Express Entry manages three federal programs. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for skilled workers with Canadian work experience, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) is for skilled workers with foreign or Canadian experience, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) is for people qualified in a skilled trade. The biggest differences are the type and amount of work experience, language minimums, and whether you need a job offer, education or proof of funds.
Minimum requirements side by side
| Requirement | CEC | FSW | FST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of work | Canadian work in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, while authorized to work under temporary resident status | TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, in Canada or abroad, in your primary occupation | A skilled trade in eligible NOC groups (TEER 2 or 3), all in the same NOC |
| Amount and timing | 1 year (1,560 hours) in the 3 years before you apply | 1 year continuous (1,560 hours) within the last 10 years | 2 years full-time (3,120 hours) within the 5 years before you apply |
| Language (all 4 abilities) | CLB/NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1; CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3 | CLB/NCLC 7 | CLB/NCLC 5 speaking and listening; CLB/NCLC 4 reading and writing |
| Education | Not required | Secondary education required (foreign education needs an ECA) | Not required |
| Job offer | Not required | Not required; gives selection-factor points | Required: a valid full-time job offer of at least 1 year, or a Canadian certificate of qualification |
| Proof of funds | Not required | Required, unless you're authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer | Required, unless you're authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer |
| Extra eligibility test | None | Score at least 67 out of 100 on the FSW selection factors | None |
| Where you live | All three: you must plan to live outside Quebec | ||
All three also require approved language test results and that you are admissible to Canada.
Points to watch in each program
Canadian Experience Class
- Work done while studying full-time (including co-op terms), self-employment, volunteer work and unpaid internships don't count. IRCC has a temporary public policy that lets some physicians count self-employed time providing publicly funded medical services.
- Remote work counts only if you were physically in Canada and working for a Canadian employer.
More detail in our CEC guide.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
- The 67-point grid covers language, education, work experience, age, arranged employment and adaptability. These points are separate from CRS points. Try the FSW points calculator.
- IRCC says paid, continuous work gained while studying may count toward the minimum requirement if it meets all the other program requirements.
- See the current settlement-fund amounts on our proof of funds page.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Eligible NOC groups are Major Groups 72 (excluding 726), 73, 82, 83, 92 and 93 (excluding 932), Minor Group 6320 and Unit Group 62200.
- Experience must have been gained where you were qualified to practise the trade, and work done while studying doesn't count.
- A job offer for FST can come from up to 2 employers.
If you qualify for more than one
You don't pick the program. IRCC says the system invites you to the first program you're eligible for, in this order: CEC, then FSW, then FST. Declining an invitation doesn't move you to the next program — if you're invited again, the same order applies.
Job offers after November 3, 2026
From November 3, 2026, IRCC no longer requires an LMIA for a job offer to count for program eligibility. A job offer used for FSW or FST eligibility can be in any eligible TEER 0–3 job that meets program requirements; it doesn't have to be on the high-wage list that CRS job offer points use. See job offer points in 2026.
This table is a summary. Check each program's full criteria on canada.ca before you create a profile.
Sources: IRCC — Express Entry: who can apply, IRCC — Canadian Experience Class, IRCC — Federal Skilled Worker Program, IRCC — Federal Skilled Trades Program, IRCC — Language test requirements, IRCC — Proof of funds, IRCC — Create your profile, IRCC — 2026 changes to job offers.
See the two main programs in a single table: CEC vs FSW, side by side.