program is also available to applicants who don’t reside, assuming the application was submitted within three years since they left their job in Canada.

CEC Immigration Process

If you have resided in Canada and have gained eligible work experience, you are the best fit for CEC. In addition to that, you may be a strong candidate for FSWP (Federal Skilled Worker Program) as well, or the FSTP (Federal Skilled Trades Program), if you have a trades background. If you meet the eligibility requirements for the CEC, you can apply for the CEC or any other programs listed above, that you are eligible for, by submitting your Express Entry profile to the IRCC website. Generally, every two weeks, the IRCC holds Express Entry draws which reward applicants with the highest CRS scores (based on factors such as age, occupation, work experience, language skills, etc) an invitation to apply for permanent residence. If you receive an invitation to apply (ITA), submit your application to the IRCC within the specified timeframe. The processing of applications takes approximately 6 months.

Eligibility for CEC – International Student

• First, complete your educational program at a Canadian institution
• Apply for a PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit)
• With the PGWP, gain at least one year (1,560 hours) of work experience from a NOC level 0, A, or B job
• Acquire a CLB score of 5 (eligible for NOC 0, A jobs) or a score of 7 (eligible for NOC B jobs) by taking an English or French language test, that is designated by the IRCC
• Apply for the Express Entry pool
• If you receive an ITA, submit your application to IRCC and wait for the processing to culminate, which takes around six months

Eligibility for CEC – Temporary Foreign Work

• Obtain a Canadian Work Permit
• Gain at least one year (1,560 hours) of work experience in a NOC level 0, A, B job
• Obtain a minimum CLB score of 5 (for NOC 0, A jobs) or a score of 7 (for NOC B jobs), by taking an English or French language test that is designated by the IRCC
• Apply for the Express Entry pool
• If you receive an ITA, submit your application to IRCC and wait for the processing to culminate, which takes around six months