CEC Candidates in Canada: Gaining CRS Points and Who Has a Chance
Key points
- Recent moves by IRCC suggest upcoming draws will mainly target the Canadian Experience Class (CEC); scores may come down, but not by much.
- The examples assume a single applicant aged 29 or under, leaving aside points for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
- At Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 with 1 year of Canadian work experience, all three example education levels have little chance.
- The highest example score, 545, combines two credentials, CLB 9, 2 years of Canadian and 1 year of foreign work experience.
If you are in Canada and hoping for an Express Entry invitation through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), this article uses example Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores to show which combinations have a chance and where you can gain points.
Where things are heading
Recent moves by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) suggest that upcoming draws will mainly target CEC candidates. Scores may come down, but not by much.
So, leaving aside points for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which combinations can help you break through? The tables below take a single applicant aged 29 or under and show where each education background can start raising its score.
Example score combinations
Language results are shown as Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) levels, and scores are CRS scores.
Combinations with little chance
| Education | Language (CLB) | Canadian work experience | Foreign work experience | CRS score | Consider |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College diploma | 7 | 1 year | None | 357 | A second credential, switching to the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7 | 1 year | None | 394 | Retaking your language test, a second credential, more years of work experience |
| Two credentials | 7 | 1 year | None | 426 | Retaking your language test, more years of work experience |
Combinations with a chance once points are added
The last column shows how each combination was marked in the original chart.
| Education | Language (CLB) | Canadian work experience | Foreign work experience | CRS score | Marked in the original chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 8 | 3 years | None | 454 | |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8 | 3 years | 1 year | 492 | Score up |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9 | 2 years | None | 487 | |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9 | 3 years | None | 498 | Score up |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9 | 2 years | 1 year | 537 | Check mark |
| Two credentials | 8 | 3 years | None | 474 | |
| Two credentials | 8 | 3 years | 1 year | 512 | Check mark |
| Two credentials | 9 | 2 years | None | 495 | Score up |
| Two credentials | 9 | 3 years | None | 506 | Check mark |
| Two credentials | 9 | 2 years | 1 year | 545 | Check mark |
Three ways to gain points
- Retake your language test. Language scores always hit a ceiling. If you can’t push yours any higher, change strategy quickly.
- Earn a second credential. Combine a 3-year post-secondary credential with a 1-year credential. A certificate program is short and can be taken online, and it earns you education points plus skill transferability points.
- Combine Canadian and foreign work experience. 2 or 3 years of Canadian work experience plus 1 year of foreign work experience is a relatively easy way to earn skill transferability points. So returning to your home country to work for a year after your work permit expires is also an option.
If you are not sure which of these options suits your education and work history, a consultant can work through your score with you.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. Policies can change at any time; always check the latest official announcement.
