Starting November 1, 2024, international students in Canada will need to meet additional requirements to qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after completing certain programs.
IRCC has recently released the updated details surrounding which programs are eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Eligible Fields of Study for Post-Graduation Work Permits
To qualify for a PGWP, your field of study must align with Canada’s current labor market needs. These needs are reflected in the Express Entry categories introduced in 2023. These include:
- Agriculture and Agri-Food: This includes fields related to farming, food processing, and agricultural technology.
- Healthcare: This encompasses various healthcare professions, from nursing and medicine to allied health fields.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): This category covers a wide range of technical and scientific fields.
- Trades: This includes vocational and technical trades, such as construction, manufacturing, and skilled trades.
- Transport: This category covers fields related to transportation, logistics, and supply chain management.
CIP Codes and Eligible Programs
To determine if your program qualifies, you can use the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. This system categorizes educational programs in Canada, similar to how the National Occupation Classification (NOC) categorizes jobs.
Here are some examples of eligible programs for each field of study, 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/programmer, 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 and instructor | 49.0205 | Transport |
| Flight instructor | 49.0108 | Transport |
| Transportation and materials moving, other | 49.9999 | Transport |
How to Find Your CIP Code
- Go to the Statistics Canada webpage for the 2021 CIP
- Use the search bar to find keywords related to your program. Explore the available fields of study links
- The results will likely lead you to a table of sub-categories. Navigate through the sub categories until you find what you need. If you are unsure, click “display definitions” to learn more about each category.
- Choose the most relevant sub-category. The final table will list specific programs. You can use “display definitions” if needed.
- The final page will provide information about the program, including examples and exclusions. Remember that program titles are general, so descriptions are crucial for choosing the right code.
Do You Need Help Applying for PGWP?
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