As of March 25, 2025, Express Entry candidates no longer receive points for a valid job offer, making Canadian work experience the primary factor in the Comprehensive Ranking System. This change, part of IRCC’s ongoing adjustment of selection criteria, means that for most economic immigrants, the fastest way to improve a CRS score is through qualifying Canadian skilled work.
Applying through the Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is the primary program for workers who have already spent time in the Canadian labour market. To qualify, you need at least 12 months of full-time skilled work experience in Canada (or the equivalent in part-time) within the past three years. That experience must be in an occupation classified as TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 under the current National Occupational Classification.
At a glance
Canadian work history is a primary method for increasing your immigration profile strength and developing a clear pathway to permanent residency.
- Skilled Canadian work experience accumulates points for systems like Express Entry.
- Documentation requires contracts, payroll slips, and HR letters for proof.
- Targeted programs, like PNPs, actively favor established local work ties.
- Prioritizing high-demand skills (IT, healthcare) improves job market prospects.
- Formal credential assessment verifies foreign qualifications for Canadian use.
IRCC counts hours, not months. You need a total of 1,560 hours, earned through one or more jobs. Full-time is defined as 30 hours per week for 12 months—anything over 30 hours in a single week is capped and does not accelerate your eligibility. Part-time work at 15 hours per week over 24 months also meets the requirement. Multiple part-time jobs can be combined, but hours cannot overlap: if you work two jobs simultaneously, only 30 hours per week count.
Two categories of work are categorically excluded. Self-employment does not count, even if you were incorporated and paying yourself a salary. Work performed while you were a full-time student—including co-op placements—is also excluded. However, there is a narrow temporary public policy for physicians: foreign national doctors who provided publicly funded medical services on a fee-for-service basis after April 25, 2023 can count that work as Canadian experience, provided they do not check the “Self-employed work” box in their profile.
How Canadian work experience boosts your CRS score
Even if you are not pursuing CEC specifically, any Canadian skilled work feeds directly into your CRS score. Under the current CRS criteria, points for Canadian work experience accumulate as follows: one year gives 40 points (without spouse) or 35 (with spouse); two years, 53 or 46; three years, 64 or 56; four years, 72 or 63; five years or more, 80 or 70. These numbers now dominate the human capital and skill transferability sections after the removal of arranged employment points.
There is no education requirement for CEC, but you can boost your score further by presenting a Canadian educational credential or a foreign credential assessed by a designated organization. As we detailed in our breakdown of language score impacts, every point matters, and combining strong English or French results with solid Canadian experience often makes the difference between an invitation and remaining in the pool.
Common errors when reporting work history
The most frequent mistake is including ineligible experience—self-employment or student job hours—in the Canadian work history section. IRCC officers cross-check records, and a misrepresentation finding can lead to a five-year ban.
Another persistent issue arises around timing. Work experience gained after you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) does not increase your CRS score, but you still must list it completely and truthfully in your application. Gaps in your personal history that coincide with periods of authorized work often trigger additional document requests. Get your employment letters right: they must include the start date, end date, hours per week, duties, salary, and company letterhead. A job title alone is not enough—the duties must align with the lead statement of the NOC code you select.
Bridging the gap: maintaining status while waiting
Many candidates accumulate their qualifying experience on an employer-specific work permit or a Post-Graduation Work Permit. If that permit is about to expire after you receive an ITA, you can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). The BOWP lets you continue working while your permanent residence application is processed, preserving the continuity of your employment and your income.
Be aware that the BOWP application requires you to have submitted a complete permanent residence application, not just to have received an ITA. Missing this window means you either must stop working or leave Canada if no other permit is available. Plan the timing of your work history accumulation and application submission to avoid a status gap.
Canadian work experience remains the most controllable factor for Express Entry success after the removal of job offer points. Accurately documenting your experience and applying for a BOWP when needed will help you move through the process without delays.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
