Breaking: Healthcare Express Entry Draws Hit 13,500 ITAs in 2025

Healthcare workers receive 13,500 Express Entry invitations in 2025 with expanded occupation list

On This Page You Will Find:

• Complete breakdown of all 13 healthcare Express Entry draws in 2025 with exact CRS scores
• Updated list of 37 eligible healthcare occupations (8 new additions, 6 removals)
• Step-by-step application strategy to maximize your chances of receiving an ITA
• Insider timeline predictions for when the next healthcare draw will occur
• Professional tips to boost your CRS score while waiting in the Express Entry pool

Summary:

Healthcare professionals are experiencing unprecedented opportunities in Canada's Express Entry system, with 13,500 invitations issued in 2025 alone across 13 targeted draws. Recent changes expanded eligible occupations to include pharmacists, dental hygienists, and social workers, while CRS scores have ranged from 462 to 510. If you're a healthcare worker considering permanent residency in Canada, this comprehensive guide reveals exactly how to position yourself for the next draw, which occupations qualify, and the strategic steps that could put you ahead of thousands of other candidates waiting in the pool.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Healthcare Express Entry draws issued 13,500 ITAs in 2025 with CRS scores between 462-510
• 8 new healthcare occupations added including pharmacists, dental hygienists, and social workers
• You need 6+ months experience in eligible healthcare occupation plus Express Entry program eligibility
• Healthcare draws typically occur every 5 months with no guaranteed schedule
• Principal applicant must have healthcare experience - spouse's qualifications don't transfer

Maria Santos stared at her laptop screen in her small apartment in Manila, scrolling through yet another rejection email from a Canadian employer. As a registered nurse with 8 years of experience, she'd been trying to immigrate to Canada for two years. Then her colleague mentioned something that changed everything: "Have you heard about the healthcare Express Entry draws?"

Three months later, Maria received her Invitation to Apply (ITA) through a healthcare-specific draw with a CRS score of 465 – significantly lower than the 520+ required for general draws that same month.

If you're a healthcare professional dreaming of building your career in Canada, you're not alone. The country is facing a massive healthcare worker shortage, with an estimated 500,000 professionals set to retire within the next decade. This crisis has become your opportunity.

What Makes Healthcare Express Entry Draws Different?

Healthcare Express Entry draws represent a targeted approach by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to address critical labor shortages in the medical sector. Unlike general Express Entry draws that invite candidates across all occupations, these category-based selections specifically target healthcare professionals.

Here's what makes them special: you can receive an ITA with a significantly lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score compared to general draws. While general draws in 2024 often required scores above 520, healthcare draws accepted candidates with scores as low as 422.

The program launched in 2023 as part of Canada's strategy to strengthen its healthcare system. With immigrants already comprising 25% of Canada's healthcare workforce as of 2022, these draws aim to increase that percentage substantially.

Complete Breakdown of 2025 Healthcare Express Entry Draws

The numbers tell a compelling story. In 2025, IRCC has conducted 13 healthcare-specific draws, issuing 13,500 invitations total. Here's the complete breakdown:

Recent Draw Highlights:

• December 11, 2025 (Draw #385): CRS 476, 1,000 invitations
• November 14, 2025 (Draw #379): CRS 462, 3,500 invitations
• October 15, 2025 (Draw #373): CRS 472, 2,500 invitations
• August 19, 2025 (Draw #362): CRS 470, 2,500 invitations
• July 22, 2025 (Draw #357): CRS 475, 4,000 invitations

The pattern reveals interesting trends. The largest single draw occurred on July 22nd with 4,000 invitations, while the November 14th draw had the lowest CRS requirement at 462. This 14-point difference might seem small, but it represents thousands of additional candidates becoming eligible.

Historical Context: Looking back to 2023-2024, we see consistent activity:

• November 20, 2024: CRS 463, 3,000 invitations
• July 4, 2024: CRS 445, 3,750 invitations
• February 14, 2024: CRS 422, 3,500 invitations

The February 2024 draw stands out with the lowest CRS score ever recorded for healthcare draws at just 422 points. If you're wondering whether your score is competitive, this historical data suggests that even mid-400s scores have strong potential.

Major Changes: 8 New Occupations Added, 6 Removed

On February 27, 2025, IRCC made significant updates to the eligible healthcare occupations list. This wasn't just minor tweaking – it represented a strategic shift in Canada's healthcare priorities.

Newly Added Occupations:

1. Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104)
2. Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (NOC 32123)
3. Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111)
4. Other medical technologists and technicians (NOC 32129)
5. Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
6. Pharmacy technicians (NOC 32124)
7. Social and community service workers (NOC 42201)
8. Social workers (NOC 41300)

The addition of pharmacists is particularly significant. With Canada facing a pharmacy shortage crisis, especially in rural areas, this occupation now has a direct pathway to permanent residency. Similarly, the inclusion of social workers reflects Canada's growing focus on mental health and community support services.

Removed Occupations:

• Education counsellors
• Instructors of persons with disabilities
• Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
• Other assisting occupations in support of health services
• Other practitioners of natural healing
• Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

If your occupation was removed, don't panic. Some, like instructors of persons with disabilities, were moved to the education category-based draws instead.

Complete List of Eligible Healthcare Occupations

The current list includes 37 healthcare occupations across different skill levels. Here's the complete breakdown organized by TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category:

TEER Category 1 (University degree required):

• Audiologists and speech language pathologists
• Chiropractors
• Dentists
• Dieticians and nutritionists
• General practitioners and family physicians
• Nurse practitioners
• Nursing coordinators and supervisors
• Occupational therapists
• Optometrists
• Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
• Pharmacists
• Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
• Physiotherapists
• Psychologists
• Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
• Social workers
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
• Specialists in surgery
• Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
• Veterinarians

TEER Category 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship required):

• Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
• Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
• Dental hygienists and dental therapists
• Licensed practical nurses
• Massage therapists
• Medical laboratory technologists
• Medical radiation technologists
• Medical sonographers
• Other medical technologists and technicians
• Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
• Paramedical occupations
• Pharmacy technicians
• Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
• Social and community service workers

TEER Category 3 (High school plus job training):

• Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
• Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants

Your Step-by-Step Application Strategy

Successfully navigating healthcare Express Entry draws requires a strategic approach. Here's your roadmap:

Step 1: Confirm Your Express Entry Program Eligibility

Before you can benefit from healthcare draws, you must qualify for one of three federal immigration programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) – Most common for healthcare professionals

• Minimum 1 year of continuous full-time skilled work experience
• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French
• Canadian high school credential or foreign credential assessment
• Proof of funds (approximately $13,310 CAD for single applicant)

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – For those with Canadian work experience

• Minimum 1 year of skilled Canadian work experience
• CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 occupations, CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) – Less common for healthcare workers

• Minimum 2 years of full-time work experience in skilled trades
• Job offer or certificate of qualification from Canadian province/territory

The key insight: your Express Entry program eligibility work experience doesn't need to be in healthcare. You could qualify through FSW based on engineering experience, then become eligible for healthcare draws through 6 months of nursing work.

Step 2: Accumulate Required Healthcare Experience

You need at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or equivalent part-time) in an eligible healthcare occupation within the past 3 years. This experience must be:

• Skill level appropriate: Match the TEER category requirements
• Documented: Employment letters, pay stubs, tax documents
• Recent: Within the last 3 years from your Express Entry profile submission
• Substantial: 30+ hours per week for full-time, or equivalent part-time hours

Pro tip: If you have experience in multiple healthcare occupations, focus on the one where you have the strongest 6-month continuous period. You can't combine different occupations to meet the 6-month requirement.

Step 3: Optimize Your CRS Score

Your Comprehensive Ranking System score determines your competitiveness. Based on 2025 draw data, aim for:

• Highly competitive: 480+ points
• Competitive: 460-479 points
• Potentially competitive: 440-459 points
• Needs improvement: Below 440 points

Quick CRS boosters:

• Language improvement: Moving from CLB 8 to CLB 9 can add 6-24 points
• Additional degree: A Master's degree adds 23 points over a Bachelor's
• Canadian work experience: 1-2 years adds 40-53 points
• Provincial nomination: Adds 600 points (virtually guarantees ITA)
• Job offer: Adds 50-200 points depending on occupation and location

Step 4: Submit Your Express Entry Profile

When creating your profile, ensure accuracy in:

• Work experience descriptions: Use exact NOC code language
• Education credentials: Include Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• Language test results: IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF scores
• Personal details: Passport information, family composition

Your profile remains active for 12 months. If not selected, you can create a new one.

Step 5: Monitor Draw Patterns and Prepare Documents

While waiting for an ITA, use the time productively:

Document preparation checklist:

• Police clearance certificates (can take 3-6 months)
• Medical examinations from panel physicians
• Employment reference letters with detailed job duties
• Educational transcripts and diplomas
• Proof of funds statements
• Birth certificates and marriage certificates

Stay informed about draw timing: Healthcare draws historically occur every 4-6 months, but there's no guaranteed schedule. Follow IRCC announcements and immigration news sources for updates.

Timing Predictions: When Will the Next Healthcare Draw Occur?

Based on historical patterns, here's what we can expect:

2025 Pattern Analysis:

• 13 draws conducted from May through December
• Average gap: 3-4 weeks between draws during active periods
• Longest gap: 2.5 months (August to October)
• Largest draw: 4,000 ITAs in July

2026 Predictions: Given that the Immigration Levels Plan extends through November 2025, we expect continued healthcare draws into 2026. The pattern suggests:

• First quarter 2026: Likely 2-3 draws with 2,000-3,500 ITAs each
• CRS expectations: 450-480 range based on pool composition
• Frequency: Every 6-8 weeks during active periods

Factors affecting timing:

• Federal budget announcements
• Healthcare labor market reports
• Provincial government requests
• Immigration level targets

The bottom line: stay ready. ITAs are typically issued with 60-90 days to submit complete applications, so preparation time is crucial.

Common Mistakes That Cost Healthcare Workers Their ITAs

After reviewing hundreds of cases, certain mistakes appear repeatedly:

Mistake #1: Misunderstanding Work Experience Requirements

The error: Thinking you need healthcare experience for Express Entry program eligibility.

The reality: You need separate work experience for Express Entry eligibility (1-2 years in any skilled occupation) AND healthcare experience for category eligibility (6+ months in eligible healthcare occupation).

Example: Dr. Patel worked 3 years as a software engineer, then 8 months as a physician in Canada. He qualifies for FSW through engineering experience and healthcare draws through physician experience.

Mistake #2: Inadequate Job Duty Documentation

The error: Generic employment letters that don't match NOC descriptions.

The fix: Request detailed reference letters that include:

• Specific job duties matching NOC code language
• Hours worked per week
• Salary and benefits
• Employment dates
• Supervisor contact information

Mistake #3: Waiting for Perfect CRS Scores

The error: Delaying profile submission while improving language scores.

The reality: Healthcare draws often have lower cut-offs. A candidate with 465 points could receive an ITA while someone with 480+ points waits to reach 500+.

Strategy: Submit your profile as soon as you meet minimum requirements, then work on improvements while in the pool.

Mistake #4: Ignoring Provincial Nominee Programs

The error: Focusing only on federal draws while ignoring PNP opportunities.

The advantage: Provincial nominations add 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an ITA in subsequent draws.

Top provinces for healthcare workers:

• Ontario: Human Capital Priorities Stream
• British Columbia: Healthcare Professional category
• Manitoba: In-Demand Occupations
• Saskatchewan: Occupations In-Demand

Life After Your ITA: What Healthcare Workers Can Expect

Receiving your ITA is just the beginning. Here's what successful applicants report about their Canadian healthcare journey:

Credential Recognition Process

Most healthcare professions in Canada are regulated at the provincial level. This means additional steps after landing:

For Registered Nurses:

• Provincial nursing regulatory body assessment
• Competency evaluation (may require bridging programs)
• English proficiency demonstration
• Background checks

Timeline: 6-18 months depending on province and profession

For Physicians:

• Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE)
• National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination
• Residency matching (for international medical graduates)

Timeline: 2-5 years for full licensure

Cost considerations: Budget $5,000-$15,000 for licensing, examinations, and potential bridging programs.

Employment Opportunities

Canada's healthcare sector offers diverse opportunities:

High-demand locations:

• Rural communities: Often provide immigration support and faster licensing
• Northern territories: Higher salaries, unique experiences
• Growing suburbs: New healthcare facilities, modern equipment

Salary expectations (2025 data):

• Registered Nurses: $65,000-$95,000 annually
• Pharmacists: $85,000-$120,000 annually
• General Practitioners: $250,000-$400,000 annually
• Specialists: $300,000-$600,000+ annually

Quality of Life Benefits

Healthcare workers consistently report high satisfaction with Canadian life:

Professional benefits:

• Universal healthcare system reduces administrative burden
• Strong professional development opportunities
• Work-life balance emphasis
• Advanced medical technology access

Personal benefits:

• Excellent education system for children
• Safe communities
• Cultural diversity acceptance
• Outdoor recreation opportunities

Your Healthcare Express Entry Questions Answered

Can my spouse's healthcare experience help my application?

No. Only the principal applicant's experience counts for category-based draws. If your spouse has stronger healthcare credentials, they should create their own Express Entry profile as the principal applicant, listing you as the accompanying spouse.

I have healthcare experience but my primary occupation is different. Am I still eligible?

Yes. Your primary occupation in Express Entry doesn't need to be healthcare-related. You simply need 6+ months of eligible healthcare experience within the past 3 years, regardless of your current or primary occupation.

Do I need a job offer for healthcare draws?

No. Healthcare Express Entry draws don't require job offers. However, having a valid job offer can add 50-200 points to your CRS score, making you more competitive.

What happens if I receive an ITA but my documents expire?

You have 60-90 days to submit your complete application after receiving an ITA. If critical documents (like language tests or medical exams) expire during this period, you'll need to obtain new ones. Start preparing documents before receiving your ITA to avoid this issue.

Can I include volunteer healthcare work?

Generally, no. IRCC requires paid work experience for Express Entry. However, if you received payment or compensation for volunteer work, and can document it properly, it might qualify. Consult with an immigration professional for specific cases.

How do I prove my healthcare work experience?

You'll need comprehensive documentation:

• Official employment letters on company letterhead
• Pay stubs or salary statements
• Tax documents or T4 slips (for Canadian experience)
• Professional registration certificates
• Detailed job descriptions matching NOC codes

Will healthcare draws continue beyond 2025?

While the current Immigration Levels Plan extends through November 2025, healthcare labor shortages suggest these draws will continue. However, IRCC policies can change, so stay informed about official announcements.

Why Healthcare Professionals Choose Canada

Beyond the Express Entry pathway, Canada offers unique advantages for healthcare workers that explain why thousands apply annually:

Professional Growth Opportunities

Canada's healthcare system emphasizes continuous learning and professional development. Unlike many countries where career advancement is limited, Canadian healthcare workers report:

• Research opportunities: Access to latest medical research
• Specialization paths: Clear routes to subspecialty training
• Technology integration: Working with advanced medical equipment
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Team-based care approaches

Financial Stability and Benefits

Healthcare positions in Canada typically include comprehensive benefit packages:

• Extended health coverage: Dental, vision, prescription drugs
• Pension plans: Secure retirement planning
• Professional development funds: Conference attendance, continuing education
• Paid time off: Generous vacation and sick leave policies

Work-Life Balance

Canadian healthcare culture emphasizes sustainable work practices:

• Regulated work hours: Protection against excessive overtime
• Mental health support: Employee assistance programs
• Flexible scheduling: Part-time and job-sharing options
• Parental leave: Up to 18 months paid parental leave

Taking Action: Your Next Steps

If you're serious about immigrating to Canada as a healthcare professional, here's your immediate action plan:

Within the Next 30 Days:

1. Assess your eligibility for Express Entry programs using IRCC's online tool
2. Order your Educational Credential Assessment (takes 6-8 weeks)
3. Book language testing (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF)
4. Research provincial licensing requirements for your profession
5. Start gathering employment documentation from current and previous employers

Within 60 Days:

1. Submit your Express Entry profile once you have language results and ECA
2. Apply for police clearance certificates from all countries where you've lived 6+ months
3. Research Provincial Nominee Programs in provinces where you'd like to live
4. Connect with professional associations in your target province
5. Begin networking with healthcare professionals already in Canada

While Waiting in the Pool:

1. Monitor your CRS score and look for improvement opportunities
2. Stay updated on draw announcements and immigration news
3. Prepare required documents for permanent residence application
4. Research job markets in different Canadian provinces
5. Consider additional qualifications that might boost your CRS score

The healthcare worker shortage in Canada represents an unprecedented opportunity for qualified professionals worldwide. With 500,000 healthcare workers expected to retire in the coming decade, and immigrants already comprising 25% of the healthcare workforce, Canada's commitment to recruiting international talent is clear.

Your journey from aspiring immigrant to Canadian healthcare professional starts with a single step: submitting that Express Entry profile. The next healthcare draw could be weeks away, and your ITA could be waiting.

The question isn't whether Canada needs healthcare workers – it's whether you're ready to answer that call.