Learn about the language, education and work experience requirements for eligible applicants.
Alberta Opportunity Stream criteria may apply at the time your application is submitted, at the time the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) assesses your application, or both. Review the criteria carefully to understand eligibility requirements.
Important: The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 version applies to all AAIP applications submitted on or after November 16, 2022.
If you submitted your application on or before November 15, 2022, review the NOC 2016 of the requirements (PDF, 527 KB) that apply to you.
At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes you to work in Canada, that is, a temporary foreign worker permit.
NOC 2021 update: Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) based work permits issued under NOC 2016 version continue to be accepted by the AAIP.
At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must have a valid work permit – not status maintained during processing (formerly implied status) or restoration status.
Valid work permits are based on one of the following:
If your work permit type is not included in the list above, you are not eligible to apply.
The following individuals cannot apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream:
At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must work in an eligible occupation in Alberta. Occupation requirements also apply to your work experience and job offer.
You must review the work experience criteria and eligible job offer criteria sections below for details.
The occupation you are working in at the time your application is submitted is your ‘current occupation’.
Important: The NOC 2021 version applies to all AAIP applications submitted on or after November 16, 2022. Use IRCC’s Find your NOC tool to find the NOC 2021 version of your occupation.
If you submitted your application on or before November 15, 2022, review the NOC 2016 version of the occupation requirements (PDF, 527 KB) that applied to you.
Most occupations under NOC TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 are eligible under the AAIP.
Individuals working in the following occupations at the time of submission and assessment are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
Table 1. List of ineligible occupations
NOC code (2021) | NOC TEER category | Occupation |
---|---|---|
00010 | 0 | Legislators |
40021 | 0 | School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education |
40030 | 0 | Managers in social, community and correctional services |
40041 | 0 | Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers |
60040* | 0 | Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers |
41100 | 1 | Judges |
41220 | 1 | Secondary school teachers |
41221 | 1 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
51111 | 1 | Authors and writers (except technical) |
51122 | 1 | Musicians and singers |
42200* | 2 | Justices of the peace |
42202* | 2 | Early childhood educators who do not have certification through Alberta Children’s Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office or who have been certified as Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant) |
43100 | 3 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
43109 | 3 | Other instructors |
53121 | 3 | Actors, comedians and circus performers |
53122 | 3 | Painters, sculptors and other visual artists |
53124 | 3 | Artisans and craftspersons |
53200 | 3 | Athletes |
63101 | 3 | Real estate agents and salespersons |
33100* | 3 | Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers |
44100 | 4 | Home child care providers |
44101 | 4 | Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
64321 | 4 | Casino occupations |
55109 | 5 | Other performers |
65109 | 5 | Other sales related occupations |
65211 | 5 | Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport |
65229 | 5 | Other support occupations in personal services |
65329 | 5 | Other service support occupations |
75200 | 5 | Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs |
85101 | 5 | Harvesting labourers |
85102 | 5 | Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers |
85104 | 5 | Trappers and hunters |
85110 | 5 | Mine labourers |
85121 | 5 | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers |
If you are unsure whether your occupation is on this list:
If you are a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder, your occupation must also be related to your field of study in Alberta. Review the education requirements section for details on eligible Alberta credentials and approved Alberta institutions.
You must confirm the TEER Category for your occupation in the NOC 2021 and use the TEER Category to determine your minimum language score using the table below.
If you submitted your application on or before November 15, 2022 review the NOC 2016 version of the language requirements (PDF, 527 KB) that applied to you.
You must demonstrate you meet the following language test score in English or French at the time that you submit your application. You must meet the scores based on a single test result.
Table 2. Language requirements
National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category | Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score required | Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) test score required |
---|---|---|
If you are working in a NOC 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation | Minimum of 5 for each English language skill | Minimum of 5 for each French language skill |
If you are working in a NOC 4 or 5 occupation | Minimum of 4 for each English language skill | Minimum of 4 for each French language skill |
If you apply to the AAIP under NOC code 33102 (nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), the AAIP requires a minimum language test score of CLB of 7 for each English language skill, or NCLC of 7 for each French language skill.
You must provide your official test results with your AAIP application for one of the following language tests:
Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your application was submitted. The date used to determine the age of your tests results is the date you took the test, not the date your test results were released. The AAIP will not accept confirmation of registration to take a language test in place of a test result.
Check the federal guideline on CLB/NCLC equivalency for each of the tests.
For information about language requirements in place from 2019 to 2021, read the Alberta Opportunity Stream changes below.
As of January 1, 2021, at the time your application is submitted, you must have completed a minimum of high school education equivalent to Canadian standards.
You must provide a copy of an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by an organization designated by IRCC for your highest level of education. If your ECA report shows that your credential is not equal to completion of Canadian high school or the ECA states your foreign educational institution is not recognized, you do not meet the education requirement.
You do not need to provide an ECA if:
The AAIP reserves the right to request an ECA from any candidate and/or to seek an internal educational assessment from the International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS) or Advanced Education to confirm a candidate meets the minimum Canadian high school equivalent requirement.
PGWP holders must meet the following additional education requirements at the time of application submission.
Your credential must be issued by an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.
Your credential must be an Alberta Advanced Education approved credential (also known as a minister approved credential).
Publicly funded post-secondary institutions can also issue credentials without the approval of the Minister of Advanced Education. These are known as institution approved credentials. Institution approved credentials are not eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Some examples may include credentials issued for non-credit and continuing education programs.
Confirm with your post-secondary institution if your credential is a ministry or institution approved credential before you apply for nomination as a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder.
Eligible Alberta Advanced Education approved credentials:
If you started attending your Alberta credential program before April 1, 2019, you can also qualify with an entry-level certificate (minimum one year in length).
Your ‘current occupation’ is the occupation you are working in at the time your application is submitted.
Your current occupation must also match your work experience at the time your application is submitted and at the time the AAIP assesses your application.
At the time your application is submitted you must have either:
Post-Graduation Work Permit holders require a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
For all applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders, work experience in the qualifying period:
All applicants, including PGWP holders, must meet the following licensing, registration and certification requirements at the time your application is submitted and the time the AAIP assesses your application:
For all applicants, including PGWP holders, at the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must have a bona fide full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation in Alberta.
Your Alberta employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
Your job offer or employment contract must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer:
You must meet the terms agreed to in your job offer or employment contract at the time of your application is submitted and at the time the AAIP assesses your application.
The following individuals are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, even if they have a job offer to work 30 hours a week or more in a 12-month period: