Federal Skilled Trades Program(FSTP) | Requirements, Eligibility Criteria and Points Calculator

Janice Thompson

6 min read

Updated On Aug 14, 2024

Express Entry
What is FSTP?

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

Are you a tradesperson with knowledge of construction, plumbing, maintenance, electronics, agriculture, bakery, cooking, manufacturing, or HVAC works?

Are you seeking ways to relocate to another country?

Well, Canada’s Federal Skilled Trade Program invites tradespeople from all over the world to work and settle in Canada under the Express Entry Program.

Canada is inviting tradespersons because it is facing a shortfall of skilled individuals in trade.

[do_widget id=custom_html-54]

Express Entry

This program is for skilled workers who desire to settle in Canada on a permanent basis. It is an online application system that controls the applications of qualified applicants. Skilled employees can be classified into the following categories:

Federal Skilled Worker Program
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Canadian Experience Class

What is FSTP?

FSTP is also known as the Federal Skilled Trades Program. It is designed for skilled individuals who wish to become permanent Canadian citizens. Applicants must meet the National Occupational Classification’s skilled trade standards in order to be considered for this programme. Since 2013, FSTP has helped a number of talented traders immigrate to Canada.

Is the Federal Skilled Trades Program the only way to apply for skilled trade immigration to Canada?

No, the FSTP is only one of several options for skilled trade workers looking to immigrate to Canada. Other possibilities include applying for federal immigration programmes as well as the PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) and Quebec immigration.

Who can apply for the Federal Skilled Trade Program?

Qualified, experienced tradespersons who are seeking to settle in Canada.

The key benefits of applying under this program

More than 100 designated trades and occupations
Opportunity to get invited by IRCC with a low CRS score.
Applicants are not required to prove their level of education
Opportunity to apply for permanent settlement in Canada

Federal Skilled Trade Program requirements

Language proficiency

Must complete a Canadian government-approved language test to demonstrate language proficiency. It can be either English or French, as you must be able to communicate in one of these languages in order to work in Canada.

The approved language tests by the Canadian government are:

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
TEF (Test d’Evaluation de Francais)
CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)

In order to check your English and French proficiency, the two types of systems used are:

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) – For English
Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) – For French

What exactly is CLB?

CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmarks. It is a set of national criteria used in Canada to assess the language skills of immigrants seeking to reside or work in the country. CLB determines language level on a scale of 1 to 12 points, whereas IELTS on a band score of 1 to 9 in each part.

So, what score is needed for Canadian citizenship: IELTS or CLB?

Each band score of the IELTS exam gets converted into CLB points. For example, if you score 4 in the IELTS Listening section, it will be equivalent to 5 CLB points. If you want to qualify for the FSTP program, you have to score 7 CLB points, equivalent to at least 6 in all sections of the IELTS exam.

Work Experience	Have at least 2 years of full-time experience in a skilled trade or have gained experience in the respective field within a minimum of 5 years before applying for this application.
NOC	Meet the National Occupational Classification’s criteria.
Residence of Canada	Must intend to live in Canada, but outside the province of Quebec.
Identification documents	Applicants are required to provide information from their own identity documents and the identification documents of any accompanying family members.
Evidence of Funds	Unless you have an offer, you are required to provide proof of adequate finances for you and your family to settle in Canada.
Job Offer Letter	A letter from a Canadian company offering full-time work for at least one year. Applicants must show confirmation that they have been offered full-time work in Canada for at least 30 hours each week. Additionally, the applicant must contact the regulatory authority in the province or territory where they want to operate and get their skilled trade qualifications validated by this provincial or territorial organization.

What is National Occupational Classification (NOC)?

Organizations in Canada use the National Occupational Classification to categorize and define jobs. NOC comprises particular occupation names (for example, chef), as well as a four-digit NOC code and a description of the occupation.

Under the National Occupational Classification, the following trade jobs are available in Canada (NOC). Each of these trade categories is subdivided into a variety of job codes and descriptions. The following is a list of the major and minor groups in which you can locate some of the specific occupations such as:

Major Groups

72	Industrial, electrical and construction trades
73	Maintenance and equipment operation trades
83	Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
92	Processing, manufacturing and utility supervisors and central control operations

Minor Groups

632	Chefs and cooks
633	Butchers and bakers

FST Program eligibility criteria

Education	There is no education requirement for the FSTP (Federal Skilled Trades Program). However, you can earn points under the Express Entry CRS score.
Work Experience	Have a minimum of 2 years of experience as a full-time worker in a skilled trade and have gained experience within the 5 years before applying.
Language Skills	Under the Express Entry program, candidates are required to provide language proficiency test results from an approved language test taken within 2 years.
Age	No age criteria is specified
Arranged Employment	Labour Market Opinion qualification is also known as LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). There are two types of employment jobs in this category: high-wage and low-wage. Both categories of employees must complete the Transition Plan in Schedule C in order to apply for an LMIA or an LMO. The Transition Plan outlines the employer’s obligations in relation to the occupation and location for which TFWs are being sought.

Federal Skilled Trades Program points

The Federal Skilled Trades Program points are the criteria used to select qualified candidates based on six factors. A minimum score of 67 out of 100 is required.

6 factors that contribute to FSTP points are:

Education – maximum points 25

You either have a certificate, diploma, degree from a Canadian institution, or an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) certificate, diploma, or degree from a foreign school.

Age – maximum points 12

Age	Points
18-35	12 points
36	11 points
37	10 points
38	9 points
39	8 points
40	7 points
41	6 points
42	5 points
43	4 points
44	3 points
45	2 points
47 or Older	0 points
17 or under	0 points

Work experience – maximum points 15

Your points depend upon the number of years you have spent doing a paid full-time job.

Work Experience	Points
1 year	9 points
2-3 years	11 points
4-5 years	13 points
6 or more than 6 years	15 points

Language proficiency – maximum points 28

You must be able to speak either English or French in order to work and settle in Canada. If you understand both, it will help you raise your FST scores as well as benefit you in the job market.

In order to check your English and French proficiency, the two types of systems are used. They are:

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) – For English
Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) – For French

You must achieve a minimum level of 5 in CLB or NCLC for the Listening and Speaking section and 4 in CLB or NCLC for the Writing and Reading section.

Adaptability – maximum points 10

The number of points you get in this category is determined by you and your spouse or common-law partner who will accompany you to Canada. Some of the things that can help you achieve these 10 points are as follows:

Your spouse or common-law partner’s language level
History of your study records in Canada
Your spouse or common-law partner’s study record in Canada
History of work
Your spouse or common-law partner’s history of work
Relatives in Canada

Arranged Employment – maximum points 10

If you have a work offer in Canada for at least one year, you will get points. You must have a job before arriving in Canada if you wish to earn points under arranged employment. The job will be considered valid when it is continuous, paid, full-time work, and not seasonal.

Note: This is a different point system from CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) under the Express Entry profile.

Also Check:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between FST points and CRS points?

There are two different types of point systems required to get PR in Canada. Under Express Entry, candidates for the Federal Skilled Trade Program are assessed on a scale of 100 points. The CRS, or Comprehensive Ranking System, is scored out of 1200 points (in the Express Entry pool). Applicants commonly misunderstand these two aspects. To make things easier, learn the difference between FST and CRS points. The CRS point system, which has a maximum of 1200 points, is used to evaluate applications submitted to the Express Entry pool. For example, a skilled trade worker who applies for the FST programme can get up to 100 points. The candidate becomes eligible for Express Entry after qualifying for the FST points. They are rated in the Express Entry pool based on CRS points. To qualify for the FST, you must get a minimum score of 67 out of 100. A minimum score of 600 out of 1200 is required in the CRS points scoring system.

Is it necessary to have a job offer under the skilled trade Canada program?

Yes, one of the requirements is to have a confirmed employment offer for a period of at least 1 year or, particularly if you are already in Canada on a temporary work basis, you need to hold a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade from a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.

How much time does the application take to process?

The majority of applications are completed within 6 or less than 6 months.

What is the minimum education requirement under the Federal Skilled Trade Program?

The Federal Skilled Trades program has no educational requirements. However, applicants with a Canadian high school or college education will have more chances of being accepted.

What is ECA?

An ECA, or Educational Credential Assessment, verifies that your foreign degree, diploma, certificate, or other educational papers are authentic and equal to those issued in Canada.