Foreign workers employed in certain occupations can improve their chances of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR). In some cases, as little as six months of work experience in a targeted occupation can make a strong difference.
To benefit from this system, candidates must gain work experience in an occupation listed under Express Entry’s category-based selections and wait for a draw that targets that category.
Check eligibility for all Express Entry categories
Today, we will discuss the best occupations for getting PR through Express Entry, including:
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- STEM occupations
- Trade occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- Education occupations
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
What Are Category-Based Express Entry Draws?
In category-based invitation rounds, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invites candidates from the Express Entry pool who meet the requirements of a specific category. These categories are created by the Immigration Minister to meet Canada’s economic or population needs.
Categories may be based on:
- Work experience in a specific occupation
- Ability in an official language
- Other factors considered important for Canada’s labour market or society
Even in category-based draws, IRCC still follows the same core steps:
- It identifies eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool
- It ranks them using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
- It invites the highest-ranking eligible candidates
What Is Needed To Qualify Under An Occupation Category?
To be eligible for an occupation-based category draw, a candidate must:
- Be eligible under one of Express Entry’s three programs and have an active profile in the pool
- Have at least six months of work experience (in Canada or abroad) within the last three years in an occupation listed under a category
- Meet any extra conditions listed in the ministerial instructions for that draw
Note: The work experience requirement is higher for the Physicians with Canadian work experience category.
Healthcare And Social Services Occupations
This category includes both regulated healthcare professionals and social service workers. It covers roles such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and social workers. In 2025, IRCC identified this category as a top priority under Express Entry.
- Last draw: December 11, 2025
- Number of draws held in 2025: Seven
- CRS cut-off score range: 462 – 510
Healthcare And Social Services Category
| Occupation Title | NOC 2021 Code |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 31112 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
Note: NOC stands for National Occupation Classification. It is used by the Canadian government to organize all occupations. IRCC relies on the NOC system when immigration eligibility depends on work experience or occupation.
Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math (STEM) Occupations
This category mainly includes engineering roles and technical positions. Cybersecurity is also part of this group. Moreover, it is important to note that no STEM category draws were held in 2025.
- Last draw: April 11, 2024
- Number of draws held in 2025: None
- CRS cut-off score: 486 – 491
STEM Category
| Occupation Title | NOC 2021 Code |
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 |
| Mechanical engineers | 21301 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 |
| Geological engineers | 21331 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 |
| Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 22301 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 |
| Insurance agents and brokers | 63100 |
Trade Occupations
The trades category includes construction leaders, industrial trades, and some finishing trades. In 2025, IRCC listed this category as a priority.
- Last draw: September 18, 2025
- Number of draws held in 2025: One
- CRS cut-off score: 505
Trades Category
| Occupation Title | NOC 2021 Code |
| Construction estimators | 22303 |
| Cooks | 63200 |
| Construction managers | 70010 |
| Home building and renovation managers | 70011 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 |
| Other technical trades and related occupations | 72999 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 |
Agriculture And Agri-Food Occupations
This category has been reduced over time. It now includes only one occupation, compared to three in earlier years.
- Last draw: February 16, 2024
- Number of draws held in 2025: None
- CRS cut-off score: 354 – 437
Agriculture Category
| Occupation Title | NOC 2021 Code |
| Butchers – retail and wholesale | 63201 |
Education Occupations
This category was introduced in 2025 and includes teachers and education support staff. IRCC treated it as a priority category last year.
- Last draw: September 17, 2025
- Number of draws held in 2025: Two
- CRS cut-off score: 462 – 479
Education Category
| Occupation Title | NOC 2021 Code |
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 41221 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 |
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 |
Physicians With Canadian Work Experience
This is the newest Express Entry category. It is limited to physicians who already have Canadian work experience.
The work experience rules for this group are stricter than for other categories.
Candidates must have 12 months of full-time work experience (or equal part-time work) in Canada within the past three years, in one of the listed physician occupations.
IRCC has stated that invitations under this category are expected to start in early 2026.
- Last draw: N/A
- Number of draws held in 2025: N/A
- CRS score range: N/A
Physicians With Canadian Work Experience Category
| Occupation Title | NOC 2021 Code |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
Why “Priority” Categories Change Each Year?
Not all categories receive the same number of draws each year. IRCC selects immigration priorities at the start of every year and aligns Express Entry invitations with those goals.
For example, in its February 27, 2025 announcement, IRCC confirmed it would focus on Francophone immigration, along with healthcare, trades, and education.
How IRCC Chooses Express Entry Categories?
IRCC selects categories using:
- Labour market data and future workforce needs; and
- Feedback from provinces, territories, and other partners.
Each category is linked to Canada’s economic or population goals. IRCC must also support balanced use of official languages and address long-term labour shortages.
Every year, IRCC reports to Parliament on:
- Which categories were chosen
- Why and how they were selected
- The instructions used to create them
- The number of invitations issued
How To Check If A Job Matches A Category-Eligible NOC?
As we have discussed the best occupations for getting PR through Express Entry, let us see how one can check if a job matches a category-eligible NOC.
Well, because the NOC system is large, the most important rule is simple: the job duties matter more than the job title.
A role matches a NOC when the main duties performed closely match the duties listed in the NOC description.
Each occupation also has a TEER level (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities), which shows the general skill level of the job.
Step-By-Step Guide To Matching A NOC
- Visit the official NOC website and select NOC 2021 Version 1.0.
- Search using a job title or a NOC code from the tables above.
- Compare real work duties with the “main duties” listed in the NOC.
- Check the “exclusions” section to make sure the job is not excluded.
- If duties do not match well, review another occupation.
- When preparing proof of work experience, ensure reference letters clearly describe duties that match the selected NOC.
Correctly matching a NOC is essential, as IRCC bases eligibility on actual job duties rather than job titles alone.
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