Canada lowers the passing score for medical professionals in Express Entry
Healthcare professionals have been invited for permanent residency. The minimum CRS score has decreased, creating more opportunities for immigration.
On August 19, another targeted draw took place within the Express Entry system, focusing on Healthcare and Social Services Occupations. Invitations to apply for permanent residence were issued to 2,500 candidates.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 470, which is 5 points lower than the previous draw. As a reminder, on July 22, a record-breaking draw for this category took place, inviting 4,000 candidates with a minimum score of 475.
The lower minimum score and relatively large number of invitations indicate that Canada continues to actively address the shortage of workers in the medical and social sectors. This confirms the high priority of this category for immigration authorities.
Want to know how many points you could score? Use our free CRS calculator to calculate your ranking and assess your chances for immigration!
The lower threshold score opens up more opportunities for candidates with lower rankings.
Who can participate in the Healthcare and Social Services category draw?
To participate in the targeted draw, candidates must:
- qualify for one of the three Express Entry programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker — for skilled professionals;
- Canadian Experience Class — for candidates with Canadian work experience;
- Federal Skilled Trades — for skilled trades workers.
- have proven work experience in the healthcare or social services field according to the NOC list;
- correctly indicate their work experience and NOC code in their Express Entry profile.
It's important to correctly specify your NOC occupation code corresponding to your experience to be included in the list of candidates for draws in this category.
Which professions are included in the Healthcare and Social Services draw?
The draw includes the following specialties:
- family physicians and surgeons;
- clinical and laboratory medicine specialists;
- registered nurses and their supervisors;
- nurse practitioners and licensed practical nurses;
- dentists and dental hygienists;
- pharmacists and pharmacy technicians;
- psychologists and physiotherapists;
- occupational therapists and chiropractors;
- optometrists and audiologists and speech-language pathologists;
- veterinarians and veterinary technicians;
- dietitians and nutritionists;
- paramedics, midwives and related healthcare professionals;
- medical laboratory technologists and radiological technologists;
- ultrasound technologists and cardiology technologists;
- paramedics and respiratory therapists;
- massage therapists;
- medical laboratory assistants and nurse aides and orderlies;
- pharmacy assistants;
- social workers and social service workers;
- counseling therapists;
- other health professionals and other medical technicians;
- other technical occupations in therapy and assessment.
The decrease in the minimum score to 470 with a large number of invitations confirms that healthcare and social service professionals continue to be among the most in-demand for immigration to Canada.
Priority categories in Express Entry also include:
- candidates with French language proficiency of B2 or higher;
- teachers and education professionals;
- technical and skilled trades workers;
- STEM professionals;
- agriculture sector workers.
If you're a healthcare or social service professional, book a consultation for immigration to Canada to assess your chances and develop an optimal strategy for obtaining permanent residence!
