Express Entry
Federal Skilled Trades
Eligibility rules, 3,120-hour experience test, job-offer vs. certificate pathway, proof-of-funds, language minimums and pro tips to boost your Express Entry rank as a tradesperson.
Canada’s Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) offers experienced tradespeople - builders, welders, machinists, cooks, bakers, aircraft-control operators and more - a dedicated Express Entry route to permanent residence. To qualify you need two full years of paid work (3,120 hours) in a single eligible NOC trade within the last five years, CLB 5 in speaking & listening and CLB 4 in reading & writing, and either a valid one-year Canadian job offer (up to two employers) or a provincial/territorial or federal certificate of qualification.
Below you’ll find every official rule, hour-count hack, licensing link, proof-of-funds chart and CRS booster, with live IRCC citations.
1. Eligible Skilled-Trade Sectors
IRCC groups trades under hands-on sectors such as construction, transportation, manufacturing and industrial, natural resources and agriculture.
1.1 NOC groups that qualify
- Major Groups 72, 73, 82, 83, 92, 93 - excluding Sub-Major Group 726 (transportation officers/controllers) and Sub-Major Group 932 (aircraft assemblers/inspectors)
- Minor Group 6320 - cooks, butchers and bakers
- Unit Group 62200 - chefs
2. Two-Year Skilled-Trades Work Requirement
Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
Same NOC trade | All hours in one eligible trade |
Recency | Worked within last 5 years. |
Hours | 3,120 paid hours = 30 hrs/wk × 24 mos |
Duties | Perform lead statement + most main duties |
Paid | Wages/commission only; volunteer/unpaid excluded |
Qualified where worked | You must have been legally authorized to practise the trade in that country |
Counting hours:
- Full-time single job → 30 hrs/wk × 24 mos
- Part-time mix → 15 hrs/wk × 48 mos
- Multiple employers → 30 hrs/wk across ≥ 2 jobs for 24 mos
Hours above 30 per week are ignored when IRCC tallies the 3 120-hour minimum.
Student work doesn’t count; experience must be earned after full-time studies.
3. Choose Your Pathway: Job Offer vs Certificate
Option | Key Points |
|---|---|
Valid job offer | Full-time, non-seasonal, TEER 2-3 or 0-1 trade, min 1-year duration. |
Certificate of qualification | Issued by a provincial/territorial trade authority or a federal regulator (e.g., Transport Canada for aircraft mechanics) |
If your chosen province doesn’t issue certificates in your trade, you must secure a qualifying job offer instead.
4. Language Minimums
Skill | Minimum | IELTS (GT) | CELPIP-G | PTE Core | TEF Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Listening & Speaking | CLB 5 / NCLC 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 45 | TEF B2 (≥ 5) |
Reading & Writing | CLB 4 / NCLC 4 | 3.5 (R) / 4.0 (W) | 4 | 32 | TEF B1-B2 (≥ 4) |
Tests must be < 2 years old on the day you submit your e-APR.
IRCC began accepting PTE Core for Express Entry in January 2024.
5 Education (Optional CRS Points)
No credential is required for FSTP eligibility.
You can still raise your CRS by uploading:
1. A Canadian trade/college credential, or
2. An ECA for a foreign diploma/degree (WES, IQAS, CES, ICAS, ICES, MCC, PEBC).
6. Proof of Funds
Unless you (a) are currently authorised to work in Canada and (b) hold a valid job offer, you must show liquid funds that meet IRCC’s annually indexed table - last updated July 2024; profiles must reflect the new amounts by 28 July 2025.
7. Admissibility & Settlement
- Pass medical, criminal and security checks
- Plan to live outside Quebec (Quebec has its own trades)
- If nominated by a province, you must settle in that province.
8. Pro Tips to Boost CRS in 2025
1. Secure a Provincial Nomination (+600 CRS) but be ready to reside there.
2. Gain Canadian work experience first - up to +210 CRS for one year of TEER 0-3 employment.
3. Spousal points: partner’s CLB 5 adds +20 CRS and +5 adaptability.
4. Bundle part-time gigs carefully; never claim >30 hrs in any week.
5. Book PTE Core - often faster test dates than IELTS/CELPIP, same IRCC acceptance.
Ready to put your skills to work in Canada? Finish your 3 120 hours, pass the trade exam or lock in that job offer, hit the CLB 5/4 targets, and the FSTP could put a maple-leaf stamp on your toolkit in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do volunteer hours count?
No - only paid work.
Can I switch NOCs?
All 3,120 hours must be in one NOC trade.
Is Red Seal mandatory?
Only if the province issues that certificate for your trade; otherwise job offer route.
Max part-time hours weekly?
Anything above 30/wk is ignored.
Language expiry?
Tests must be < 24 months old at e-APR submission.