I thought Canadians could work on a TN visa in the US with minimal complications.
1.5 years for me to go~ (currently in TO).
This is completely inaccurate unless you mean without a post-secondary degree. Tons of new grads head south on a TN straight after graduating, even if they didn't do co-op.
Disclosure: currently living in Waterloo as I was unable to obtain a TN.
3 years of work experience is equivalent to 1 year of university. So, if you have no degree, you'd need 12 years of work experience.