Canada Experience Class PR program is one of the three famous programs of Express Entry. The CEC stream helps those who have Canadian work experience and want to settle permanently in Canada. Certain language abilities, educational requirements, and admissibility in Canada are the main factors that can help you get PR through this program.
Eligibility criteria for CEC
The following are the major requirements for the CEC program:
- Canadian work experience
- Language proficiency
- Your education
- Your settlement location in Canada
- Admissibility
1- Profesional work experience
You will need a minimum of 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada in the last 3 years before you apply. The work experience must have been gained for a job that comes under the “Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities” (TEER) 0,1, or 3 categories. You should also show that you performed:
- the actions in the lead statement of the occupational description in NOC;
- most of the main duties listed.
The work experience must be full-time or an equal amount in part-time. Furthermore, obtained work experience should be by working in Canada while under temporary resident status with legal permission. The one-year work experience can be calculated as follows:
- full-time at 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full-time (1,560 hours);
- equal amount in part-time work: for example 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1-year full-time (1,560 hours). The part-time jobs could be more than 2 or 3;
- full-time work at more than 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1-year full-time (1,560 hours).
2- Language proficiency
Different language proficiency levels are required against different NOC job levels. You must prove your language proficiency in all 4 skills, reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The required score levels are as follows:
- CLB 7 for NOC job 0 or A.
- CLB 5 for NOC job B.
You have to obtain at least a score of Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for speaking and listening and Canadian Language Benchmark 4 for reading and writing.
What are the approved tests?
There are certain tests for showing English language proficiency. For the English language, it is (both in General format):
- CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
- IELTS: Internationa English Language Testing System
For French approved tests are:
- TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
- TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
How the test results are compared with CLB levels?
a) English language proficiency
(i) IELTS: Internationa English Language Testing System
| CLB Level | Ability: Speaking | Ability: Listening | Ability: Reading | Ability: Writing | Points per ability |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 – 7.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4 (total 16) |
| 8 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5 (total 20) |
| 9 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6 (total 24) |
| 10 and above | 7.5 – 9.0 | 8.5 – 9.0 | 8.0 – 9.0 | 7.5 – 9.0 | 6 (total 24) |
| CLB Level | Ability: Speaking | Ability: Listening | Ability: Reading | Ability: Writing | Points (total) |
| 5 and above | 5.0 – 9.0 | 5.0 – 9.0 | 4.0 – 9.0 | 5.0 – 9.0 | 4 |
ii- CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
| CLB Level | Ability: Speaking | Ability: Listening | Ability: Reading | Ability: Writing | Points per ability |
| 7CELPIP-G | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 5 (total 16) |
| 8CELPIP-G | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 5 (total 20) |
| 9CELPIP-G | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 (total 24) |
| 10 and aboveCELPIP-G | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ | 6 (total 24) |
| CLB Level | Ability: Speaking | Ability: Listening | Ability: Reading | Ability: Writing | Points (total) |
| 5 and above | 5 – 12 | 5 – 12 | 5 – 12 | 5 – 12 | 4 |
b) French Language proficiency (i) TEF (Test d’évaluation de français)
| NCLC Level | Ability: Speaking (expression orale) | Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’oral) | Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) | Ability: Writing (expression écrite) | Points (per ability) |
| 7 | 310 – 348 | 249 – 279 | 207 – 232 | 310 – 348 | 4 |
| 8 | 349 – 370 | 280 – 297 | 233 – 247 | 349 – 370 | 5 |
| 9 and above | 371+ | 298+ | 248+ | 371+ | 6 |
| NCLC Level | Ability: Speaking (expression orale) | Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’oral) | Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) | Ability: Writing (expression écrite) | Points (total) |
| 5 and above | 226 – 371+ | 181 – 298+ | 151 – 248+ | 226 – 371+ | 4 |
(ii) TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
| NCLC Level | Ability: Speaking (expression orale) | Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’oral) | Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) | Ability: Writing (expression écrite) | Points (per ability) |
| 7 | 10 – 11 | 458 – 502 | 453 – 498 | 10 – 11 | 4 |
| 8 | 12 – 13 | 503 – 522 | 499 – 523 | 12 – 13 | 5 |
| 9 and above | 14+ | 523+ | 524+ | 14+ | 6 |
| NCLC Level | Ability: Speaking (expression orale) | Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’oral) | Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) | Ability: Writing (expression écrite) | Points (total) |
| 5 and above | 6+ | 369 – 397+ | 375 – 405+ | 6+ | 4 |
3- Educational qualification
You are exempt from the educational requirements for this PR program. But in general, the professional work experience required at NOC level 0, A, or B level jobs always required a certain qualification. In case you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry Pool, you can claim the following two points:
- If you went to school in Canada, you can earn points for a certificate, diploma, or degree from a Secondary school (high school) or Post Secondary Institution.
- If you have foreign education, you can earn points for a full academic certificate, diploma, or degree. An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report will be required and that confirms that you have the above-mentioned schooling levels.
What is an ECA report?
The “Educational Credential Assessment” report evaluates your overseas degree, diploma, or certificates (or any other proof of your credentials) legitimacy and its equivalency to Canadian education levels.
4- Where can you live in Canada?
You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its skilled workers through its immigration program. At the time of submitting your profile, you will choose the destination of your choice in Canada.
5- Admissibility in Canada
Some people are not allowed to come to Canada. They are “unacceptable” under Canadian immigration law. The Canadian Immigration Officer will determine if you can enter Canada when you apply for a visa or PR. There are various motives why you may now not be allowed to enter or further stay in Canada, such as security, criminal, or medical reasons.
Generally, if you are no longer admissible in Canada, you will not be allowed to enter or further stay in the country. You may be issued a temporary residence permit if you have an appropriate purpose to further stay in Canada which is justified under special circumstances only. If you have been convicted or convicted of a crime, you have some choices to remove the criminal disability.
Who is ineligible for the CEC program?
You are not allowed to apply for this PR program if:
- Your job is unauthorized;
- You have obtained working experience without a temporary resident status; and or
- You are an asylum claimant in Canada.