Federal Skilled Trades

Forge Your Future: The Federal Skilled Trades Program

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Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), one of the three programs under Canada’s Express Entry system, is designed for skilled tradespeople who want to become permanent residents based on their qualifications and work experience in a skilled trade.

who is eligible For Federal skilled trades

Below are the minimum requirements to be eligible for FST under Express Entry. Once eligible, you enter the Express Entry pool under FST, where the CRS ranks your profile, and the highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence.

Skilled Work Experience

You must have at least 2 years of paid (full-time or an equal amount of part-time) work experience in a skilled trade within the past 5 years and meet the job requirements outlined in the NOC for that trade.

Job offer or COQ

You must have either a valid job offer for full-time employment lasting at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification (COQ) in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority.

Language Ability

You must have taken an approved language test in English or French within the last 2 years. For English, you need a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5, which equals a CELPIP score of 5 or an IELTS score of 5 in all sections.

Proof of Funds

You must have enough funds to support yourself and your family while settling in Canada, unless you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer and are legally authorized to work in Canada.

Admissibility

You must be admissible to Canada, as some individuals may be deemed "inadmissible" under Canadian immigration law. Reasons for inadmissibility can include security concerns, criminal activity, or medical issues.

Live outside Quebec

You must plan to reside outside of Quebec, as the province has its own process for selecting skilled workers. If you intend to live in Quebec, please refer to information specific to Quebec-selected skilled workers.

Express Entry Made Easy

At Cantrust Visa, we make Express Entry easy with our completely Free Assessment. If Express Entry is an option for you, we’ll create and submit your profile for free, and you only pay if you receive an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence. If Express Entry isn’t a viable option right now, we’ll provide free guidance on improving your profile and suggest other Canadian immigration pathways that might be a better fit for you.

federal skilled trades FAQs

What is considered Skilled trades work experience?

Skilled trades work experience must meet the job requirements set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). You need to show that you performed the actions in the lead statement of the NOC description and most of the main duties listed. The experience must be paid, either through wages or commission, as volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count. Additionally, your work experience only counts if you were qualified to practice that trade where you gained the experience. If you were qualified in one country but worked in another with different rules, you must have met the requirements to practice there independently.

What NOC groups are included under Skilled trades?

Your work experience must be in one of the following NOC groups to qualify as skilled trades:

Major Group 72: Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers (excluding Sub-Major Group 726)
Major Group 73: General trades
Major Group 82: Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture, and related production
Major Group 83: Occupations in natural resources and related production
Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing, and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
Major Group 93: Central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors (excluding Sub-Major Group 932)
Minor Group 6320: Cooks, butchers, and bakers
Unit Group 62200: Chefs

How do they calculate my work experience for FST?

To qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program, your work experience must total at least 2 years of work (full-time or the equivalent part-time) or 3,120 hours within the last 5 years. This can be achieved in several ways:

Full-time at 1 job: 30 hours per week for 24 months, totaling 3,120 hours.
Equal amount in part-time work: For example, 15 hours per week for 48 months, totaling 3,120 hours.
Full-time at more than 1 job: 30 hours per week for 24 months across multiple jobs, totaling 3,120 hours.

You can combine hours from multiple part-time jobs to meet this requirement.

Is there an Education requirement for FST?

There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. However, to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, you can earn additional points if you have a certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution, or if you have foreign education with a completed credential and an educational credential assessment report confirming its equivalence to a Canadian qualification.

What is a certificate of qualification (COQ)?

A Certificate of Qualification (COQ) proves you’re qualified to work in a certain skilled trade in Canada. This means you have passed a certification exam and meet all the requirements to practice your trade in the Canadian province or territory that issued your certificate. This certificate is issued by the provincial or territorial body that governs trades in their province or territory, or by a federal authority. Depending on the issuing body or authority, this certificate may be called a “certificate of qualification” or a “qualification certificate.”

How to get assessed in your province or territory?

o get assessed in your province or territory, follow these steps:

Get assessed by the province or territory: Each province and territory in Canada has its own certificate of qualification requirements and certification process.
Assessment Requirements:
- You may need to go to the province or territory to be assessed for your trade.
- You might require an employer in Canada to provide you with experience and training.
Learn More: To learn more about getting assessed, visit the website of the body that governs trades for the province or territory where you want to live and work. Here are the links for each region:

If the province or territory where you plan to live and work doesn’t issue certificates of qualification for your trade, you’ll need a valid job offer in your trade to be eligible for this program.

How to get assessed if your trade is federally regulated?

To get assessed if your trade is federally regulated, follow these steps:

Identify the Regulating Authority: If your trade is not regulated by a province or territory, it may be federally regulated (for example, airplane mechanics).
Find the Regulator: Determine who regulates your trade and how to get assessed through the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials.

By visiting the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials, you can obtain detailed information on the regulatory body responsible for your trade and the assessment process you need to follow.

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