Aircraft mechanic in Canada: your Express Entry path, step by step

Three ways into the Express Entry pool

A draw can only invite people already in the Express Entry pool, through one of three programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker. Experience must be in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job; this one is TEER 2.
• Federal Skilled Trades. It covers NOC Major Group 72 except sub-major group 726, and 72404 sits in group 724, so it counts. You need at least 2 years of full-time work (3,120 hours) in the trade within the last 5 years, plus either a full-time job offer of at least 1 year or a Canadian certificate of qualification in the trade.
• Canadian Experience Class. For skilled work experience already gained in Canada.

The transport draws

Transport draws rank only people with recent experience in one of the four listed transport jobs, and they have been smaller than most. The panel above shows the latest one. You need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same part-time) in this occupation within the last 3 years. The months do not have to be in a row, and the work must match the NOC description of the job.

The AME licence

The NOC says mechanics and inspectors who sign maintenance releases need a Transport Canada AME licence. Transport Canada says there is no conversion of aircraft maintenance licences in Canada: everyone meets the requirements for a first licence, which include being at least 21, approved or acceptable basic training, civil maintenance experience and the required exams.

• Training from abroad: you submit your diploma, transcript and course curriculum, and Transport Canada assesses it case by case.
• ICAO licences: holders of certain maintenance licences from ICAO member countries may be exempt from the basic training requirement.

What aircraft mechanics earn

The panel above shows Job Bank's median hourly wage for this occupation across Canada, with pay by province and region on Job Bank.