Federal Skilled Trades
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is designed for applicants who have experience in a skilled trade.
You may qualify under the program if you meet the following minimum requirements:
- intend to reside in any Province or Territory except Quebec
- have required levels in English or French
- have at least 2 years of full-time (30 hours per week) work experience or equivalent of part-time (15 hours per week) work experience in a skilled trade within the 5 year period before you submit the application
- and, either
- have an offer of full-time employment, or
- obtain a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade issued by a Canadian Province or Territory.
ELIGIBLE OCCUPATIONS
Skilled Trades include, but are not limited to, the following occupations: boilermakers, machinists, metal mould and metal patternmakers, sheet metal workers, structural metal fitters, tool and die inspectors, welders, electricians, gas fitters, pipefitters, plumbers, sprinkler system installers, steamfitters, carpenters and cabinetmakers, glaziers, insulators, plasterers, bricklayers, concrete finishers, tilesetters, drywall installer, roofers, glaziers, painters, millwrights, mechanics, chefs and cooks, butchers and bakers, and some others.
OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
A job offer must be based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada.
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
You must be able to communicate at the minimum level of CLB 5 (English) or NCLC 5 (French) for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 (English) or NCLC 4 (French) for reading and writing. The table below shows how the CLB levels translate to the actual IELTS test results:
| CLB Level | Test results for each ability | |||
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | |
| 9 | 8.0 – 9.0 | 7.0 – 9.0 | 7.0 – 9.0 | 7.0 – 9.0 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
French
TEF: Test d’évaluation de français
| NCLC Level | Test results for each ability | |||
| Speaking (expression orale) | Listening (compréhension orale) | Reading (compréhension écrite) | Writing (expression écrite) | |
| 9 | 372+ | 298+ | 248+ | 372+ |
| 8 | 349 – 371 | 280 – 297 | 233 – 247 | 349 – 371 |
| 7 | 309 | 248 | 206 | 309 |
| 6 | 271 | 217 | 181 | 271 |
| 5 | 225 | 180 | 150 | 225 |
| 4 | 181 | 145 | 121 | 181 |
If you would like to know whether you could be eligible to immigrate to Canada in the Federal Skilled Trades Stream or under other programs, we invite you to complete our online assessment questionnaire: On-line Assessment Questionnaire
Last updated: 18.03.2016
