To qualify for the skills trade programme, you must meet the minimum requirements:

• plan to live outside the province of Quebec (Note: The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers.)
• meet the required levels in English or French for each language ability in the following categories:
• speaking
• reading
• writing
• listening
• have at least two years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the five years before you apply
• meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), except for needing a certificate of qualification
• have an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.

Skilled Trades currently eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these major and minor groups of the NOC:

• Major Group 72, industrial, electrical and construction trades,
• Major Group 73, maintenance and equipment operation trades,
• Major Group 82, supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production,
• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators,
• Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks, and
• Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers.

These major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations. (All are NOC skill type B.)

You must show that you did the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC, including all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.

If you do not show that your experience meets the description in the NOC, we will not accept your application.

Education

You must have a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.

If you do not have any Canadian credentials you can use a completed foreign credential which is any diploma, degree, or trade or apprenticeship credential issued for completing a program of study or training at a recognized educational or training institution.

You will also need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by CIC. [The report must show your foreign education is equal to a completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.]

The ECA will only be benefit you if your foreign education is equal to a completed Canadian high school diploma or greater.

Language ability

You need to:

• meet the minimum language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 for reading and writing
• take a language test approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that shows you meet the level for speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Results must be included with your application.  The results you included cannot be more than 2 years older than the day you apply for permanent residency.

Additional requirements

• You must be admissible into Canada.
• You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec.