An applicant should possess the following language test score in English or French, if his application is mailed to the AINP or presented in the AINP portal on or after January 1, 2020.

National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level/ Code Canadian Benchmark (CLB) test score required for each English language skill Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) test score required for each French language skill
NOC 0, A or B occupation Minimum CLB 5 Minimum NCLC 5
NOC C or D occupation Minimum CLB 4 Minimum NCLC 4
NOC code 3413 (nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) Minimum CLB 7 Minimum NCLC 7

Education Requirements

  • Candidates must have completed at least high school education in the country of origin at the time their application is mailed or submitted in the AINP portal.
  • Commencing January 1, 2021, all applicants except Post-Graduation Work Permit holders are required to complete at least high school equivalent to Alberta standards.
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit holders must possess Approved Alberta institutions credentials issued by an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.

Work Experience Requirements

  • Applicant’s current occupation must also match their work experience at the time their application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal and when the AINP assesses their application. At the time application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal candidate must have either:
    • At least 12 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, or
    • A minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in their current job in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months or both – this work experience can be a blend of experience earned in and outside Alberta or abroad.
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit holders need at least 6 months of full-time work experience in their current employment in Alberta within the last 18 months.
  • For all applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, work experience in the qualifying period:

    • Must have been full-time, for a minimum of 30 hours a week.
    • Must be for the same occupation as your current occupation.
    • Must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada.
    • Cannot have been obtained while studying in Canada and doing co-op work placements or internships as part of a study program, unless you are a PGWP holder who completed during paid co-op work terms as a part of your program of study at an Alberta post-secondary institution.
  • All applicants, including PGWP holders, must meet the following licensing, registration, and certification requirements:

    • Possess the required licensing, registration, or certification to work in their current occupation in Alberta at the time their application is mailed or submitted in the AINP portal and assessed for nomination.
    • Hold a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized trade certificate if working in a compulsory trade in Alberta.
    • If you are working as a childcare worker, you must have valid certification as a child development worker (formerly Level 2) or child development supervisor (formerly Level 3).

Job Offer Requirements

  • For all applicants, including PGWP holders, at the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal, and assessed for nomination, they must hold a bona fide full-time employment offer or contract from an Alberta employer to work in their current occupation in Alberta.
  • The candidate’s employer must be incorporated or registered by or under the legislature act of a province, territory, or Canadian Parliament and functioning as a business that has an established production capability, plant, or place of business in Alberta.
  • Applicant’s job offer must be signed by them and their employer and must offer:
    a) Continuous, paid work
    b) Full-time work (minimum of 30 hours per week)
    c) 12 months of employment or more
    d) Wages and benefits that meet provincial minimum wage and:

    • Meet or exceed the requirements set out in LMIA, or
    • If you are LMIA exempt, meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta.
  • The following individuals are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the AOS, even if they have a job offer to work 30 hours a week or more in a 12-month period:

    • Part-time, casual, or seasonal employees, regardless of their working hours
    • Independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, including individuals listed as directors, shareholders, or agents of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES)
    • Employees who work in Alberta in a place of employment that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations, such as a home-based business
    • Employees who do not work on premises in Alberta, such as those who work in a ‘virtual’ location or serve the employer by telecommuting from a location outside Alberta.