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

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.

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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.

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

Minor Groups

FST Program eligibility criteria

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

Work experience – maximum points 15

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

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.