Education Category-Based Express Entry Draws

This aims to address labor shortages by prioritising candidates with experience in five key educational occupations.

If you work in education and want to immigrate to Canada, this category could be your opportunity to qualify for Express Entry with a lower CRS score than general draws.

Below, we’ll explore how education category draws work, the occupations included, eligibility criteria, and tips to improve your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Recent Education Category Express Entry Draws

Here is a full list of all the education category draws, as they happen. As this category has just been introduced, we are waiting for the first draw.

What Is A Category-Based Education Express Entry Draw

IRCC conducts three different types of Express Entry draws:

1. General rounds: These invite top-ranked candidates who are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry programs.
2. Program-specific rounds: These focus on candidates based on the specific program they are eligible for, such as FSW, CEC, FST, or a provincial nominee program. Notably, this is how IRCC often targets candidates who are already in Canada.
3. Category-based rounds: These target candidates in the pool with work experience in specific occupations. The current categories include roles such as Education and other high-demand professions.

Category-based draws provide an opportunity for Education professionals to receive invitations based on their specific skills and experience, helping address labor market needs in Canada.

Current Express Entry Categories include:

• French language proficiency
• Healthcare
• Trade
• Education
• STEM
• Agriculture and Agri-Food

Eligibility For Education Category Draws

To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, you must:

• Qualify for one of the three main immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
• Meet the minimum requirements for the round, including the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off and tiebreaker rules.

Additionally, you must have at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equivalent in part-time work experience) in one eligible occupation listed below. If your work experience spans multiple occupations, you will need to accumulate six months in a single occupation to qualify.

Occupations Eligible For Express Entry Education Category Draws

To be invited in an Education-specific draw, you need to have at least six months of eligible work experience within the past three years.

Below is the list of current occupations eligible for education category-based draws under the Canadian Express Entry system:

How To Apply For Education Express Entry Draws

Step 1: You must be eligible for Express Entry

The first step to getting invited to apply in an education-specific draw is to get into the Express Entry pool.

There are three possible programs you can be eligible for in order to join the Express Entry pool of candidates:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)

Generally, education professionals are most often eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) if they have Canadian work experience. Each program has its own set of eligibility requirements, including work experience, education, and language ability.

You can check your eligibility to enter the Express Entry pool using our Immigration quiz.

Step 2: Enter Your Profile Into the Express Entry Pool

If you’re eligible, you can submit your candidate profile to the Express Entry pool.

To improve your chances, stay updated on Express Entry Candidate Pool trends to assess your competitiveness. You can find our analysis of the Express Entry pool here.

Step 3: Check Your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score

After submitting your profile, you will receive a CRS score. This score determines your ranking in the Express Entry pool and is based on factors like age, education, work experience, and language ability.

You can also check your CRS points using our comprehensive online CRS points calculator. The benefit of using our tool is that you get a detailed overview of where you get your points and how your score compares to others in the pool.

Step 4: You will be identified as eligible for a category.

If you meet the qualifying criteria for an education-focused draw, your profile will be flagged as eligible for an education-specific category-based Express Entry draw.

Step 5: Your profile will be ranked.

Your CRS will be ranked alongside other candidates in the pool, both generally and within the ecuation category.

Step 6: IRCC Completes an Express Entry Draw and Sends Invitations to Apply

Your eligibility for an invitation depends on your CRS score and the cut-off for the draw. If your CRS score meets or exceeds the cut-off, you will receive an invitation to apply.

Education-specific draws, like general draws, have a CRS cut-off. If your score is below the cut-off, you will need to work on improving your CRS for future draws.

Final Steps: Apply for Permanent Residence

Once invited, you can submit your permanent residence application. If successful, you’ll be on your way to starting a new chapter in Canada. If not, use the time to enhance your profile and increase your CRS score for the next opportunity.

Express Entry Education-Specific Draws FAQ 

Answers to some frequently asked questions about Education-specific draws.  

I have 6+ months of work experience in an eligible occupation. Am I eligible?  

It depends. You must first be eligible for an Express Entry-managed program:  

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)  
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)  
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)  

You can check your eligibility using our CRS calculator. 

For any of these programs, you will need 1-2 years of eligible work experience, but not necessarily in Education. So the work experience requirements are two different requirements:   

You must meet the work experience requirement for one of the three Express Entry managed programs; AND You must have 6+ months of experience in an eligible Education occupation.  

But, your work experience for the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class eligibility does not need to be in the same job as your work experience to qualify for the Education category.  

Does my primary occupation need to be in an Education occupation to be selected in an Education draw?  

No. You don’t need your primary occupation to be in an Education occupation to be selected. You simply need at least six months of work experience in the last three years in an eligible skilled Education occupation.  

When will I receive an ITA for an Education-specific draw? 

This is up to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

Canada holds Express Entry draws regularly, which could be all-program draws, program-specific draws, or category-based draws like Education-specific draws. 

Education professionals with competitive scores are likely to be invited within 12 months of entering the pool. If your CRS score is low, you might consider a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which can add 600 points to your CRS score and virtually guarantee an ITA. 

If I have an Education occupation, does my CRS score still matter?  

Yes. Your CRS score always matters. Because this is a new category, we do not know what a competitive CRS score will be to receive an ITA.  

How often will IRCC hold Education-specific draws?  

There is no set schedule for Education-specific draws. IRCC may prioritise these draws based on labour market needs, which could mean they occur irregularly.  

Staying in the pool ensures you’re eligible whenever a draw occurs.  

My spouse qualifies for an Education-specific draw. Can my profile receive the ITA?  

No. To receive an ITA in an Education-specific draw, the principal applicant must meet the eligibility criteria. If your spouse qualifies, they should create their own Express Entry profile and list themselves as the principal applicant. 

Why Move to Canada as an Education Professional? 

Every year, Education professionals from around the globe choose Canada for its high quality of life, overall safety, and welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds. 

Canada is world-renowned for its Education system, which makes it an ideal place for Education professionals to launch their careers. Labour market insights for Education workers reveal the scope of labour shortages and worker prospects across Canada. 

How Can You Get an Education Job In Canada? 

We have a page dedicated to finding employment in Canada as a teacher.  

How Can You increase Your Chances of getting an ITA in an Education Draw?

To improve your chances of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in an Education category draw, make sure you qualify and keep your Express Entry profile updated with the latest information. Watch for Express Entry draw trends to see what CRS scores are needed. If possible, boost your CRS score wherever you can.

Staying prepared and informed will help you get a better chance of being selected.