Eligibility for updated Express Entry Healthcare and Social Services Category

Surya Rathee
[Published 02 Apr, 2025 | 04:02 AM]
About Author - 7 min read
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Following recent category-based draw updates, Pharmacists, Social Workers, and Dental Hygienists now have a better opportunity to become permanent residents (PR) through the Express Entry Program.

On 27 February 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made major modifications to Express Entry categories. Among these changes was the addition of a new category (Education) and the removal of the Transport category. IRCC changed the list of occupations within existing categories, which also included expanding the Healthcare category to Social Service occupations.

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Healthcare and Social Service Category Occupations

Canada classifies jobs under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system that organizes jobs depending upon their role and responsibility. The following guide explains how to determine if your work experience qualifies under the expanded healthcare and social services category.

How to Check Your Eligibility?

To be eligible for this category, you would need to have at least 6 months of uninterrupted full-time working experience (or the equivalent value of part-time experience) under an eligible profession within the past three years. Here's how you can verify whether you have sufficient experience:

Step 1: Identify Your NOC Code

Visit the NOC Canada page. From the "Filter items" text box, you can enter your job title or relevant keywords. If your job is not listed under the initial search, try different job titles (e.g., "editor" instead of "journalist"). Once you've figured that out, take note of the TEER number and NOC code, which correspond closely to your profession.

Step 2: Verify Your Job Duties

Visit Employment and Social Development Canada's (ESDC) website. Employ the "Search by NOC Code" function to locate your profession. Use the “Search by NOC Code” feature to find your occupation. Review the "main duties" section to ensure your work experience aligns with the lead statement and essential job responsibilities.

Step 3: Check Express Entry Eligibility

Go to the Express Entry category-based selection page. Under "Find out who's eligible for each category," choose "Healthcare and social service occupations." Check whether your NOC code is mentioned, as this indicates eligibility for the category.

Job Title Examples For All Newly Eligible Occupations

How does Express Entry Work?

Foreign nationals eligible to apply under Canada's Express Entry Program do not automatically become eligible to apply for Canada PR. They need to first be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and meet the requirements of one of three federal immigration programs managed through Express Entry:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

To apply for Express Entry, the candidates have to be at least eligible for one of these programs. They are then ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points based on age, education, work experience, and language skills. Express Entry draws take place regularly, inviting candidates with the highest CRS scores who are eligible to apply for PR. After receiving an ITA, applicants have 60 days to file a complete PR application. 

These draws may be:

• General
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Program-specific draws
• Category-specific draws
• Category-based draws focus on individuals with specific work experience or language skills that align with Canada’s economic priorities.

IRCC has announced six Express Entry categories this year.

• Healthcare and social services occupations
• Education occupations
• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations
• French-language proficiency.

You can click on the link provided below to read more regarding these Express Entry occupations.

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Read More: Key updates to the Express Entry categories

Source: canada.ca