Automotive technician 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 72410 sits in group 724, so it counts. You need at least 2 years of full-time work (or the same part-time) within the last 5 years, gained where you were qualified to practise, 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

In 2026 IRCC runs draws only for people with experience in a transport job on its list. The panel above shows the latest one; transport rounds have been smaller than most. 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.

Getting certified to work

Automotive Service Technician is a Red Seal trade, designated in every province and territory, and Truck and Transport Mechanic is a Red Seal trade under the same NOC code. The NOC says trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta, and voluntary elsewhere.

• Ontario: Skilled Trades Ontario issues the Certificate of Qualification. If your experience is from outside Canada, the Trade Equivalency Assessment comes first: it decides whether you can challenge the certifying exam, and it asks for experience at least equal to the full apprenticeship time.
• Alberta: the trade is on the compulsory certification list. A credential from outside Canada that Alberta does not recognise directly goes through the Trades Qualifier – Work Experience Program, which does not by itself give you permission to work in Canada.

What automotive technicians 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.