The Canadian Experience Class can be a strong permanent residence route for people with qualifying work in Canada. The details—authorization, NOC duties, dates, hours and language—determine whether the experience counts.
CEC minimum requirements in plain language
IRCC requires at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada—or 1,560 hours—in the three years before you apply. The work must have been authorized and fall within TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification. You may combine more than one qualifying job, including part-time work, but IRCC does not let extra weekly hours shorten the required period.
You must also meet the language level that corresponds to the job’s TEER: CLB or NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1, and CLB or NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3. You must plan to live outside Quebec.
Work that may—and may not—count
Paid work completed while authorized is central. Self-employment and work gained while you were a full-time student generally do not count toward the CEC minimum. There is a limited public-policy exception for certain physicians. Remote work, periods of leave, status changes and overlapping jobs may need closer review.
Free CEC evidence checklist
- Passport and Canadian status documents covering the work period.
- Employer reference letters with dates, hours, salary, title and detailed duties.
- Pay statements, T4 slips and notices of assessment where available.
- Employment contracts and records of changes in role or hours.
- Approved language-test results that remain valid.
- NOC analysis based on lead statement and main duties.
- Travel and address history that matches the dates claimed.
Your NOC is an evidence question
A strong employment letter does more than state your title. It should describe the work you actually performed. The duties should substantially match the NOC lead statement and main duties without copying text that the employer cannot genuinely confirm. Contradictions between the letter, payroll records, résumé and online profile can create credibility concerns.
Eligibility is different from receiving an invitation
Meeting CEC requirements lets a profile enter the pool under that program; it does not guarantee an invitation. CRS ranking, draw type and the facts in your profile still matter. Category-based rounds may also be relevant depending on French results, occupation or Canadian experience.
What to do before creating or updating a profile
Build a month-by-month work timeline and calculate qualifying hours conservatively. Compare duties to the NOC, check status authorization, and confirm language-result validity. Use the Canroad CRS calculator for a preliminary ranking estimate, then review any uncertain facts before relying on them.
Official sources
Use these government pages to confirm the rules in effect when you apply.
This free guide is educational and does not determine eligibility, predict an invitation or approval, or replace advice based on your complete facts. Immigration requirements and procedures can change without notice.