How does the Canadian
Experience Class (CEC) work?
CEC is an educational immigration program to help foreign nationals understand their residency claims. Temporary skilled workers already in Canada can apply for the Canadian Experience Class to get more work experience for better job opportunities. International students studying in a DLI can also register for flexible CEC sessions to begin their permanent residency processing.
Please note that only foreign immigrants in Canada can register.
The Canadian government launched CEC to enlighten foreign immigrants on ways to contribute to the Canadian economy. International students have a structured CEC curriculum that outlines the codes and conducts of a patriotic citizen living in Canada. The curriculum also highlights several jobs and business opportunities for students of various disciplines.
What are the requirements for
qualifying for CEC sessions?
Full-time experience
In Canadian immigration law, workers must be on a payroll for a minimum of 30 hours every week to be categorized as full-time workers. To apply for the Canadian Experience Class, candidates must either be full-time workers or have part-time employment with an equivalent of 30 hours weekly.
Refugee claims
Skilled work experience is also required to qualify for CEC sessions. Applicants must currently be employed under the Skill Level A/B or Skill Type 0 occupations to meet the NOC criteria for recognized employment in Canada. Skilled jobs are positions that require specialized training or some level of education from the applicants. There’s no specified field of study for the skilled work experience requirement when applying for CEC sessions.
Self-employment is not applicable
Self-employed foreign immigrants are not eligible for the Canadian Experience Class program. Persons with documented self-employment skills do not also qualify for the classes. While registering, applicants must present acceptable proof of their previous and current work experience. The proof must explicitly indicate a signed agreement between an employer and the employee to qualify for skilled work.
English or French language requirement
Language fluency is another major requirement needed to qualify foreign nationals under the Canadian Experience Class. Applicants must be proficient in speaking, writing, listening, and reading either French or English languages. The skill level of the acclaimed work experience also determines how proficient the reviewer expects the applicant to be. Candidates would take language tests to verify their fluency in either French or English.
Legal status requirement
Applicants must only present proof of work experience while they worked as temporary resident staff. Before applying for the Canadian Experience Class, applicants must be legal temporary residents. They, however, do not necessarily need to be employed at the time of application. Applicants who have traveled out of Canada in recent years but still meet the above criteria can still apply for the CEC sessions.
Express Entry
Applying through Express Entry is a major requirement for potential candidates interested in sending in the CEC applications. Applicants with credentials of their highest level of education from their home country must have verifiable documentation to show for it.
How to apply for the Canadian Experience
Class
Interested CEC applicants can send in their applications through the online portal affiliated with the Express Entry system. Common-law partners or married couples currently living in Canada can assume the role of a principal applicant for each other. All potential CEC applicants must go through the required medical screenings and present proof of the results while processing their applications.
