Healthcare Category-Based Express Entry Draws

In 2024, applicants falling into the Healthcare occupations category received just over 24% of all Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued through these targeted category draws, and 10% of all ITAs issued across all draw types.

With the 2025- 2027 immigration levels plan in force, we expect around 10,000 of the 41,000 spots allocated to category draws to go to applicants with Healthcare experience. With a decrease in provincial nominee draws and a lack of general/ all program draws, if you have the relevant experience, Healthcare occupation draws may be your ticket to Canada.

This article will provide you with everything you need to know about Healthcare Occupations draws under Canada’s Express Entry system.

Recent Healthcare Occupations Express Entry Draws

Here is a full list of all the French Language Proficiency draws since the category was first introduced.

What Is A Category-Based Healthcare 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 healthcare and other high-demand professions.

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

Eligibility For Healthcare 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 Healthcare Category Draws

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

How To Apply For Healthcare Express Entry Draws

Step 1: You must be eligible for Express Entry

The first step to getting invited to apply in a healthcare-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, healthcare workers 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 a healthcare-focused draw, your profile will be flagged as eligible for a healthcare-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 healthcare 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.

Healthcare-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 Healthcare-Specific Draws FAQ

Answers to some frequently asked questions about Healthcare- 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 healthcare. 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 healthcare 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 healthcare category. 

Does my primary occupation need to be in a healthcare occupation to be selected in a healthcare draw? 

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

When will I receive an ITA for a healthcare-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 healthcare-specific draws.

Healthcare workers 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.

Will healthcare-specific Express Entry draws stop? 

This depends on IRCC’s policies, but the Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027 suggested that healthcare draws will continue through to at least November 2025. That being said, the document is a plan – not a promise – and IRCC’s processing priorities can change at any time.  

If I have a healthcare occupation, does my CRS score still matter? 

Yes. Your CRS score always matters. However, healthcare-specific draws often have a lower CRS cut-off compared to other draws types. For instance, healthcare draws in 2024 had a CRS cut-off in the 420-460 range, while the CEC CRS cut-off was higher than 510 for most draws in 2024.

How often will IRCC hold healthcare-specific draws? 

There is no set schedule for healthcare-specific draws. IRCC may prioritize these draws based on labour market needs, which could mean they occur irregularly. In 2024, they occurred around every five months.  

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

My spouse qualifies for a healthcare-specific draw. Can my profile receive the ITA? 

No. To receive an ITA in a healthcare-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 a Healthcare Worker?

Every year, healthcare workers 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 healthcare system, which makes it an ideal place for healthcare professionals to launch their careers. Labour market insights for healthcare workers reveal the scope of labour shortages and worker prospects across Canada.

Canada is constantly recruiting healthcare professionals, as the sector is vulnerable to labour shortages. It is estimated that about 500,000 healthcare workers in Canada will retire within the next decade. Meanwhile, the national population is increasing. Put these trends together, and it’s clear why Canada is looking abroad for healthcare workers of all kinds. As of 2022, immigrants accounted for one out of every four healthcare sector workers in Canada. This share is set to increase over time.

Canada’s labour shortages could be your opportunity. Express Entry healthcare draws prioritise healthcare workers for permanent residency, which comes with the right to live anywhere in Canada and not be tied to any specific employer. Accompanying family members can also settle in Canada with the principal applicant.

So, how can you take advantage of Express Entry healthcare draws — the new Canadian immigration pathway for health workers? Use the jump menu below to easily navigate this page, and find the information you need to start your healthcare career in Canada.

How Can You Get a Healthcare Job In Canada?

The process of working in healthcare in Canada for foreign-trained workers is sometimes tricky due to credential recognition issues. The healthcare sector is regulated by the provincial and territorial governments in many instances.

While policies have been changing over the years to address credential recognition for foreign-trained healthcare workers, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the regulatory body for your profession in the province where you would like to work.

Start Right with Scotiabank

As you plan your move to Canada, make sure you keep your finances front of mind and choose a bank that is available to support you through your journey.

With the Scotiabank StartRight^® Program you can earn up to $1,800* in value during your first year as a newcomer.

From helping you understand banking basics to finding the right advisor, setting financial goals and more — the StartRight™ Program will help make banking in Canada easier.

Book an appointment with a Scotiabank Advisor.

Value of up to $1,800 is calculated as follows: i) up to $583.30 first year value with the StartRight Program + ii) Up to $1,237 in Preferred Package and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite welcome offer and first year point earn potential:

1. Value of up to $583.30 is an annual potential value for the first year based on the following benefits and savings available to StartRightTM customers as of November 1, 2023:

• $203.40 in account fee savings for a Preferred Package chequing account ($16.95 monthly account fee waived for first 12 months);
• $280 in fee savings when compared to in-branch Swift Wire Transfers (assumes an annual average of 7 in-branch Swift Wire Transfers at $40 per transfer);
• $99.90 in fee savings for 10 free equity trades with iTRADE (10 free equity trades per year at $9.99/trade);

Actual value will depend on individual usage of the StartRight™ Program features and products. Conditions apply. All products and features are subject to change.

2. Value of up to $1,237 in Scotiabank welcome offers and first year point earn potential includes the following offers as of November 1, 2023:

• $550 ($350 cash offer for new Preferred Package customers + $50 when you open a new TFSA or RRSP & set up a pre authorized contribution + $150 when you deposit $3,000 into a new registered plan);
• $350 value for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite customers who can earn up to 30,000 bonus Scene+TM* points plus $50 annual fee waiver on your first supplementary card;
• $287 in first year point earn potential (28,733 Scene+ points) on everyday purchases based on average annual first year spend per account with an average spend of 19% in 2x accelerator categories.

Actual offers and rewards earned will depend on individual card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.