Last verified: June 28, 2026 · Official source: canada.ca/FST eligibility
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer.
What is FST?
The Federal Skilled Trades program is one of the three federal programs in Express Entry, specifically designed for qualified tradespeople with experience in an eligible skilled trade. FST recognizes that many vital trades workers have strong practical experience but may not have the same formal educational credentials as FSW or CEC applicants.
→ Express Entry Overview & CRS
Core eligibility
1. Work experience in an eligible trade
You must have at least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in an eligible skilled trade in the 5 years before you apply. The experience can be inside or outside Canada.
Eligible trades fall in these NOCNOC: National Occupational Classification — the federal job taxonomy. FST-eligible trades are in NOC major groups 72, 73, 82, 83, 92, and some 632 and 633. groups:
- Major Group 72 — industrial, electrical, and construction trades
- Major Group 73 — maintenance and equipment operation trades
- Major Group 82 — supervisors and technical jobs 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 632 and 633 — chefs and cooks; butchers and bakers
Always verify your specific NOC code qualifies on the official FST eligibility page.
2. Job offer OR certificate of qualification
You must have either:
- A valid job offer for full-time work (at least 1 year) in an eligible trade from one or two Canadian employers, OR
- A certificate of qualification in your trade issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial certifying body.
A certificate of qualification means a province or territory has tested and certified you in your trade — you hold their official certification.
3. Language ability
Minimum language requirements:
| Skill | Minimum CLBCLB: Canadian Language Benchmark — the 12-level language scale. CLB 5 is intermediate. |
|---|---|
| Listening | CLB 5 |
| Speaking | CLB 5 |
| Reading | CLB 4 |
| Writing | CLB 4 |
FST has slightly lower language minimums than FSW (which requires CLB 7 all four skills).
4. Admissibility
You must not be inadmissible to Canada.
5. Intention to live outside Quebec
Education: no ECA required for FST
Unlike FSW, FST does not require an ECAECA: Educational Credential Assessment — verifies foreign education against Canadian standards. Not required for FST, though you can still claim education CRS points if you get one.. If you want to claim education points in the CRS (to boost your score), you can get an ECA voluntarily.
FST + CRS
FST eligibility gets you into the Express Entry pool. Once in, your CRS score determines when you receive an Invitation to Apply. Trades workers can benefit from:
- Trades category-based draws (active in 2026) — lower CRS cutoffs specifically for eligible trade occupations.
- Provincial nomination (Enhanced PNP) — adds +600 CRS points.
- French language skills — significant CRS bonus.
→ Category-Based Draws (2026) — see if your trade is included → CRS Calculator