Canada invited 4000 healthcare workers and social workers through Express Entry
The passing score has been lowered, which opens up more opportunities for healthcare professionals.
On February 20, 2026, a new targeted draw for Healthcare and Social Services Occupations was held in the Express Entry system. This time, 4,000 candidates received invitations to apply for permanent residence.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 467. For comparison, in the previous draw for this category on December 11, 2025, the cut-off score was higher at 476, with 1,000 invitations issued.
The lower cut-off score combined with an increased number of invitations indicates a broader recruitment of healthcare and social services professionals. Canada continues to actively address the shortage of workers in healthcare and social support services.
Want to assess your chances in Express Entry? Use our CRS calculator to find out your score.
This draw trend could be a positive signal for candidates with relevant work experience. For those who meet the category requirements, it's important to carefully complete your profile and keep it up to date.
Who can participate in the Healthcare and Social Services draw
To be included in the targeted draw, candidates must:
- qualify for one of the Express Entry programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker for skilled professionals;
- Canadian Experience Class for those with Canadian work experience;
- Federal Skilled Trades for skilled trades workers.
- have verified work experience in healthcare or social services according to NOC;
- correctly indicate their work experience and NOC code in their Express Entry profile.
Correctly specifying your NOC occupation code helps the system classify candidates and include them in the right category for targeted draws.
Which occupations are included in the Healthcare and Social Services draw
This category includes occupations such as:
- family physicians and surgeons;
- clinical and laboratory medicine specialists;
- registered nurses and nursing coordinators and 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 other practitioners;
- medical laboratory technologists and medical radiation technologists;
- ultrasound technologists and cardiology technologists;
- paramedics and respiratory therapists;
- massage therapists;
- medical laboratory assistants and nurse aides;
- pharmacy assistants;
- social workers and social and community service workers;
- therapists and counselors;
- other health professionals and medical technicians;
- other technical occupations in therapy and assessment.
The minimum score of 467 with 4,000 invitations indicates a more accessible entry threshold compared to the December draw and reflects the high demand for professionals in this field.
Canadian visa centers in Russia have stopped ...
The number of people wanting to join the Cana...
China offers Canada joint production of elect...
Trump stripped Canada of its seat on the pres...
Canadians rallied around Prime Minister Carne...
Arctic cold has covered Canada with temperatu...
Trump lashed out at Carney after his speech i...
Canadian companies plan to raise salaries by ...
Gold breaks records and continues to rise des...
Prime Minister Carney concludes a nine-day wo...
Cenovus Energy is preparing to sell assets in...
Carney in Davos declared the breakdown of the...
Priority Express Entry categories also include:
- candidates with French language proficiency at B2 level or higher;
- education professionals;
- skilled trades workers;
- STEM professionals;
- agriculture workers.
If you work in healthcare or social services, book an immigration consultation to learn about your options and choose the right path to Canadian permanent residence.
