Federal Skilled Trades vs FSW: Which Program Fits You?
Express Entry's two "skilled" programs get confused constantly — partly because people search for a Federal Skilled Trades points calculator that cannot exist. FST has no points grid at all. Here's how the two programs actually differ, and which one to apply under.
The structural difference
FSW selects on accumulated human capital, scored on the 67-point grid. FST selects on proven trade attachment: every requirement is pass/fail, and no grid score exists — the only number an FST candidate ever needs is their CRS once in the pool.
| Federal Skilled Worker | Federal Skilled Trades | |
|---|---|---|
| Occupations | Any TEER 0–3 | Specified trade groups (construction, industrial, electrical, maintenance, cooking, butchery, and similar) |
| Experience | 1 year in the last 10 | 2 years in the last 5 |
| Language minimum | CLB 7, all four abilities | CLB 5 speaking & listening; CLB 4 reading & writing |
| Canadian connection | None required | Required: a 1-year job offer or a provincial/territorial certificate of qualification |
| Education | Scored, ECA needed for points | No requirement (ECA optional, helps CRS) |
| Points grid | 67 / 100 to pass | None — pass/fail only |
| Settlement funds | Required without a job offer | Required without a job offer |
The trade-off in one sentence
FST forgives language and education that would sink an FSW application — but demands a Canadian anchor (offer or certification) that FSW never asks for. That anchor is the hard part: certificates of qualification generally require assessment by a province, often including an in-Canada practical exam.
Check your trade before choosing
Look up your job title in Canada's National Occupational Classification and note both the code and the TEER digit. Major Group 72, 73, 82, 83, 92, 93 and unit groups 6320 and 62200 hold the FST-eligible trades; a TEER of 0–3 means the same experience also counts for FSW. Your reference letters must describe the duties of that code, not just repeat your title.
Which to choose
- Tradesperson abroad, no Canadian offer, strong English? Check FSW first — electricians, industrial mechanics, chefs and similar TEER 2–3 trades qualify for the grid, and CLB 7+ with a credential can clear 67 without any Canadian tie.
- Tradesperson with a Canadian offer or certification but modest language? FST exists precisely for you — CLB 5/4 is a far lower bar than FSW's CLB 7.
- Eligible for both? The program label barely matters once you're in the pool: invitations come by CRS cut-off, and 2026's trades category draws (around CRS 477 at first draw) select from both.
Either way, the pool is the destination, and the CRS is the score that gets you out of it — the system's two-score logic is explained in 67 points vs CRS.
Trades qualify for the grid too
Many TEER 2–3 trades clear 67 without a Canadian job offer. Score yourself and see.
Calculate my 67 points →