How healthcare and social services workers can use Express Entry and provincial routes in 2026, with current NOC codes, draw cutoffs and licensing steps.
Healthcare workers have a targeted lane inside Express Entry in 2026, but the occupation alone is not enough. You need recent experience in an eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, eligibility for an Express Entry program and a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score high enough for the round.
Professional licensing is a separate process. Immigration status can let you live and work in Canada, but it does not automatically authorize you to work as a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, therapist or another regulated professional.
To be considered in a Healthcare and Social Services occupations round, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says you must:
- qualify for at least one of the three programs managed through Express Entry
- accumulate at least 12 months of full-time work experience, or an equal amount of part-time experience, within the past 3 years
- have that experience in one eligible occupation listed below
- meet the instructions for the specific round
The 12 months do not need to be continuous. They must be in a single eligible occupation, but the occupation does not have to be your primary occupation. The experience may be gained in Canada or abroad.
This is IRCC's current 2026 list. Match your actual duties to the NOC description; a similar job title by itself is not enough.
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
| 31103 | Veterinarians |
| 31110 | Dentists |
| 31111 | Optometrists |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists |
| 31120 | Pharmacists |
| 31121 | Dietitians and nutritionists |
| 31200 | Psychologists |
| 31201 | Chiropractors |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists |
| 31209 | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists |
| 32104 | Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
| 32109 | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers |
| 32123 | Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists |
| 32124 | Pharmacy technicians |
| 32129 | Other medical technologists and technicians |
| 32201 | Massage therapists |
| 33101 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 33103 | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants |
| 41300 | Social workers |
| 41301 | Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies |
| 42201 | Social and community service workers |
Use our NOC Finder to identify the closest code, then verify the lead statement and main duties against the official NOC description.
| Draw date | Invitations | CRS cutoff |
|---|
| February 20, 2026 | 4,000 | 467 |
| June 25, 2026 | 4,000 | 475 |
The 8-point increase shows why category eligibility should not be treated as a fixed score target. IRCC decides when to hold each round and how many candidates to invite. The cutoff then reflects the eligible profiles in the pool on that date.
If your CRS score is below 475, that does not prove you will miss the next healthcare round. If it is above 475, it does not guarantee an invitation in a future round. Use 475 as the latest observed cutoff, not a promise.
NOC 31100, 31101 and 31102 appear in the broad Healthcare and Social Services category. For that category, qualifying experience may be gained in Canada or abroad.
Those same occupations also have a separate Physicians with Canadian work experience category. The dedicated physician category requires at least 12 months of qualifying work as a doctor in Canada within the past 3 years.
The distinction matters:
| Category | Where the qualifying experience can be gained | Eligible physician NOCs |
|---|
| Healthcare and Social Services | Canada or abroad | 31100, 31101, 31102, plus the other healthcare and social-services NOCs above |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | Canada only | 31100, 31101, 31102 |
The first physician round of 2026 was held on February 19. It issued 391 invitations at CRS 169. The second, on June 24, issued 271 invitations at CRS 223. Those low cutoffs apply only to candidates who pass the category's Canadian-experience and Express Entry gates.
For the full decision map—including the new allocation of up to 5,000 provincial nomination spaces and expedited work permits—read our medical doctors immigration guide.
Express Entry is not the only possible route. Depending on the occupation, employer and location, a healthcare worker may also investigate:
- a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream that accepts the worker's occupation and circumstances
- the Atlantic Immigration Program with a designated employer in Atlantic Canada
- the Rural Community Immigration Pilot with a designated employer in a participating community
- the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot for eligible French-speaking workers in participating communities outside Quebec
A job advertisement or labour shortage does not prove that an immigration stream is open to you. Confirm the province's current rules, employer designation and licensing requirements before treating an opportunity as a pathway.
Many occupations in the healthcare list are regulated. The responsible regulatory body depends on the profession and province or territory.
If your primary occupation is NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102 and your medical degree is foreign, IRCC requires the Medical Council of Canada to assess your primary medical diploma for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). You must separately satisfy the medical regulatory authority where you want to practise. See the doctor-specific immigration and licensing map.
Registration is provincial or territorial. The regulator decides how it will assess education, language ability, examinations, recent practice and any required bridging. Start with the regulator for the province or territory where you intend to work rather than assuming one national sequence applies everywhere.
IRCC requires a designated professional body to complete certain occupation-specific ECAs. Professional registration can still involve separate exams, practical training or provincial requirements. Check both the immigration ECA rules and the regulator's licensing rules.
Note
An ECA is not a professional licence. IRCC uses it to assess education for immigration. The provincial or territorial regulator decides whether you may practise in the occupation.
1. Confirm the NOC. Match your duties, not only your job title, and check that the code appears in IRCC's current category list.
2. Check the 12-month window. Total the full-time or equivalent part-time experience gained in one eligible occupation during the past 3 years.
3. Confirm an Express Entry program. Category eligibility does not place you in the pool. You must qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program.
4. Calculate your CRS score. Use the CRS Calculator and compare your result with the latest rounds.
5. Start licensing in parallel. Find the regulator in your intended province or territory and verify credential, exam, language and practice requirements.
6. Compare provincial and employer-led routes. If you have a job offer or strong provincial connection, investigate the current PNP and regional-program rules instead of waiting only for a federal category draw.
Tip
Keep two checklists: one for immigration and one for professional licensing. The same diploma or employment letter may support both, but progress in one process does not automatically complete the other.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.