Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for those who want to become permanent residents based on a qualified skill trade. To be eligible, you must meet the minimum requirements:

• Plan to live outside the province of Quebec
• Meet the required levels of English or French for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing and 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 requiring a certificate of qualification, and
• 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 Institution

Eligible Federal Skilled Trades

The 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
  

Education

There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But, if you want to earn points for your education under Express Entry, you either need:

• A Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree

OR

• An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report  produced by an agency by the CIC to show it is equal to Canadian education standards

Language Ability

You must:

• 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, and

OR

• Take a language test tapproved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that shows you meet the level for speaking, listening, reading and writing.