What is skilled work experience?

When it comes to Canada’s immigration system, more than 60 options are available for foreign nationals to become permanent residents there. However, the majority of candidates immigrate to Canada only through its economic immigration programs.

Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trade Class, Canadian Experience Class, and Quebec Skilled Worker Class are some of the economic immigration programs. These programs refer to those which directly contribute to the growth and expansion of the economy of the country. They are introduced to target only experienced internationals whose skills are in demand by Canadian employers.

Each of them has separate eligibility requirements to meet the shortage of labor in multiple sectors or industries in Canada. Among other requirements, the criterion of Canada’s economic immigration categories includes the skilled work experience to enhance the quality of immigration influx. 

The following is the table for skilled work experience required by different immigration categories

Eligibility Criteria	FSWC	FSTC	CEC	QSWP
Work experience	An applicant must have one year of work experience within the last ten years either combination of full-time or part-time work	An applicant must have two year of work experience within the last five years either combination of full-time or part-time work	An applicant must have one year of work experience within the last three years either combination of full-time or part-time work	An applicant must have six months of work experience either combination of full-time or part-time work

Characteristics of skilled work experience for Canada immigration:

The work experience must be for any NOC listed skilled type 0, A or B

NOC stands for National occupational classification and it is a nationally recognized system which provides job description to its every occupation and classifies them into different categories including,

Skill Type 0 (zero): These jobs are management jobs, like:

• restaurant managers
• mine managers
• shore captains (fishing)

Skill Level A: professional jobs that usually call for a degree from a university, like:

• doctors
• dentists
• architects

Skill Level B: The category includes technical jobs and skilled trades that usually call for a college diploma or training as an apprentice, like:

• chefs
• plumbers
• electricians

The work experience must be either full-time or equivalent part-time

The standard duration of working hours for one-year work experience in Canada is 1560 hours. It means that if an applicant is showing 1-year skilled work experience for PR through economic categories, then he/she must complete 1560 hours in a full-time, or part-time job

• For full-time, an applicant needs to work 30 hours per week for 12 months in one paid job to fulfill 1560 hours; or, an applicant needs to work 30 hours per week in more than one job for 12 months
• For a part-time job, an applicant needs to work for 15 hours per week for 24 months

The work experience must be paid

Non-paid employment must not qualify for skilled work experience under any of its economic immigration programs.

Based on the work experience, all applicants are awarded the CRS score. In the 67-point table for FSWC, the maximum number of points for work experience is 15 point, which has the following distribution

work experience	points
less than 1 year	0
1 year	9
2-3 years	11
4-5 years	13
6 or more years	15

In the Comprehensive Ranking System, the maximum points for work experience are 80 (without a spouse) and 70 (with a spouse).

Work experience (in years)	Points awarded with spouse/common-law partner	Points awarded without spouse/common-law partner
less than a year	0	0
1	35	40
2	46	53
3	56	64
4	63	72
5 or more	70	80

Documents to prove work experience:

A reference or experience letter printed on company letterhead from the employer to prove the work experience detailed. It must enlist the following particulars including,

• Name of the applicant
• Company’s name, and its contact information
• Name, title and signature of the immediate supervisor or personnel officer at the company
• Indicate all positions or job titles of the applicant in the company throughout his/her journey there
• Job status (working/relieved)
• List of duties and responsibilities in the company
• Information on annual salary plus benefits
• The time duration for which he/she worked in the company including the number of work hours per week 

For self-employed individuals

• Evidence of self-employment income
• Articles of incorporation or supporting documents of business ownership,
• Documentation or payment receipts from third-party individuals indicating the service provided by an applicant

For work experience in Canada

• Copies of T4 tax information slips
• Notices of assessment issued by Canada Revenue Agency providing complete information on work experience timeframe  

For further information, feel free to contact experts of countrywide visas. Countrywide visas is one of the fastest growing Immigration consultancies with a large, a devoted team of Canada Immigration experts offer hassle-free and professional services to its clients for filing their applications for various immigration programs.

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