Immigration Lawyer

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Immigration Lawyer

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Canadian Experience Class is one of the simplest and quickest paths for receiving permanent residence in Canada via the Express Entry program. This program is for skilled workers who have gained valuable work experience of a minimum 1 year in Canada itself. Therefore, CEC is an ideal option to explore, if you are looking to establish a long-term future in Canada.

Canadian experience class requirements

Canadian experience class candidates must meet certain criterions. Please find the detailed requirements for each criterion given below:

Work Experience

You need to have one year of skilled work or an equal amount of time as a part-timer in Canada. The experience must fall within three years prior to your application to the program. This will help to prove that you’re ready to contribute to Canada’s workforce in the long term.
If your work experience in Canada falls under high-demand occupations as specified by National Occupational Classification (NOC), then the chances to receive an invitation to apply will increase. This includes working in a professional role or contributing through technical and skilled trades (NOC Teer ‘0’, ‘1’, ‘2’, or ‘3’).
A valid work authorization by a third party will be recognized by Canadian authorities considering your work experience in Canada. All the program requirements must be satisfied mentioned as per Section R87.1.

Please note: Working as self-employed or while you were studying full-time is not counted toward the work experience. However, there is an exception for physicians who applied for the CEC program after April 25, 2023. Those who have work experience from a publicly funded medical service in Canada like free service work. Those individuals who are self-employed who otherwise would not be working.

Language proficiency

You must take an approved English or French language test that covers all four areas: writing, reading, listening, and speaking. For English language proficiency, one can take IELTS/CELPIP/PTE general module and for French language you can have TEF or TCF modules.
You need to meet the required Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score, depending on the type of job (NOC Teer ‘0’, ‘1’, ‘2’, or ‘3’).
The language must be valid on the date you apply for the program. The test is valid for two years from the date of the result.

Residence Intention

Your plan of residence shall be outside of Quebec.

Educational Requirements

You don’t need a formal education to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
However, if you have a Canadian education credential or a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your foreign education, you earn extra points in the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which boosts your chances of being selected.

Admissibility

You must ensure that you are admissible in Canada, which will be determined by an immigration officer when you arrive at the entry or if you apply for a visa or an ETA. Find out if you are admissible in Canada applying through the CEC program.

Express Entry Selection for CEC

Selection under CEC Express Entry as an International Student

International students that graduate from an eligible educational program from Canada and Temporary foreign workers with Canadian work experience, are the main groups who get permanent residence through the CEC program.

Step 1: First, you must complete your educational program from a designated learning institute in Canada.

Step 2: After completion of your graduation, go to the IRCC website and apply for a Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP).

Step 3: You must gain at least 1,560 hours of work experience under the NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 with your PGWP.

Step 4: You must clear an English or French language test recognized by IRC. You need to score the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark score for the language tests. For NOC TEER categories 0 and 1, it is CLB 7, and for NOC TEER categories 2 and 3, it is CLB 5.

Step 5: After you enter the Express Entry Pool if you receive an Invitation to Apply, then your PR application will be processed within 6 months.

Please Note: IRCC is now inviting candidates through Express Entry (EE) draws in different categories. While some draws are for general categories, where candidates are invited based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, most draws are now occupation-based and focused on trade skills, STEM, or health occupations. You may also receive an invitation through provincial programs, such as the Human Capital Stream of Ontario, which grants an additional 600 points. Importantly, no job offer is required for the Human Capital Stream.

Selection under CEC Express entry as a Temporary Foreign Worker

You will be an eligible candidate for the express entry under the temporary foreign worker only after you obtain one year of professional work experience in Canada.

Step 1: The first step for the CEC program is that you get a Canadian work permit.

Step 2: You must have gained at least 1,560 hours of work experience in Canada under the NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories.

Step 3: Take up a test either in English or French recognized by IRCC where you must obtain the minimum CLB score of 7 for Noc TEER 0 and 1 and CLB 5 for Noc TEER 2 and 3.

Step 4: After you enter the Express Entry Pool if you receive an Invitation to Apply, then your PR application will be processed within 6 months.

Please Note: IRCC’s EE draws now include specific occupation-based categories, giving preference to trade skills, STEM fields, and health occupations. Candidates can also be invited through provincial streams such as Ontario’s Human Capital Stream, which grants an additional 600 points without needing a job offer.

Who cannot apply to CEC?

There are specific ineligibility conditions that prevent certain individuals from applying under this program. These include:

If you are a refugee claimant in Canada
If you work without authorization
If you gained the work experience without the status of temporary resident in Canada.
If your work experience is from self-employment
If you have gained your work experience during full-time study, like co-placements or internships.

How can you apply for CEC?

To be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, it is essential that you

First check the minimum requirement to become eligible to apply for CEC.
Create an Express Entry profile by going to the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. The profile will involve all your information, which will be ranked in the Comprehensive Ranking System.
Based on the ranking, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
If you receive an ITA, then within 60 days you must submit your application with all the available and required proofs and documents.
Once you submit, the application will be reviewed by IRCC. If approved, then you will fall in the category of permanent residents.
Application will be processed by the IRCC based on workload and complexity of the application, normally within 6–12 months in normal cases.

How can we assist you with your CEC application?

The CEC application process can be hard to understand because there are strict deadlines and standards for the application procedure. At Nanda & Associate Lawyers, we make the process easier by giving you legal help and making sure your application is correct and submitted on time.

Our team of immigration lawyers will guide you through each step, from building your profile to submitting your permanent residency application. Contact us today to get started!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is express entry in Canada?

Express Entry is the system if you are willing to get a PR to Canada. If you are a skilled worker, then based on points, you can apply for programs. The Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class are the three key programs in the Express Entry.

What is the CEC draw?

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw is a type of Express Entry draw where invitations to apply for permanent residency are issued specifically to candidates who have acquired skilled work experience in Canada.

Is proof of funds required for Canadian Experience Class?

For the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), you don’t need to show proof of funds. You don’t have to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada if you apply through the CEC program under Express Entry.

Which TEER level job is eligible for PR in Canada?

If you want to live and work in Canada permanently through Express Entry, your job must be in TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. The types of jobs in this group are management posts (TEER 0), jobs that need a college degree or apprenticeship training (TEER 2), and jobs that only require short-term training (TEER 3). People with TEER levels 4 and 5 can’t use Express Entry to get into programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class.