The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is the Express Entry program for qualified tradespeople. Unlike the Federal Skilled Worker Program, it has no education requirement and no points grid, but it requires either a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
Who it's for
- Tradespeople with at least 2 years of recent experience in an eligible trade, gained in Canada or abroad.
- People who plan to live outside Quebec and who are admissible to Canada.
Minimum requirements
Work experience in a skilled trade
- At least 2 years of full-time work (3,120 hours, or an equal amount of part-time) in an eligible skilled trade, within the 5 years before you apply.
- The work must be paid, and you must have been qualified to practise the trade where you worked.
- Your experience must match the NOC description of the trade: the lead statement and most of the main duties. IRCC's page explains how the NOC's certificate requirement applies.
Eligible trades (NOC 2021)
IRCC lists these NOC groups, all at TEER 2 or 3:
| NOC group | Examples of the type of work |
|---|---|
| Major group 72 (except sub-major group 726) | Technical trades, such as electrical, construction and industrial trades and machinists |
| Major group 73 | General trades, such as maintenance and equipment operation |
| Major group 82 | Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production |
| Major group 83 | Occupations in natural resources and related production |
| Major group 92 | Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers |
| Major group 93 (except sub-major group 932) | Central control and process operators |
| Minor group 6320 | Cooks, butchers and bakers |
| Unit group 62200 | Chefs |
Check your exact code with our NOC finder and confirm it against IRCC's FSTP page.
Language
- CLB/NCLC 5 for speaking and listening.
- CLB/NCLC 4 for reading and writing.
Use an approved test (CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada), less than 2 years old when you submit your profile and when you apply. Convert your results with our CLB/NCLC converter.
A job offer or a certificate of qualification
You need one of these:
- A valid job offer of full-time employment for at least 1 year in your trade, or
- A certificate of qualification in your trade, issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
Education and funds
- No education requirement. Education still earns CRS points; foreign studies need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to count.
- Proof of funds is required, as for the FSWP, unless you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. Use IRCC's current table.
How the FSTP fits with CRS and the categories
- A job offer no longer adds CRS points (since 25 March 2025), but it can still make you eligible for the FSTP.
- A Canadian certificate of qualification can add up to 50 skill-transferability points in the CRS, depending on your language levels. See our CRS score page.
- Many trades are also on the Trades category list for 2026. Category rounds are open to candidates eligible for any Express Entry program who meet the category's experience rules. See our 2026 categories page.
- If you also qualify for the CEC or the FSWP, IRCC invites you under the CEC first, then the FSWP, then the FSTP.
Common pitfalls
- An occupation outside the eligible groups, or at the wrong TEER level.
- Experience gained where you weren't qualified to practise the trade.
- A job offer that doesn't meet the conditions (for example, not full-time or shorter than 1 year).
- Assuming the job offer still adds CRS points. It doesn't.
How we can help
Anasse Boulbaroud, RCIC, can:
- Consultation: confirm whether your trade and experience fit the FSTP, and compare it with the Trades category and provincial options.
- Profile review: review your NOC choice, reference letters, job offer or certificate, and language results before you submit.
- Application preparation: prepare your permanent residence application after an invitation.
Only IRCC decides who is invited and approved. Book a consultation.