Canada's Federal Skilled Trades Class

29 Aug 2012

Introduction of Federal Skilled Trades Class

In order to better facilitate the entry of skilled trades persons to Canada, CIC has created the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) of immigration. This will be open to trades persons with skills in the following areas:

Industrial, Electrical, and Construction Trades; Maintenance and Equipment Operation Trades; Supervisors and Technical Occupations in Natural Resources; Agriculture and Related Production’ Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities Supervisors and Central Control Operators’ Chefs and Cooks; Bakers and Butchers

All of these trades are considered “skilled”, and fall into the “B” level of work, as defined by Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC).

The FSTC is not a points-based immigration program. Rather, it operates on a pass/fail system.

Applicants to this new immigration program will have to meet the following 4 requirements:

1.      Must receive either:

•  A qualifying offer of employment in Canada. Offers must be for at least 1 year in duration;

• A Certificate of Qualification from a provincial or territorial authority.

2.      Minimum language proficiency of at least Canadian Level Benchmark 5 (“initial intermediate”).

3.      24 months of work experience in their skilled trade during the last 5 years.

4.      Professional qualifications that prove their ability to perform their job.

It is important to note that only individuals who meet all of the above requirements are eligible to apply to this immigration class. However, a skilled tradesperson who does not fulfill the requirements of the FSTC may be eligible to apply to the FSWC or another Canadian immigration program.

Further details regarding where and how an application to the FSTC have not yet been outlined by CIC, but it is anticipated that they will be made clear before it’s anticipated start date of January 1st, 2013.

Impact of FSTC Implementation

It is expected that the creation of the FSTC will allow Canada to focus its immigration system in such a way that it can target much-needed skilled workers while maintaining its historically high levels of immigration across the board.

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2012/08/special-report-government-overhauls-economic-immigration-081707.html