Canadian Experience Class

Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class

1. Work experience

   CEC: one year of skilled Canadian work in the 3 years before applying

   At least 1 year of full-time work (30 hours/week) or 1,560 hours total of equivalent part-time work in Canada, from one or more jobs, within the 3 years before the application, in one or more TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations (not restricted occupations), gained while authorized to work under temporary resident status (work in Quebec counts). The applicant must have performed the NOC lead statement and a substantial number of the main duties including all essential duties, and been paid wages or commission. Remote work counts only if the applicant was physically in Canada working for a Canadian employer. There is no education requirement, no proof-of-funds requirement and no job-offer requirement for CEC.

   Express Entry: Canadian Experience ClassChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-CEC-001
2. Work experience

   CEC: work that does not count

   Excluded from CEC work experience: self-employment (some foreign national physicians may count self-employed time under a temporary public policy for publicly funded medical services in Canada); any period of work while engaged in full-time study, including co-op work terms; volunteer work and unpaid internships; and unauthorized work or work done without temporary resident status (IRPR 87.1(3)).

   Express Entry: Canadian Experience ClassChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-CEC-002
3. Language

   CEC language minimum depends on the TEER of the Canadian occupation

   Approved test results less than 2 years old meeting, in all four abilities: CLB/NCLC 7 if the Canadian experience is in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation; CLB/NCLC 5 if in a TEER 2 or 3 occupation. If the qualifying experience is in more than one occupation, the threshold of the occupation with the greater amount of experience in the 3-year period applies (IRPR 87.1(2)(e)).

   Express Entry: Language test resultsChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-CEC-003