On September 4, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry round #441, dedicated to the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category, issuing 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) at a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 475. This was the largest Express Entry round since the French-language proficiency draw that issued 5,000 ITAs on August 19, 2026.
What is a category-based draw
Since 2023, alongside general draws that invite candidates by CRS rank across the entire pool, IRCC has also conducted category-based draws, which consider only candidates with work experience in a specific occupational list published annually by the Minister of Immigration. Healthcare and Social Services is one of these categories, alongside STEM, transport, agriculture and agri-food, construction, and several others.
Eligible occupations
The Healthcare and Social Services category covers roughly thirty NOC (National Occupational Classification) codes, including: Registered Nurses (NOC 31301), Nurse Practitioners (NOC 31302), Licensed Practical Nurses (NOC 32101), general practitioners/family physicians (NOC 31102), specialists in surgery (NOC 31101), pharmacists (NOC 31120), dental hygienists (NOC 32111), physiotherapists (NOC 31202), occupational therapists (NOC 31203), psychologists (NOC 31200), social workers (NOC 41300), as well as dentists, optometrists, various other therapists, paramedics, and medical technologists.
Work experience requirement
As of February 18, 2026, IRCC raised the minimum experience requirement for this category from 6 months to 12 months of continuous full-time work (or the part-time equivalent, accumulated) within the three years preceding the Express Entry application. This experience can be gained in Canada or abroad, provided the work matches an NOC code on the published list.
Tie-break rule
In this round, candidates whose CRS score was exactly 475 - the cutoff - were only invited if their Express Entry profile was created before 00:26:14 UTC on May 26, 2026. This rule resolves ties at the cutoff score by prioritizing profiles created earlier.
Comparison with earlier 2026 healthcare draws
As of the September 4 round, total 2026 ITAs issued under the Healthcare and Social Services category reached 11,500. Invitation volume has declined slightly with each round (4,000 → 4,000 → 3,500), while the CRS cutoff has remained relatively stable between 467 and 475, with roughly four months between rounds.
Practical guidance
Verify the NOC code for your current or past role: cross-check actual job duties against the NOC codes listed under the Healthcare and Social Services category. A mismatch between declared NOC and actual duties is a common reason for refusal during IRCC review.
Confirm 12 months of experience within the past three years: this requirement increased from 6 months as of February 18, 2026, so profiles built on the earlier threshold should be reviewed and updated.
Review your current CRS score against the 475 cutoff: if your score is lower, consider improving language test results (IELTS/CELPIP or TEF for French), obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), or pursuing a provincial nomination (PNP), which adds 600 CRS points.
Research licensing requirements in your intended province: for regulated occupations (nursing, medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, etc.), receiving an ITA and permanent residence does not automatically grant the right to practice - each province has its own regulatory body with distinct credential assessment and licensing processes.
The pattern across 2026 healthcare draws suggests this category-based stream is one of IRCC's more consistently maintained pathways, reflecting a sustained labour need in Canada's healthcare system rather than a one-time invitation event.
To better understand category-based Express Entry pathways and which opportunities may fit your specific profile, contact Nonsuch Immigration directly via Zalo at 0946 749 585 or WhatsApp at 204 963 9288.
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