Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Requirements
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) needs 12 months (1,560 hours) of skilled Canadian work in NOC TEER 0 to 3 in the past 3 years, gained while authorized to work, plus CLB 7 or CLB 5. No proof of funds is needed. It is an Express Entry program, so your CRS score decides whether you are invited. An officer makes the final decision on every application.
1,560 hours
Of paid skilled work in Canada, within the 3 years before you apply
CLB 7 or CLB 5
In all four language abilities, set by the TEER of the job you rely on
519
CRS cut-off in the latest CEC-only round in the site's tracker, October 15, 2026
About 6 months
IRCC's published processing time for CEC applications, as this site last checked it on November 11, 2026
Cut-offs change from round to round. The Express Entry draw tracker lists every round.
What is the Canadian Experience Class?
The Canadian Experience Class is a permanent-residence pathway for temporary workers who already have skilled work experience in Canada. Alongside the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, it is one of the three programs managed through the Express Entry system. It was built for people who are already contributing to the Canadian economy, such as those working on a post-graduation work permit or another valid work authorization, and who want to stay permanently.
The CEC has no education requirement and no proof of funds requirement. Those two differences set it apart from the Federal Skilled Worker Program, where settlement funds are usually mandatory.
The CEC is the eligibility program. Express Entry is the system that ranks and selects candidates. Meeting the CEC requirements lets you enter the Express Entry pool, but it does not by itself guarantee an invitation.
What work experience counts toward the CEC?
You need at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, which IRCC defines as 1,560 hours total, gained within the 3 years before you apply. Full-time work at one job of 30 hours a week for 12 months equals 1,560 hours, or you can reach it with an equal amount of part-time work. Hours worked beyond 30 a week do not count toward reaching 1,560 hours faster.
The hours that count must be:
- Paid work, meaning you earned wages or commission. Volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count.
- Gained while you were authorized to work in Canada, so undocumented work cannot be used.
- In an occupation classified under NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3.
Two exclusions apply:
- Self-employment does not count, except that a temporary public policy lets some physicians who provided publicly funded medical services in Canada count it.
- Work you gained while you were a full-time student does not count, even if it was a co-op or other authorized work term.
In IRCC’s words, TEER 0 to 3 cover managers and supervisors, and people in jobs that usually need a university degree, a college diploma or apprenticeship training. The duties you actually performed, not just your job title, determine whether the experience qualifies. Check the official NOC code and TEER category for each job you held.
The rule
You need at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, gained within the 3 years before you apply, while you were authorized to work.
What language level does the CEC require?
You must take an approved language test in English or French and meet a minimum level in all four abilities: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The minimum depends on the TEER category of your Canadian work experience.
| Your Canadian work experience | Minimum in each of the four abilities |
|---|---|
| A TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupation | Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 |
| A TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupation | CLB 5 |
These are minimums, not target scores. Your test results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your Express Entry profile and when you apply for permanent residence.
If your experience spans more than one TEER category, IRCC ties the minimum to the TEER of the job you rely on. When your situation is mixed, confirm the requirement against the official IRCC page for the specific occupation and experience you are using.
How does a CEC candidate get invited and apply?
Create an Express Entry profile
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you enter the pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
Wait for a round of invitations
IRCC holds rounds of invitations throughout the year and posts each round’s instructions at the time of the round. In each round, IRCC invites the top-ranked candidates to apply for permanent residence.
Latest CEC-only cut-off: 519
Apply for permanent residence
The Express Entry system asks every applicant for a proof of funds document. A CEC applicant uploads a letter explaining that they were invited under the CEC instead.
About 6 months to process
An officer decides
An officer assesses every application against the rules in force at the time.
CEC candidates can be selected in general rounds, in program-specific rounds, and in category-based rounds when their occupation or attributes match a category the Minister has established for that year.
Express Entry categories, draw types and CRS factors are reviewed and updated by IRCC. Verify the current requirements on the official IRCC website before you act.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- CRS CalculatorYour Express Entry points, factor by factor
- Language ConverterIELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF and TCF to CLB
- Express Entry DrawsEvery round and CRS cutoff, checked against IRCC
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
What is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?
The Canadian Experience Class is one of the three federal programs managed through Express Entry, built for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada and want permanent residence. It has no minimum education requirement and no proof of funds requirement. Meeting its rules lets you enter the Express Entry pool, where your CRS score decides whether you are invited. The Express Entry guide explains the whole system.
How much work experience do I need for the Canadian Experience Class?
You need at least 1 year of skilled work in Canada, which IRCC counts as 1,560 hours, gained in the 3 years before you apply while you were authorized to work. The job must be NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, and the duties you performed decide the TEER, not the job title. Hours above 30 a week do not count faster. The NOC Finder shows the TEER of each job.
What are the Canadian Experience Class language requirements?
You need CLB 7 in speaking, listening, reading and writing if your experience is in a TEER 0 or 1 job, and CLB 5 in each ability for a TEER 2 or 3 job. The test must be an approved English or French test, and the results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply. The Language Test Converter turns test scores into CLB levels.
Do I need proof of funds for the Canadian Experience Class?
No. IRCC's proof of funds page lists the CEC as exempt. The system still asks every applicant for a proof of funds document, so a CEC applicant uploads a letter explaining the CEC invitation instead. The Federal Skilled Worker Program, by contrast, usually does require settlement funds unless you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. Confirm the rules of the program you are invited under before you apply. The Proof of Funds Calculator shows the FSW amounts.
Does work as a full-time student or self-employed person count toward the CEC?
In most cases, no. Work you did while you were a full-time student is excluded, even with a valid work permit or as part of a co-op term. Self-employment is excluded too, except that a temporary public policy lets some physicians who provided publicly funded medical services in Canada count it. The qualifying hours must be paid work, for wages or commission, done while you were authorized to work in Canada, and volunteer work or unpaid internships do not count. The Study Permit to PR guide covers the student route.
How do Canadian Experience Class draws work?
IRCC invites the top-ranked candidates in rounds held throughout the year, and posts each round's instructions at the time of the round. CEC candidates can be invited in general rounds, in CEC-only rounds and in category-based rounds. The latest CEC-only round in the site's tracker was on October 15, 2026: 2,500 invitations, with a CRS cut-off of 519. The Express Entry draw tracker lists every round with its cut-off.
Is there a Canadian Experience Class points calculator?
The CEC has no points test of its own: you either meet its minimum rules or you do not. Once you are in the Express Entry pool, IRCC ranks you with the Comprehensive Ranking System, scored out of 1,270 points for factors such as age, education, language and labour market integration. That last factor counts your Canadian work experience, with extra points for at least 12 months in a high-wage occupation, or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, whichever gives more, never both. Since November 3, 2026, a job offer outside IRCC's high-wage list adds no CRS points. The CRS Calculator works out your score from IRCC's grid.
What is the Canadian Experience Class processing time?
IRCC's published processing time for CEC applications was about 6 months when this site last checked it, on November 11, 2026. The clock covers the permanent residence application you submit after an invitation, not the time you wait in the pool before one. Times move with IRCC's workload, so check the current figure before you plan a move or a work permit renewal. The Processing Times page tracks IRCC's published figures for every program.
Part of:Immigrating permanentlyExpress Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): The 67-Point Grid
- Proof of Funds for Express Entry
- Canada Express Entry 2026: Latest Changes
The textbook on this subject
Volume 2: Immigrating to Canada $79
The economic and family pathways to permanent residence, explained from the published criteria.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.