How to Calculate Your Work Experience for Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a Canadian federal immigration program under the Express Entry system that enables temporary foreign workers and international students to use their Canadian work experience and education to apply for permanent residency. It is part of the Express Entry system and requires candidates to possess a minimum of 12-months of full-time skilled work experience within Canada.
The recent pandemic has caused numerous layoffs and fluctuations in job hours. This has made it challenging for many workers to determine whether they possess adequate work experience to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class. This article aims to help you calculate your work experience to help you get a better idea.
Work Experience Requirements for Canadian Experience Class
The general requirements for work experience to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class are one year of skilled work experience within Canada. Workers should gain this experience within three years before applying.
Work Experience From a Full-Time Job
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) define a full-time job as working 30 hours per week. Performing this job for 12 months or one year equates to a total of 1560 work hours.
Work Experience From a Part-Time Job
Workers can also obtain the required work experience from part-time work as long as they meet the 1560 work hours requirement within the three years. So if you worked 15 hours per week for 24 months, it would count as one year of full-time work experience, or 1560 hours. Workers are permitted to work in as many part-time jobs as they prefer to reach the required number of hours.
Work Experience From Working More Than One Job
Workers who work multiple full-time jobs can also work their way towards the 1560 hour target. So if you have multiple jobs through which you work a minimum of 30 hours per week, you can achieve the 1560 hour target in 1 year.
Calculating Work Experience With Fluctuating Work Hours
The work experience calculation approaches discussed above should make it clear that it is possible to achieve the required work experience even if your work hours fluctuate. If you feel your work experience is less than 1560 hours, simply add up your total work hours and divide the remaining hours by 30 to learn how many more weeks of full-time experience you need to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class.
For example, if you worked an average of 20 hours per week for a full year, your hours would be 20 hours x 52 weeks, which comes out to 1040 hours. Then deducting 1040 hours from your 1560 hour target gives you 520 remaining work hours, which is 520/30 or approximately 17 weeks of full-time work experience left.
20 hours x 52 weeks = 1040 hours
1040 hours — 1560 hour target = 520 remaining work hours (17 weeks approx.)
How Elaar Immigration Consulting Can Help
Calculating the work experience for your Canadian Experience Class application is not difficult in most cases. However, if you are unsure whether your hours qualify towards meeting the Canadian Experience Class requirements, you should get in touch with Elaar Immigration Consulting.
Our immigration experts can evaluate each of your past jobs and inform you which ones qualify under the Canadian Experience Class. It is crucial to calculate these hours while your work permit is still valid so that you can get on track with meeting the work experience requirements. Secure your future in Canada by getting in touch with Elaar Immigration Consulting today.
