Canada’s Express Entry system manages the applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). You can be eligible for both at the same time, but you cannot choose which one you get invited to apply for.
The reason is that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invites candidates to apply based on the following order:
- CEC
- FSWP
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
So if you are eligible for all three, you will be invited for the CEC. If you are eligible for the CEC and the FSWP you will be invited to apply for the CEC. If you are eligible for the FSWP and the FSTP you will be invited for the FSWP. The reason the CEC goes first is because these candidates do not have to provide proof of settlement funds, and many FSWP candidates who are also eligible for the CEC would prefer not to have this requirement. FSWP candidates are exempt from this requirement if they have a valid job offer in Canada.
Although statistically speaking more CEC candidates apply from within Canada and FSWP candidates more often apply internationally, as long as you meet the criteria of each program you can still apply. Geographical location is not a factor of eligibility for either program. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the eligibility criteria for each program.
| Eligibility criteria | CEC | FSWP |
| Language | CLB 7 if your NOC is 0 or A, | |
| CLB 5 if your NOC is B | CLB 7 | |
| Type of work experience | Canadian experience in NOC skill level 0, A, or B | Canadian or foreign experience in NOC skill level 0, A, or B |
| Amount of work experience | One year in Canada in the last 3 years (either combination of full-time or part-time work) | One year continuous within the last 10 years (combination of part-time, full-time or more than 1 job in your primary occupation) |
| Job offer | Not required | Not required, but you can get selection criteria (FSW) points for having a valid job offer |
| Education | Not required | Secondary education required. You can get more selection criteria (FSW) points for your post-secondary education |
| Proof of settlement funds | Not required | Required when candidate does not have a valid job offer in Canada |
| Points grid | No | Yes |
