Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): Requirements and Eligible Trades
Electricians, plumbers, welders, chefs: if you work in a skilled trade, the Federal Skilled Trades Program was made for you. You need 2 years of experience in an eligible trade within the last 5 years, fairly basic language scores, and either a Canadian job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
The requirements in one table
| Requirement | What you need |
|---|---|
| Work experience | At least 2 years full-time (3,120 hours) in one eligible trade, in the 5 years before you apply |
| Language | CLB 5 in speaking and listening, CLB 4 in reading and writing |
| Job offer or certificate | A full-time job offer for at least 1 year, or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province, territory or federal body |
| Education | Not required, but it adds CRS points |
| Proof of funds | Required, unless you’re authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer |
Which trades qualify?
Your experience has to be in a single NOC code from one of these groups:
| NOC group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Major Group 72, technical trades (not Sub-Major Group 726) | Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, bricklayers, machinists, heavy-duty mechanics |
| Major Group 73, general trades | Roofers, painters and decorators, transport truck drivers, heavy equipment operators |
| Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and production | Supervisors in mining, oil and gas drilling, logging, landscaping |
| Major Group 83, natural resources and production | Underground miners, oil and gas well drillers |
| Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and operators | Utilities supervisors, power engineers and power systems operators |
| Major Group 93, central control and process operators (not Sub-Major Group 932) | Central control and process operators in processing and manufacturing |
| Minor Group 6320 | Cooks, butchers and bakers |
| Unit Group 62200 | Chefs |
Not sure which code is yours? Start with how to find your NOC code.
How IRCC looks at your experience
All 2 years have to be in the same NOC, and you must have done the duties in its lead statement and most of its main duties. Only paid work counts, up to 30 hours a week. The experience has to come from a country where you were qualified to work in the trade, and anything you did while studying doesn’t count.
Job offer or certificate of qualification
You need one of the two. The first option is a valid offer of full-time work for at least a year, from up to two Canadian employers. The second is a certificate of qualification in your trade from a Canadian province, territory or federal authority. Getting one usually means having your experience assessed and passing the trade exam in that province.
The certificate has a bonus: it also earns skill transferability points, 25 with CLB 5 or 50 with CLB 7 in all four skills.
Trade draws in 2026
IRCC also runs category rounds for trade occupations. There have been two in 2026, with cut-offs of 477 on April 2 and 476 on October 1. These rounds use their own occupation list and need 12 months of experience in one listed job within the last 3 years. You don’t have to be an FSTP candidate to be picked. More on that in category-based draws explained.
Add your certificate of qualification to see the extra points.
Quick answers
What’s the difference between FSWP and FSTP?
The Federal Skilled Worker Program asks for 1 year of skilled work, CLB 7 and 67 selection points. The Skilled Trades Program asks for 2 years in an eligible trade, lower language scores and a job offer or certificate, and has no points grid.
Do I need a job offer?
Only if you don’t have a Canadian certificate of qualification. You need one or the other.
Is there an education requirement?
No. Education just adds CRS points, and foreign education needs an ECA to count.
