Certificate of Qualification for Express Entry: A Complete Guide

A Certificate of Qualification is used to demonstrate that an individual is qualified to work in a certain trade occupation in Canada. Normally the individual must take specialized training in order to pass a licensing exam to demonstrate that they have the knowledge to work safely in that specific occupation.



The Certificate of Qualification is perhaps the most confusing factor of the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System scoring. Candidates who hold a valid Certificate of Qualification are awarded 50 points in their CRS ranking.  In order for these 50 points to be awarded, the Certificate of Qualification needs to meet the following 3 requirements:

The first step in determining whether you can claim the 50 points for a Certificate of Qualification is to understand if your certificate is for one of the eligible occupations that IRCC has designated for Express Entry. IRCC has included a list of occupations that require a certificate of qualification in the processing manual for Express Entry. Only certificates issued for that list of occupations are eligible for the 50 skills transferability points.  Note that this list is not the same as the list of skilled trades eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades program.  It’s also important to note that the applicant does not need to have actually worked in the occupation in order to be eligible for the 50 points. 

Certificate of Qualification List

The occupations and NOC codes eligible for Express Entry points for a Certificate of Qualification are:

22114 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists

22212 Drafting technologists and technicians

22311 Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)

22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics

62200 Chefs

63200 Cooks

63201 Butchers – retail and wholesale

63202 Bakers

63210 Hairstylists and barbers

72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations

72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations

72012 Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades

72013 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades

72014 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers

72020 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades

72021 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews

72022 Supervisors, printing and related occupations

72023 Supervisors, railway transport operations

72024 Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators

72025 Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations

72100 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors

72101 Tool and die makers

72102 Sheet metal workers

72103 Boilermakers

72104 Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters

72105 Ironworkers

72106 Welders and related machine operators

72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)

72201 Industrial electricians

72202 Power system electricians

72203 Electrical power line and cable workers

72204 Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers

72205 Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians

72300 Plumbers

72301 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers

72302 Gas fitters

72310 Carpenters

72311 Cabinetmakers

72320 Bricklayers

72321 Insulators

72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics

72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics

72402 Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics

72403 Railway carmen/women

72404 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors

72405 Machine fitters

72406 Elevator constructors and mechanics

72410 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers

72411 Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators

72420 Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics

72421 Appliance servicers and repairers

72422 Electrical mechanics

72423 Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics

72429 Other small engine and small equipment repairers

72500 Crane operators

72501 Water well drillers

72999 Other technical trades and related occupations

73100 Concrete finishers

73101 Tilesetters

73102 Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers

73110 Roofers and shinglers

73111 Glaziers

73112 Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)

73113 Floor covering installers

73200 Residential and commercial installers and servicers

73201 General building maintenance workers and building superintendents

73202 Pest controllers and fumigators

73209 Other repairers and servicers

73310 Railway and yard locomotive engineers

73311 Railway conductors and brakemen/women

73400 Heavy equipment operators

73401 Printing press operators

73402 Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction

82010 Supervisors, logging and forestry

82020 Supervisors, mining and quarrying

82021 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

82030 Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors

82031 Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

83100 Underground production and development miners

83101 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers

83110 Logging machinery operators

83120 Fishing masters and officers

83121 Fishermen/women

92010 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing

92011 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities

92012 Supervisors, food and beverage processing

92013 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing

92014 Supervisors, forest products processing

92015 Supervisors, textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing

92020 Supervisors, motor vehicle assembling

92021 Supervisors, electronics and electrical products manufacturing

92022 Supervisors, furniture and fixtures manufacturing

92023 Supervisors, other mechanical and metal products manufacturing

92024 Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly

92100 Power engineers and power systems operators

92101 Water and waste treatment plant operators

93100 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing

93101 Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing

93102 Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators

Certificate of Qualification - Issuing Authority

If your Certificate of Qualification matches one of the NOC codes on the IRCC list, then the next step is to determine who issued your Certificate of Qualification and who gave them the authority to issue the certificate.



In order to claim the 50 points for Certificate of Qualification, your certificate must be issued by a Competent Canadian Authority that has been legally delegated to be the regulator on the basis of either federal or provincial legislation. This means that legislation has to exist at either the federal or provincial level that says the organization who issued your certificate was appointed to do so by either the Federal government or the provincial / territorial government.

Certificate of Qualification - what activities are authorized?

The final step is to understand what actions you are qualified to take based on the Certificate of Qualification that you hold. Your certificate must authorize you to be an operator-in-charge or the overall responsible operator in the trade in which you are qualified.

Some of the acceptable certificates of qualification include the following:

• Journeyperson certificates
• Red Seal certificates
• Class 1 operator
• Certificate of Qualification

Some of the ineligible certificates of qualification include the following:

• Apprenticeship Certificates
• Vocational program certificates, diplomas or degrees
• Operator-in Training Certificates
• Certificates issued by trade associations or by manufacturer of materials



 In order for you to receive the 50 Skills Transferability points for a Certificate of Qualification, your certificate must meet all 3 of the requirements outlined in this article - it must be for an occupation on the eligible list, issued by a competent authority and authorize the holder to be in charge of the jobsite. It’s important to be certain that you qualify before applying for Permanent Residence, as IRCC will remove your 50 points and decline your PR application if you submit a certificate that does not meet all of the specific requirements.

The Way Immigration has been working with the Express Entry system ever since it's introduction in 2015. Our Calgary immigration office is ready to help you maximize your Express Entry CRS points in order to jump start your move to Canada. Contact us today to schedule an immigration consultation to gain the clarity and peace of mind you need regarding Canadian immigration.