Education Occupations Express Entry Category

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).

What is the Education Occupations Express Entry Category?

The Education Category introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in its Express Entry system targets skilled professionals in teaching and childcare roles.

This category was introduced to help address labour shortages in the education sector and supports IRCC’s strategic, category‑based selection approach for 2025.

This category includes five eligible occupations: secondary and elementary school teachers, early childhood educators, instructors for persons with disabilities, and teacher assistants. Each has a specific NOC code and TEER level.

Express Entry Categories for 2026

These are the selected categories for this year. Click on each category to get more information:

• French-language proficiency: For applicants with a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens
• Healthcare and social services occupations: Physicians, nurses, dentists, psychologists and other practitioners, also veterinarians and social workers.
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations: For carpenters, plumbers, contractors, and others
• Education occupations: Teachers, early childhood educators, special needs instructors, and others
• Transport occupations
• Physicians with Canadian work experience
• Senior managers with Canadian work experience
• Researchers with Canadian work experience
• Skilled military recruits

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.

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 one year of full-time, cumulative work experience (or an equivalent in part-time work experience) in one single eligible occupation listed below. If your work experience spans multiple occupations, you will need to accumulate one year in a single occupation to qualify.

Occupations Eligible For Express Entry Education Category Draws

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

Here is the list of current occupations and their specific NOC codes that are eligible for education category-based draws under the Canadian Express Entry system:

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 one year of work experience in the last three years in an eligible skilled Education occupation. 

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

Not anymore. Starting February 18 of 2026, the minimum work experience increased from 6 months to 1 year.

This means there are two separate work experience requirements to meet:

• You must meet the work experience criteria for one of the three Express Entry programs (FSW, CEC, or FST). Each of these programs has different work experience requirements, usually between one and two years, andthis experience does not need to be in the field of education. You can check your eligibility using our CRS calculator.
• but you you must also have at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) experience in an eligible education occupation within the last three years.

Importan: the work experience used to qualify for the Express Entry program does not need to be in the same job as your experience in the education occupation category.

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 Free Express Entry 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 equation 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.

Education Occupations Express Entry Category FAQs 

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

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

This is up to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You need to wait for the next Express Entry Draw for the Education Category.

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 fixed schedule for education-related draws. The IRCC may prioritize these draws based on labour market needs and the number of invitations already issued for that specific category, which means they may occur irregularly.

Staying in the pool with an updated profile 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. Review this page for all you need to know. 

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.