The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of the three federal immigration programs managed through Express Entry. It is designed for skilled tradespeople — workers in NOC TEER 2 occupations in the industrial, construction, agricultural, and related sectors — who may not hold post-secondary qualifications but have substantial trade experience. The FSTP has no minimum education requirement, making it the pathway most accessible to skilled trades workers who have experience but no formal post-secondary credential.

The key distinguishing features of the FSTP are: the 2-year work experience requirement (rather than 1 year for FSW or CEC), the lower CLB 5 language threshold, and the requirement for either a Canadian job offer of at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian certifying authority. For current eligible occupations and eligibility requirements, refer to the IRCC FSTP page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s 87.2 — the FSTP eligibility criteria
• IRCC: Federal Skilled Trades Program — canada.ca/federal-skilled-trades
• IRCC: Express Entry — who can apply — canada.ca/express-entry-who-can-apply

Eligible occupations — NOC TEER 2 skilled trades

The FSTP covers occupations in the following NOC major groups:

• 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 83: Occupations in natural resources and related production
• Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing, and utilities supervisors and central control operators

All eligible FSTP occupations are at TEER 2 under the NOC system. TEER 2 includes occupations that typically require a post-secondary program of 2 years or less, or an apprenticeship program of 2 or more years, or specific training, on-the-job experience and industry courses. For the current NOC codes in each major group, refer to Statistics Canada's NOC and the NOC TEER matrix page.

Work experience requirement — 2 years in an eligible trade

The applicant must have at least 2 years of full-time paid work experience (or the equivalent in part-time hours — 3,120 hours) in a single eligible skilled trade within the 5 years before applying. This work experience:

• Can be gained in Canada or abroad
• Must be paid (wages or commission — volunteer or unpaid work does not count)
• Must be in a single occupation from the eligible major groups (experience across different trade occupations may not be combined)

The 2-year requirement (compared to 1 year for FSW and CEC) reflects the longer apprenticeship and on-the-job training trajectories typical in skilled trades.

Language requirement — CLB 5 threshold

The FSTP has a lower language threshold than the FSW:

• Minimum CLB 5 in speaking and listening
• Minimum CLB 4 in reading and writing

Language is tested through an approved test: IELTS or CELPIP for English; TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. The asymmetric CLB thresholds (CLB 5 for oral skills, CLB 4 for literacy skills) reflect the practical communication requirements of skilled trades work. For current CLB conversion tables, refer to the language testing CLB page.

Job offer or certificate of qualification — mandatory

Unlike the FSW (where a job offer is optional and just adds points), the FSTP requires the applicant to have one of the following before applying:

Option A: Canadian job offer

A valid Canadian job offer in an eligible skilled trade from one or two employers, totalling at least 1 year of full-time employment starting on or after the date of permanent residence. The job offer must be in the same major group as the qualifying work experience. It must be non-seasonal and full-time.

Option B: Certificate of qualification

A certificate of qualification in the trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal certifying authority. Certificates of qualification are issued by regulatory bodies for regulated trades — the process typically involves having foreign credentials assessed, writing a qualifying examination, and demonstrating competence in the trade to the provincial/territorial standard. Not all provinces and territories certify all trades — and for trades that are not regulated in the province/territory where the applicant plans to live and work, obtaining a certificate of qualification may not be possible through that jurisdiction. For guidance on trades not certified by certain provinces, refer to the IRCC helpcentre guidance on certification.

No education requirement

The FSTP has no minimum education requirement. Applicants do not need a secondary school diploma or post-secondary credential to be eligible under FSTP (unlike FSW, which requires at minimum secondary school graduation). This makes the FSTP the most accessible Express Entry program for workers who entered trades through apprenticeships rather than formal education pathways. Education still contributes to CRS points — applicants with education will score higher in the pool even if not required for FSTP eligibility.

Proof of funds

Proof of settlement funds is generally required unless the applicant has a valid Canadian work permit or a valid job offer. For current proof of funds thresholds for FSTP applicants, refer to the IRCC FSTP page.

FSTP, FSW, and CEC — comparison

Feature	FSTP	FSW	CEC
Eligible occupations	NOC TEER 2 skilled trades (major groups 72/73/82/83/92)	TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (any)	TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (any)
Work experience	2 years in last 5 years (any country)	1 year in last 10 years (any country)	1 year in last 3 years (Canada only)
Language minimum	CLB 5 speaking/listening; CLB 4 reading/writing	CLB 7 all abilities	CLB 7 (TEER 0/1); CLB 5 (TEER 2/3)
Education minimum	None	Secondary school or higher	None
Job offer requirement	Required (1 yr) or certificate of qualification	Optional (adds points only)	Not required

The FSTP is less commonly used than the FSW or CEC because the requirement for a Canadian job offer or certificate of qualification is a significant practical barrier for overseas applicants. Obtaining a certificate of qualification requires engaging with Canadian provincial/territorial trade regulators — a process that can take considerable time and may require the applicant to demonstrate competency against Canadian trade standards. The job offer route requires finding a Canadian employer willing to commit to at least 1 year of employment before the PR application is lodged. For current FSTP eligible occupations, job offer requirements, and certificate of qualification processes, refer to the IRCC FSTP page.