Can Student Work Experience Count Towards Express Entry Requirements?

Express Entry is Canada's primary system for managing applications for permanent residence (PR). It encompasses three programs, each with specific requirements regarding work experience. This article explores whether student work experience can be counted towards these requirements and how it impacts the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Understanding Express Entry Programs

All three Express Entry programs require candidates to have eligible pre-existing work experience. Below, we provide an overview of which programs allow employment experience gained as a student to fulfill their work experience requirement.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) allows candidates to use work experience gained while studying, both in Canada and internationally, towards meeting its minimum requirements if the following conditions are met:

• The work was paid (wages or commission).
• Employment was continuous with no gaps.
• The work aligns with all other program requirements.

Additionally, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recognizes co-op programs and apprenticeships as valid forms of student work experience, provided they meet the above criteria.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

For the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), student work experience is not eligible. This means that work experience gained while studying, either in Canada or abroad, cannot be used to meet the minimum requirements for this program.

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Similar to the CEC, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) does not count student work experience towards its minimum requirements.

Impact of Student Work Experience on CRS Scores

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is crucial in the Express Entry process, as it ranks candidates' profiles and determines who receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR. IRCC clarifies that:

• Canadian work experience gained while the candidate is a full-time student does not contribute to their CRS score.
• Work experience obtained during full-time studies abroad does count towards the CRS score.
  
  

Minimum Requirements for Express Entry Programs

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

• Skilled Work Experience: At least one year of paid, full-time or equivalent part-time, continuous, skilled employment under the same National Occupation Classification (NOC) code. The work must fall under TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3 categories.
• Language Ability: Minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 7 in French for all four abilities – reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
• Education: A certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian institution or a completed foreign educational credential with a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
  
  

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• Skilled Work Experience: At least one year of paid, full-time or equivalent part-time, skilled work experience in Canada over the three years preceding the application. The work must be in TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3 categories.
• Language Ability: Varies by NOC. TEER 0 and TEER 1 require CLB/NCLC 7 for all abilities. TEER 2 and TEER 3 require CLB/NCLC 5 for all abilities.
• Education: No minimum requirement, but a completed Canadian or foreign education with an ECA can improve CRS scores.
  
  

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

• Skilled Work Experience: At least two years of skilled work experience in eligible NOC groups over the five years preceding the application.
• Language Ability: Minimum CLB 5 for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 for reading and writing.
• Job Offer or Certificate of Qualification: Candidates must have either a full-time job offer for at least one year or a certificate of qualification in their skilled trade from a Canadian authority.
  
  

Conclusion

Understanding how student work experience factors into the Express Entry system is vital for candidates planning their pathway to permanent residence in Canada. While the FSWP allows for student work experience under specific conditions, the CEC and FSTP do not. Additionally, CRS scores are influenced differently based on whether the work experience was gained in Canada or abroad. For more detailed information on CRS scores and improving your score, follow the provided links.