Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 2026: Eligibility, CRS, and the Reform That Could Replace It

How is the CEC different from the other Express Entry programs?

Short answer: It rewards being here. The Federal Skilled Worker Program counts foreign experience and requires both an education assessment and settlement funds; the Federal Skilled Trades Program is built around trade certification. The CEC strips those away and asks one thing: did you do skilled work in Canada. That makes it the natural finish line for the study-to-work-to-PR path, and it is why category-based draws that favour in-Canada candidates tend to help CEC profiles most. Compare the streams on the IRCC Express Entry page.

Is the Canadian Experience Class still open?

Short answer: Yes, the CEC is open and holding draws in 2026, but its future is genuinely in question. IRCC has proposed retiring the CEC along with the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs, folding all three into a single unified federal economic program. The proposal went through a public consultation that closed on May 24, 2026, and the department expects any changes to land in late 2026 or early 2027. Nothing has changed yet, and current applicants are assessed under today's rules. You can read the proposal on the IRCC 2026 Express Entry reform consultation page.

How would the 2026 Express Entry reforms change the CEC?

Short answer: They would replace it. Under the proposed unified program, the separate CEC eligibility rules disappear, and every candidate would face one common bar: an Educational Credential Assessment for at least a high-school diploma, CLB 6 across all four language abilities, and one year of skilled work in the last three years gained in Canada or abroad. The reform also proposes new CRS points for occupations that pay above the national median wage, which would tilt selection toward higher earners. In parallel, IRCC has already shifted day-to-day draws toward category-based selection, adding categories that target candidates with Canadian work experience. The direction is clear even before the law changes: Canadian experience still matters, but the way it is counted is being rebuilt.

What CRS score do you need for a CEC draw in 2026?

Short answer: Higher than many people expect. Through early 2026, dedicated CEC draws sat in the range of roughly 507 to 515, so a profile in the low 400s is not competitive in a general or CEC round on its own. The realistic levers are a Provincial Nominee Program nomination, which adds 600 points, a strong language retake, and qualifying for a targeted category draw where the cut-off is often lower. Track the live cut-offs on the IRCC rounds of invitations page rather than relying on old numbers.

What should you do before the rules change?

Short answer: If you qualify under the current CEC, move now. The safest position is to be in the Express Entry pool, or already invited, under rules you understand, rather than waiting and being reassessed under a system that does not exist yet. Confirm your hours and TEER level, sit or retake your language test to push your CRS up, and get your profile in. If you are short on the score, line up a provincial nomination or a category-draw path. Build your profile through the IRCC become a candidate guidance. The window is the gap between now and whenever the reform takes effect, so treat it as closing.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Canadian Experience Class application take?

Once you receive an invitation and submit a complete application, IRCC aims to process Express Entry permanent residence applications, including the CEC, in around six months. The wait to be invited depends on your CRS score and how the draws fall.

How much does the Canadian Experience Class cost?

The federal fees are about CAD $1,525 for the principal applicant, which includes the processing fee and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, plus roughly $1,140 for a spouse and $260 per dependent child. Add biometrics, language testing, and any education assessment on top.

Why am I not eligible for the CEC?

The most common reasons are working in a TEER 4 or 5 occupation, which never qualifies, falling short of one year of authorized skilled work, gaining the experience while studying full-time, or missing the language benchmark for your skill level. Each is fixable with planning, but none can be argued around.

Is a 450 CRS score good enough for the CEC?

Not in 2026 on its own. With CEC cut-offs in the 500s, a 450 generally needs a boost from a provincial nomination, a higher language score, or a targeted category draw to convert into an invitation.

How a licensed RCIC can help

Short answer: The risk right now is not the application, it is the clock. Go Far Global is a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) firm in Toronto, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). We confirm whether your Canadian experience and language scores qualify you under the current CEC, get your Express Entry profile in before the reform lands, and map a provincial or category route if your score needs a lift. Book a consultation while the current rules still apply.

Sources

• IRCC, Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class
• IRCC, 2026 consultations on potential Express Entry reforms
• IRCC, Express Entry
• IRCC, Express Entry rounds of invitations
• IRCC, Express Entry: become a candidate