Federal Skilled Trades Factors to Consider

If your goal is to apply for permanent resident status as a skilled tradesperson, you first need to assess whether or not your trade falls under the eligible occupations and is classified as either an A or B under the National Occupational Classification or NOC.

The NOC is a database of classified occupations. These classifications are ranked either A, B, C, D or 0. Each classification will describe not only the job title but the duties required with each occupation. In order to classify yourself into an occupation, you must assess the duties and educational requirements of that position. If the duties described in the classification match up to yours and you meet the educational requirements than your occupation is classified as such.

You are not classified as being in an occupation simply because your job title matches.

National Occupation Classification (NOC) requirements

Skilled Trades currently eligible for the FSTP are organized under these major 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, and
• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utility supervisors and central control operators.

These major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations. In total, 43 jobs (with specific NOC codes) will be eligible to apply under the FSTP in the first year of the program. CIC will accept no more than 100 applications for certain occupations. Other jobs do not have a limit of 100.

Language testing

You must also show you meet the minimum requirements in English or French for each of the four language abilities:

• reading,
• writing,
• speaking, and
• listening.

To do this, you must take an English or French language test from an organization approved by CIC. You must then include the results of your test with your application.

Inadmissibility

Finally, you must also consider any inadmissibility you may face, as this will preclude you from entering Canada regardless of whether or not you meet all the requirements. People considered to be inadmissible are not allowed to come to Canada. Several things can make you inadmissible, such as being involved in criminal activity, in human rights violations or in organized crime.

You will need to overcome this inadmissibility first in order to proceed with any applications to Canada. It is also possible to do them simultaneously, depending on your situation. If you are facing inadmissibility, there are still options open to you.

For further information with respect to your Canadian immigration, we invite you to contact our experienced immigration representatives.