← All guidesWhat CLB do you need for the next Express Entry trades draw?
What CLB do you need for the next Express Entry trades draw? CLB requirements, the FSTP floor vs the invitation bar, and why language is the cheapest points lever.
By the IELTS Training editorial team · Last reviewed 2026-10-04Free account to read
The draw that moved the floor
On October 1, 2026, IRCC invited 3,500 tradespeople to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry's category-based trades draw, with a CRS cutoff of 476 (CIC News, Oct 1, 2026). That's roughly 40 points below the recent Canadian Experience Class draws sitting near 518. For trades workers, the message is clear: the category-based trades stream is the realistic door in — and language scores are the lever that decides whether you clear it.
The two bars: qualifying vs. getting invited
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