Express Entry Update — The First Education Draw Just Happened

• Type of draw: Category-Based Express Entry Draw — Education
• Invitations issued: 1,000
• CRS score: 479
• Tie-breaking rule: August 10, 2024 at 10:35:55 UTC
• Prediction for the next draw: Category-based draw on May 2

Our Analysis of This Education Category-Based Express Entry Draw

Today’s category-based Express Entry draw marks the first ever category-based draw targeting those in specific Education occupations. It was announced earlier this year that certain Education categories would be targeted in 2025, to address shortages in Canada’s education sector. You can learn more about eligibility for Canada’s education category.

Since it’s the first ever education draw, we don’t have previous draws to compare it to. But if we look at this draw in the broader context of category-based draws, the results show that this is a competitive category.

At 479, it’s the fourth highest CRS score requirement for any of the occupation category-based draws and the fifth highest CRS cut-off for any category-based round.

The only category-based rounds with higher CRS cut offs were:

1. STEM draw on April 11, 2024 inviting 4,500 with a CRS of 491.
2. STEM draw on July 5, 2023 inviting 500 with a score of 486
3. STEM draw on December 8, 2023 inviting 5,900 with a score of 481.
4. French language proficiency draw on October 25, 2023 inviting 300 candidates with a score of 486.

It’s also worth noting that there’s a good chance many of the candidates selected in this round have work experience in Canada. It is challenging for workers through the Federal Skilled Worker program to score this highly without relevant experience in Canada.

How Does The Education Category Work in Canada’s Express Entry System?

The education category is designed to help Canada attract and retain workers with education and experience in specific education-related occupations, namely:

• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
• Instructors of persons with disabilities
• Early childhood educators and assistants
• Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
• Secondary school teachers.

We hope the inclusion of early childhood education assistants is good news for those assistants working in BC who recently found out that the BCPNP will not be targeting early childhood education assistants in 2025.

Generally, category-based draws target workers with specific experience or language proficiencies across all programs, including Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, and Federal Skilled Trades programs.

How Many Education Category Draws Will There Be in 2025?

We aren’t certain at this time, since there have been relatively few draws to date this year. However, we would expect to see at least one more category-based round in 2025 targeting those in education occupations.

We would not be surprised if the CRS cut-off for future education rounds remained relatively competitive given the high score for this first round.