Maple News reports that if you’re considering applying through Canada’s Express Entry system, your work experience must meet specific eligibility criteria to qualify. The most critical factor is whether your job is categorized as ‘skilled’ under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) framework.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) currently uses the 2016 version of the NOC system to assess an applicant’s work experience. This classification evaluates the level of education and training typically required for specific occupations. The higher the educational and skill demands of the job, the more likely it is to be considered skilled.
For Express Entry purposes, only occupations under NOC Skill Type 0 (management), Skill Level A (professional), and Skill Level B (technical and skilled trades) qualify as ‘skilled work experience.’ Jobs in Skill Levels C and D, which typically require minimal training or only on-the-job instruction, do not count toward Express Entry eligibility.
To be eligible for one of the three Express Entry-managed programs, candidates must demonstrate at least one year of continuous, paid, full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work within the last 10 years. IRCC defines full-time as 30 hours per week, totaling 1,560 hours annually. While you can accumulate this through part-time roles, IRCC does not count hours beyond the 30-hour weekly limit, and unpaid work such as internships or volunteer roles is also excluded.
For those applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)—one of the streams within Express Entry—you must not only meet the one-year work experience criteria but also score a minimum of 67 out of 100 points on a selection grid. These points are awarded based on factors such as education, language ability, age, and adaptability. Work experience alone can provide up to 15 points on this scale.
Applicants need to ensure that the job duties listed in their immigration application closely align with the NOC’s description of their claimed occupation. This alignment influences whether IRCC will consider the experience skilled and relevant.
According to Maple News, Express Entry remains one of Canada’s fastest and most popular immigration pathways, but knowing how your work experience fits within the NOC skill structure is crucial. As IRCC continues to adapt its immigration policies to meet labor market needs, ensuring your occupation qualifies can mean the difference between eligibility and rejection.