Improved Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program

Canada’s new and improved Federal Skilled Worker Program for applicants


The application backlog for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) was on track for an unacceptable 15-year wait time by 2015 with over 1.5 million applicants in the backlog.   As a result of the Action Plan for Faster Immigration and Economic Action Plan 2012, the backlog for the FSWP has been nearly eliminated, and new applications are being processed in approximately one year.

To prevent future backlogs and lengthy wait times, here is a list of occupations with a set number of applications that will be accepted this year starting May 4th 2013.

Eligible occupations (with their corresponding 2011 National Occupation Classification code):

•0211 Engineering managers
•1112 Financial and investment analysts
•2113 Geoscientists and oceanographers
•2131 Civil engineers
•2132 Mechanical engineers
•2134 Chemical engineers
•2143 Mining engineers
•2144 Geological engineers
•2145 Petroleum engineers
•2146 Aerospace engineers
•2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers/designers)
•2154 Land surveyors
•2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
•2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
•2263 Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
•3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
•3142 Physiotherapists
•3143 Occupational Therapists
•3211 Medical laboratory technologists
•3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants
•3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
•3215 Medical radiation technologists
•3216 Medical sonographers
•3217 Cardiology technicians and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c. (not elsewhere classified)

Minimum Language Threshold

The new minimum language threshold: is Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).

To prove language proficiency, a prospective applicant must take a third-party language test from an organization designated by the Minister and submit their test report along with their application to CIC.

CIC-designated language testing organizations include: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and Test d’évaluation de français (TEF).

English-speaking persons interested in the Federal Skilled Worker Program can study for the IELTS exam.
To receive additional information: email eslincanada@gmail.com