Canadian work experience is one of the most valuable assets an international student can build — it strengthens your resume, accelerates your PR timeline through Express Entry's Canadian Experience Class, and demonstrates to employers that you have operated successfully in the Canadian professional environment. This guide gives you specific, actionable strategies for building qualifying Canadian work experience during and after your studies. StudentBuddy supports the complete Canadian student journey, from student accommodation to career and immigration planning through our student resources.
The most effective ways to build qualifying Canadian work experience as an international student are: co-op programmes (especially at Waterloo, SFU, UVic), on-campus research or teaching positions, federal government co-op (FSWEP), professional internships in your field during study breaks, and post-graduation work via PGWP. All must be in TEER 0–3 occupations to count for Express Entry CEC.
| Method | Hours/week | TEER eligible? | During studies? | How to access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-op work term | 40 hrs (work term) | ✅ Yes (most placements) | Yes (alternating) | Through university co-op office |
| On-campus RA/TA | 10–20 hrs | ✅ Yes (TEER 1–3) | Yes (concurrent) | Contact faculty or registrar |
| Federal co-op (FSWEP) | Full-time (work term) | ✅ Yes | Yes (alternating) | jobs.gc.ca FSWEP programme |
| Professional internship | Full-time (break period) | ✅ Yes | During scheduled breaks | Industry career fairs, LinkedIn |
| Part-time TEER role | Up to 24 hrs | ✅ Yes (if TEER 0–3) | Yes (during term) | Standard job search platforms |
| PGWP employment | Full-time | ✅ Yes (if TEER 0–3) | Post-graduation | Active job search |
Co-op: the gold standard for building Canadian experience
Co-operative education programmes are by far the most effective way to build substantial, qualifying Canadian work experience during your studies. University of Waterloo's six four-month co-op terms give students approximately two years of full-time TEER-qualifying work experience before graduation. SFU, University of Victoria, University of Ottawa, and many other institutions also operate strong co-op programmes. Co-op work performed in Canada under an authorised co-op work permit counts as Canadian work experience for Express Entry CEC.
For students not in a co-op programme, the alternative is professional internships during scheduled breaks. Many technology companies (Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Shopify), banks, and consulting firms hire student interns for 4-month summer terms. These positions are competitive but explicitly open to international students on valid study permits, and the income and experience are comparable to co-op placements.
Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)
FSWEP is the Government of Canada's student work programme, placing eligible post-secondary students in federal government departments for work terms. Positions span science, technology, policy, communications, finance, and administration. Many are accessible to international students with valid study permits, though some positions with security clearance requirements are limited to Canadian citizens or PRs. Apply through the canada.ca/fswep portal when applications open each semester.
Ensuring your work qualifies for Express Entry
For Canadian work experience to count toward Express Entry CEC, it must be in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation. Before accepting any position, verify the NOC TEER level for that occupation on the Government of Canada's NOC website. Most professional roles requiring a post-secondary degree qualify (TEER 1 or 2). Retail, food service, and general labour positions are TEER 4 or 5 and do not count for CEC — they are excellent for earning income but should not be counted toward your immigration pathway planning.
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Find student accommodation in Canada →Frequently asked questions
No. Volunteering — unpaid work — does not count as Canadian work experience for Express Entry purposes. Only paid employment in a qualifying TEER 0–3 occupation counts. Volunteering can strengthen your profile and network but does not contribute to the 1-year minimum CEC requirement.
Self-employment typically does not count toward Express Entry CEC. The CEC specifically requires employed work experience — working for a Canadian employer as an employee. Independent contractor or gig economy income (Uber, DoorDash, freelance without a registered employer relationship) generally does not qualify. Consult an RCIC if your situation involves self-employment income.
TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) is Canada's occupational classification system that replaced the old skill levels in 2022. TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3 are the qualifying levels for Express Entry CEC. TEER 4 and 5 are lower-skill occupations that do not qualify. Every Canadian job has an associated NOC (National Occupational Classification) code with a TEER level. Look up any job's NOC and TEER on the Government of Canada website before accepting a position you plan to use for CEC.
Express Entry defines full-time work as 30 or more hours per week. The 1-year CEC requirement can also be met through part-time work that totals 1,560 hours (the equivalent of 30 hours per week for 52 weeks). Multiple part-time positions can be combined to reach the hour threshold as long as they are in the same NOC TEER 0–3 category.
Yes. Any Canadian work experience in a TEER 0–3 occupation accumulated while on a valid study permit — including co-op work terms — counts toward the CEC requirement. You do not need to wait for your PGWP to begin accumulating qualifying work experience. This is one of the most significant advantages of co-op programmes for immigration planning.
