Federal Skilled Trades Program(FSTP) | Requirements, Eligibility Criteria and Points Calculator
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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.
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?
Is it necessary to have a job offer under the skilled trade Canada program?
How much time does the application take to process?
What is the minimum education requirement under the Federal Skilled Trade Program?
What is ECA?
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Kasturika Samanta
Kasturika Samanta
Kasturika Samanta
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