An applicant with a CRS score of 429 under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program asked about their chances of getting a provincial nomination from Ontario (OINP) or Alberta (AINP), and how long it typically takes after launching an Express Entry profile.
What the group said:- OINP's cut-off has historically run around 453+ for most in-demand NOCs — meaning a CRS of 429 alone would generally sit below the threshold OINP has drawn from for many occupations. (Cut-offs vary by draw and NOC, so this is a reference point, not a guarantee.)
- Alberta (AINP) usually selects candidates directly from the Express Entry pool via its own targeted draws, rather than requiring a separate expression of interest process the way some other provinces do.
Practical takeaway:- A CRS in the high 420s is likely below typical recent OINP cut-offs for many NOCs, so a nomination from OINP alone may be unlikely without other targeted streams (e.g., Human Capital Priorities, French-language, or Tech Draw where available).
- Alberta's EE stream pulls directly from the pool, so keep your profile updated and Alberta selected as a province of interest.
- Since cut-offs shift with every draw and vary heavily by NOC, check the latest OINP and AINP draw results directly rather than relying on a single historical figure.