Express Entry Eligibility Checker
Evaluate your preliminary eligibility across Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) simultaneously.
Check Your Express Entry Program Eligibility
Adjust your work experience, NOC TEER category, language benchmarks, and education below to see which federal Express Entry programs you qualify for.
Skilled Trade (FST) Specific Options:
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Potentially Eligible- Primary occupation is in eligible TEER 1.
- Has 1+ year(s) of qualifying paid Canadian work experience (excluding student co-op and self-employment).
- Meets the minimum CLB/NCLC 7 language threshold for TEER 1 across all 4 abilities (lowest ability: CLB 7).
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Potentially Eligible- Has 2+ year(s) of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in the last 10 years.
- Meets FSW minimum language threshold of CLB/NCLC 7 across all 4 abilities (lowest ability: CLB 7).
- Meets FSW educational credential requirement.
- Estimated FSW Selection Grid score is 72/100 (meets the 67-point pass mark).
Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Does Not Meet Selected Criteria- Requires at least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in an eligible skilled trade occupation within the last 5 years.
- Requires either a Canadian provincial/territorial Certificate of Qualification or a valid full-time job offer of at least 1 year in the skilled trade.
Compare Express Entry Programs
| Requirement | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) | Federal Skilled Trades (FST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Work Experience | 1 yr skilled Canadian work in last 3 yrs (TEER 0–3) | 1 yr continuous skilled work in last 10 yrs (TEER 0–3) | 2 yrs skilled trade work in last 5 yrs |
| Minimum Language Benchmark | CLB 7 (TEER 0/1) or CLB 5 (TEER 2/3) | CLB 7 in all 4 abilities | CLB 5 Speaking/Listening & CLB 4 Reading/Writing |
| Minimum Education | Not required for pool entry (needed for CRS points) | Secondary diploma or higher (with ECA if foreign) | Not required for pool entry (needed for CRS points) |
| 67/100 Selection Grid | Not applicable | Required (Minimum 67 / 100) | Not applicable |
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Requirements
CEC is designed for temporary foreign workers and international graduates with at least 12 months (1,560 hours) of authorized, paid TEER 0–3 work experience in Canada within the last 36 months. Work performed while studying full-time or self-employed does not count toward the CEC minimum.
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Requirements
FSW requires 1 year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work in a single primary TEER 0–3 occupation within the past 10 years, minimum CLB 7 in all four abilities, a secondary or post-secondary credential, and at least 67 / 100 on the FSW 67 Points Grid.
Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Requirements
FST requires at least 2 years of full-time work experience in an eligible skilled trade within the 5 years before applying, CLB 5 in Speaking/Listening and CLB 4 in Reading/Writing, plus either a Canadian Certificate of Qualification or a qualifying 1-year full-time trade job offer.
Express Entry Eligibility vs CRS Score
Qualifying for CEC, FSW, or FST allows you to submit an Express Entry profile. Once in the pool, all eligible candidates are ranked together on the 1,270-point CRS scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to qualify for all three Express Entry programs?
No. You only need to meet the minimum requirements of at least one federal Express Entry program—Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), or Federal Skilled Trades (FST)—to submit an Express Entry profile.
Does Canadian work experience gained while on a study permit count for CEC?
No. Work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as co-op terms or on/off-campus student work) and self-employed work in Canada do not count toward the 1-year CEC minimum requirement or CRS Canadian work points.
Does CEC require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) or proof of settlement funds?
CEC does not have a mandatory minimum education requirement or proof of settlement funds requirement for program eligibility. However, you still need a Canadian credential or an ECA for a foreign credential if you want to claim CRS Education and Skill Transferability points.
What are the minimum language requirements for CEC vs FSW vs FST?
CEC requires CLB 7 for TEER 0/1 occupations and CLB 5 for TEER 2/3 occupations. FSW requires CLB 7 in all four abilities regardless of TEER. FST requires CLB 5 in Speaking and Listening and CLB 4 in Reading and Writing.
Can I qualify for Express Entry if I intend to live in Quebec?
All three federal Express Entry programs require that you intend to reside in a Canadian province or territory outside Quebec. Quebec operates its own skilled worker selection system.