Federal Skill Trader Program

Eligibility to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (Express Entry)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.

Minimum requirements

To be eligible, you must meet all the minimum requirements for your

skilled trades work experience
job offer or certificate of qualification
language ability

Skilled trades work experience

You must

have at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply
meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
show that you performed the duties listed in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC, including
- all the essential duties
- most of the main duties

Skilled trades NOC groups

Your work experience must be in one of the following NOC groups:

Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers
- excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers
Major Group 73, general trades
Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
Major Group 83, occupations in natural resources and related production
Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors, excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers
Unit Group 62200, chefs

Find the job’s NOC code, title and related training, education, experience and responsibilities category.

We will refuse your application if

you don’t show that your experience meets the description in the NOC
you weren’t qualified to independently practise the trade occupation during this work

Your work experience must be for paid work (paid wages or earned commission). We don’t count volunteer work or unpaid internships.

Job offer or certificate of qualification

You must have a

valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year or
certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or
federal authority

Certificate of qualification

A certificate of qualification proves you’re qualified to work in a certain skilled trade in Canada. This
means you

passed a certification exam
meet all the requirements to practise your trade in the province or territory that issued your certificate

This certificate is issued by

the provincial or territorial body that governs trades in their province or territory, or
a federal authority

Depending on which body or authority issues it, this certificate may be called a “certificate of qualification” or a “qualification certificate.”

To get a certificate, the provincial, territorial or federal authority must assess your training, trade
experience and skills to decide if you’re eligible to write a certification exam.

Get assessed by the province or territory

Each province and territory has its own

certificate of qualification requirements
certification process

You may

have to go to the province or territory to be assessed for your trade
need an employer in Canada to give you experience and training

To learn more about getting assessed, visit the website of the body that governs trades for the province
or territory where you want to live and work:

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan
Yukon

If the province or territory where you plan to live and work doesn’t give certificates of qualification in
your trade,you’ll need a valid job offer in your trade to be eligible for this program.

If your trade is federally regulated

If your trade is not regulated by a province or territory, it may be federally regulated (for example,
airplane mechanics).

Find out who regulates your trade and how to get assessed through the Canadian Information Centre for
International Credentials.

Language ability

You must

take approved language tests for
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
meet the minimum score required
enter the test results in your Express Entry profile

Your language tests

are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result
must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Education

There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

If you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, there are 2 ways you can do this.

1. If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a
Canadian

secondary institution (high school) or
post-secondary institution

2. If you have foreign education, you can get points if you have both of these

a completed educational credential
an educational credential assessment report for immigration purposes that
- is from a designated organization and
- shows your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary institution (high school) or post-secondary institution

Proof of funds

You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada, unless you

are currently able to legally work in Canada and
have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada

Admissibility

You must be admissible to Canada.

Where you can live in Canada

You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled
workers. If you plan on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers for more information.

When you fill out your profile, we’ll ask you where you plan to live in Canada. You don’t have to settle in that province or territory.

If you’re a Provincial Nominee, you must settle in the province or territory that nominated you.

Next steps

get your documents ready
submit your profile