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I have a PhD and am in a post-doctoral program. Do I qualify to apply to the Canadian Experience Class?

Work experience gained while you were on a study permit will not count towards meeting the CEC requirements.  However, if you have already acquired one year of skilled Canadian work experience while you were not on a study permit, and you meet the language threshold for that occupation, you can still apply.

You may also be eligible to apply for permanent residency under the PhD stream of the Federal Skilled Worker Program.  You will need to meet the FSWP requirements and must be enrolled in, or have graduated from, a PhD program at a provincially or territorially recognized private or public post-secondary educational institution in Canada.  Consult the CIC website for more information on the PhD stream, including specific eligibility requirements.

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