On May 31, Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser announced the initiation of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates. IRCC will prioritize occupations for candidates with strong French language skills or relevant work experience.
Understand some key information on healthcare occupations in category-based draws.
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
The selection of these groups was based on labor market data and estimates, as well as input from IRCC partners, provinces, territories, and other stakeholders nationwide.
It is expected that the commencement of category-specific lotteries will occur during the upcoming summer season.
Healthcare occupations in category-based draws – Purpose of choosing healthcare as a category
Immigrants play a crucial role in meeting the staffing needs of Canada’s healthcare industry. In Q4 2022, there were 143,695 available positions in the Healthcare and Social Assistance category, leading to a job vacancy rate of 6%. This industry holds the highest number of job openings in Canada.
A significant proportion of doctors (36%) and a quarter of all registered nurses in Canada were born outside the country. However, certifying foreign-trained medical professionals remains a persistent challenge for Canadian authorities, hindering employment opportunities for healthcare workers in this sector.
A number of steps have been taken by the IRCC to facilitate the immigration of foreign-trained healthcare professionals to Canada. For example, some hurdles have been lowered for physicians with temporary resident visas currently living in Canada.
Which individuals qualify for the healthcare occupations category?
The following requirements must be met in order for you to qualify for the new healthcare professional category:
- Qualify for at least one Express Entry program (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program).
- Have a minimum of 6 months of continuous work experience in one of the specified occupations within the past 3 years.
- Fulfill all other requirements outlined in the instructions for the specific round.
List of occupations
The category of healthcare vocations includes 35 different professions. Among these professions are:
- Veterinarians
- Optometrists
- Dentists
- Specialists in surgery
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- Massage therapists
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Optometrists
- Nurse aids, orderlies, and patient service associates
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologies
On what criteria are invites sent out in Express Entry category-based rounds?
A person who qualifies for a particular category will only be invited for an invitation round based on IRCC categories.
This is because IRCC determines who will obtain permanent residency based on factors such as:
- Language proficiency in a specific official language.
- Work experience in a designated TEER category of the NOC.
- Education qualifications.
In addition to general and program-specific draws, category-based drawings are open to top applicants who can contribute to achieving economic objectives.
Is the CRS used to prioritize and rank candidates?
The CRS ranks Express Entry applicants in the pool based on points. A CRS assessment considers factors such as an applicant’s age, education, language proficiency, work history, and other human capital variables.
It will still be important for the IRCC to use this score for sending out invitations for category-based draws, as it will offer invites to the top-ranking categories eligible for that draw.
