
IRCC has published updated information on which programs qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
As per new guidelines announced in September, international graduates from certain study levels who apply for a PGWP after November 1 will be required to meet additional field of study criteria to be eligible for a work permit*.
Note: These field of study requirements do not apply to graduates of university bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD programs.
What are the Eligible Fields of Study for PGWPs?
Eligible fields of study for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) align with the occupation-based categories introduced by IRCC in 2023. These categories focus on national labor market needs and are grouped as follows:
Agriculture and Agri-food
Healthcare
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Trade
Transport
PGWP-eligible programs in these fields are categorized using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), Canada’s system for defining and classifying educational programs, similar to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system for jobs.
The table below provides examples of instructional programs eligible for a PGWP, along with their corresponding CIP codes:
CIP 2021 Title | CIP 2021 Code | Field of Study Category |
Agricultural business and management, general | 01.0101 | Agriculture and Agri-food |
Animal/livestock husbandry and production | 01.0302 | Agriculture and Agri-food |
Plant nursery operations and management | 01.0606 | Agriculture and Agri-food |
Animal health | 01.0903 | Agriculture and Agri-food |
Agronomy and crop science | 01.1102 | Agriculture and Agri-food |
Special education and teaching, general | 13.1001 | Healthcare |
Exercise physiology | 26.0908 | Healthcare |
Physical therapy assistant | 51.0806 | Healthcare |
Polysomnography | 51.0917 | Healthcare |
Cytotechnology/cytotechnologist | 51.1002 | Healthcare |
Computer programming, general | 11.0201 | STEM |
Chemical engineering | 14.0701 | STEM |
Engineering mechanics | 14.1101 | STEM |
Water, wetlands, and marine resources management | 03.0205 | STEM |
Computer graphics | 11.0803 | STEM |
Electrician | 46.0302 | Trade |
Heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration maintenance technology/technician | 47.0201 | Trade |
Machine tool technology/machinist | 48.0501 | Trade |
Insulator | 46.0414 | Trade |
Plumbing technology/plumber | 46.0503 | Trade |
Heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician | 47.0302 | Transport |
Air traffic controller | 49.0105 | Transport |
Truck and bus driver/commercial vehicle operator | 49.0205 | Transport |
Flight instructor | 49.0108 | Transport |
Transportation and materials moving, other | 49.9999 | Transport |
Note: This table does not cover all PGWP-eligible programs. For a comprehensive list, visit the IRCC website.
How to Find Your CIP Code
If you know the title of your instructional program and want to find the corresponding CIP code, follow these steps:
Go to the Statistics Canada CIP webpage: 2021 CIP Codes.
Use the search bar to look for keywords related to your program or navigate through the available field of study links.
From the main table, click on the relevant sub-category for your field of study.
Review the program descriptions and use the “display definitions” option if you're unsure about the appropriate sub-category.
Once you've identified the relevant sub-category, click through to view the specific instructional programs and their CIP codes.
New Language Criteria for PGWP Applicants
Along with field of study requirements, IRCC has introduced new language criteria for PGWP eligibility. The requirements vary by the level of study, as outlined in the table below:
Level of Study | Language Requirement | Field of Study Requirement |
University bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree | CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 areas | All fields of study eligible |
Any other university program | CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 areas | Must graduate in an eligible field of study |
College program or any other program not listed above | CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all 4 areas | Must graduate in an eligible field of study |
Note: If applying for a PGWP before November 1 of this year, field of study requirements do not apply, though applicants must still meet the language criteria listed above.
Comments