Canadian Experience Class requirements: a checklist, and the Quebec rule

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is often the fastest-looking Express Entry route for people already working in Canada: no minimum education, no proof of funds. But its work-experience rules are strict, and one rule catches many Quebec workers off guard. Here is a checklist built from IRCC's page, updated September 24, 2026 and checked on October 11, 2026.

Checklist: does your experience qualify?

Requirement	What IRCC asks
Amount	At least 1 year of work, or 1,560 hours in total (30 hours a week)
Time window	Within the 3 years before you apply
Level	NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 (can span several jobs)
Where	In Canada, including Quebec, while authorized to work as a temporary resident
Paid	Wages or commission
Duties	The NOC lead statement and most of the main duties

Remote work counts only if you were physically in Canada working for a Canadian employer.

What does not count

• work done while you were a full-time student, including co-op terms;
• self-employment (with a narrow exception for some physicians);
• volunteer work and unpaid internships;
• work you were not authorized to do.

For graduates, that usually means the clock really starts after your program, often on a post-graduation work permit.

Language minimums

You need an approved test with the minimum in all four abilities, based on your job's TEER category: CLB 7 or NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1, and CLB 5 or NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3. Approved tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English; TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French.

No education requirement, no proof of funds

There is no education requirement for the CEC; education only affects your ranking. If you are invited under the CEC, you do not need proof of funds; you upload a letter saying so.

The Quebec rule

IRCC requires that you plan to live outside the province of Quebec. Quebec work experience counts, but you must show you do not intend to settle there. If Montreal is home and you want it to stay that way, look at Quebec's routes instead: the PEQ (applications until October 31, 2026) or the PSTQ. See PSTQ or PEQ.

Frequently asked questions

Does my co-op placement count?

No. Work done while studying full-time, including co-op terms, does not count toward the CEC.

Can I combine part-time jobs?

IRCC counts 1 year of work or 1,560 hours in total within 3 years, and experience can span several jobs, as long as it is skilled, paid and authorized.

Do I need an Educational Credential Assessment?

Not to qualify for the CEC, which has no education requirement. An assessment can still add points to your ranking if you claim foreign education.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:

• IRCC — Canadian Experience Class
• IRCC — Express Entry: language test requirements