Exciting news for healthcare and social services professionals! Pharmacists, social workers, dental hygienists, and many others now have a better chance at Canadian permanent residence (PR) through Express Entry’s category-based selection draws.

On February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made major updates to Express Entry categories—including expanding the Healthcare & Social Services category to include new occupations.

If you work in healthcare or social services, this could be your fastest pathway to Canada.

 In this guide, we’ll cover:

•  Which occupations now qualify under the updated Healthcare & Social Services category
•  How to check if your work experience is eligible
•  Newly added NOC codes (with example job titles)
•  Why category-based draws give you a major advantage (lower CRS scores = higher chance of PR!)

Which Jobs Qualify Under the Healthcare & Social Services Category?

Canada uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to determine eligibility. Below is the full list of eligible occupations, with newly added roles in bold:

Newly Added Roles & Example Job Titles

Some of the newly eligible occupations include:

• Dental hygienists (NOC 32111)

• Pharmacists (NOC 31120)

• Social workers (NOC 41300)

• Social & community service workers (NOC 42201)

• Animal health technologists (NOC 32104)

  Example job titles for newly added roles:

• Social workers - Medical social worker, psychiatric social worker

• Social & community service workers - Youth worker, addictions counselor, crisis intervention worker

• Cardiology technologists- ECG technologist, cardiac stress technologist

Do You Qualify? How to Check Your Eligibility

To be eligible for this category, you must have:
  At least 6 months of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in one of the listed NOCs within the last 3 years
  Meet the requirements for one of the three Express Entry programs:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Step-by-Step Guide to Verify Your NOC Code

1.  Find your NOC code using Canada’s NOC search tool.

• Type in your job title (e.g., "dental hygienist")

• Check the lead statement & main duties to confirm it matches your experience.

2. Cross-check with IRCC’s Healthcare & Social Services category list here.

3. Calculate your CRS score—if you qualify, you could be invited in a category-based draw with a much lower score than general draws!

Why This Category Gives You a Huge Advantage

In 2024, the CRS cut-off for general Express Entry draws was 524-549, while Healthcare category draws had scores as low as 422-463!

Key Benefits of Category-Based Selection:

•  Lower CRS requirements = Higher chance of PR
•  Less competition (only candidates in this category are invited)
•  Faster processing (IRCC prioritizes in-demand occupations)

If your CRS score is below 500, this could be your best shot at Canadian PR!

Next Steps: How to Improve Your Chances

1. Update your Express Entry profile if you qualify for this category.

2. Boost your CRS score by:

   • Retaking language tests (IELTS/CELPIP or TEF for French)

   • Getting a Provincial Nomination (PNP) (+600 CRS points!)

   • Adding a spouse’s credentials or Canadian work experience

3. Stay ready—category-based draws can happen anytime!

Need Help? Let’s Get You Noticed!

 Book a FREE consultation with our RCIC-certified experts to:

•  Confirm your eligibility
•  Maximize your CRS score
•  Prepare a strong PR application

 Call/WhatsApp: +1 416-857-0100
 Schedule Online: https://calendly.com/ctivcanada

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Final Thoughts

If you work in healthcare or social services, now is the time to act! With lower CRS cut-offs and more invitations, this could be your easiest path to Canadian PR.

Check your eligibility today and get ready for the next draw!

  CTIV Immigration | RCIC Sanjay Prasher (CICC #R514499)
Trusted by thousands of successful immigrants since 2010.