Top Express Entry Occupations for Guaranteed PR Success

Certain Express Entry occupations can significantly increase your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR) with as little as six months of relevant work experience. To benefit from these targeted draws, candidates must gain qualifying work experience in an eligible occupation and wait for a category-based round of invitations.

Canada’s Express Entry system, managed by<a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/claiming-asylum.html?utm_campaign=ircc-ircc-safe-and-orderly-migration-25-26&utm_source=ggl&utm_medium=sem&utm_content=ad-text_en-global&adv=2526-737251&utm_term=canada+and+asylum+seekers&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22526135475&gbraid=0AAAAArCB8B0qaRS_xywW_J8SdGZz--kXP&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtfXMBhDzARIsAJ0jp3CUxBIetXHm6PCg_R3aqIah7GzhCsfWN_VYadIA-SYowt_IbcHt2hsaAqEWEALw_wcB"> Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) , uses occupation-based categories to address labour shortages and demographic priorities.

What Are Category-Based Selections? Category-based draws allow IRCC to invite candidates from the Express Entry pool who meet specific economic or demographic objectives. While candidates must first qualify under one of the three federal programs within Express Entry, invitations in these draws are limited to individuals who meet the requirements of a designated category.

Even in category-based rounds, candidates are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and the highest-ranking eligible profiles receive invitations.

To qualify under an occupation-based category, candidates must:

Be eligible under one of the three Express Entry programs and have an active profile.

Have at least six months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) within the last three years in an eligible occupation.

Meet any additional requirements listed in the Ministerial Instructions for that draw.

An important exception applies to the new Physicians category, which requires 12 months of Canadian work experience within the last three years.

Below are the current Express Entry occupation-based categories and their recent activity levels.

Healthcare and Social Services Occupations This category includes regulated health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and social workers. In 2025, IRCC heavily prioritized healthcare through multiple draws.

Last draw: December 11, 2025Number of draws in 2025: Seven CRS cut-off range: 462 – 510 Eligible occupations include physicians (NOC 31100, 31101, 31102), registered nurses (31301), nurse practitioners (31302), pharmacists (31120), physiotherapists (31202), social workers (41300), and many other healthcare-related roles under NOC 2021.

STEM Occupations The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) category primarily targets engineering roles, engineering technologists, and cybersecurity specialists.

Last draw: April 11, 2024 Number of draws in 2025: None CRS cut-off range: 486 – 491 Eligible occupations include civil engineers (21300), mechanical engineers (21301), electrical engineers (21310), cybersecurity specialists (21220), and several related technical occupations.

Trade Occupations Trades remain a priority to address construction and industrial labour shortages. In 2025, IRCC conducted a targeted draw for trade occupations.

Last draw: September 18, 2025 Number of draws in 2025: One CRS cut-off score: 505 Eligible roles include electricians (72200, 72201), plumbers (72300), welders (72106), carpenters (72310), heavy-duty equipment mechanics (72401), and several other construction and industrial trades.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations This category has been significantly narrowed in recent years.

Last draw: February 16, 2024 Number of draws in 2025: None CRS cut-off range: 354 – 437 Currently, the only listed occupation is Butchers (retail and wholesale) under NOC 63201.

Education Occupations Introduced in 2025, this category focuses on teachers and education support professionals.

Last draw: September 17, 2025 Number of draws in 2025: Two CRS cut-off range: 462 – 479 Eligible roles include secondary school teachers (41220), elementary and kindergarten teachers (41221), early childhood educators (42202), and teacher assistants (43100).

Physicians with Canadian Work Experience This newly introduced category targets physicians already working in Canada. Unlike other occupation-based draws, this stream requires 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience (or equivalent part-time) within the past three years.

Eligible occupations include specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100), specialists in surgery (31101), and general practitioners and family physicians (31102).

IRCC has indicated that invitations under this category are expected to begin in early 2026.

How IRCC Chooses Categories Each year, IRCC sets immigration priorities based on labour market data, consultations with provinces and territories, and national demographic objectives. For example, on February 27, 2025, IRCC announced prioritization of Francophone immigration, healthcare, trades, and education occupations.

Categories are designed to address labour shortages and promote balanced economic growth across Canada. IRCC also submits annual reports to Parliament outlining selected categories and the number of invitations issued.

Determining If Your Work Experience Qualifies Canada uses the National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 system to categorize jobs. Eligibility is based on whether your actual job duties match the NOC description, not simply your job title.

Each NOC is also assigned a TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) level that reflects skill requirements.

To verify your NOC:

Visit the official NOC 2021 database.

Search by job title or NOC code.

Compare your daily duties to the listed “main duties.”

Confirm you are not part of any excluded occupations.

If necessary, review alternate NOC codes for a closer match.

Careful NOC alignment is critical, as incorrect classification can lead to refusal or misrepresentation concerns.

Final Thoughts Category-based Express Entry draws have become one of the most strategic pathways to Canadian PR. With only six months of qualifying experience in high-demand occupations, candidates may significantly improve their chances of receiving an ITA, especially in healthcare, trades, and education sectors.

If you are considering Express Entry, it is essential to evaluate your eligibility across all available categories and align your work experience properly under NOC 2021.

For official guidance, consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and review detailed Express Entry resources on the Government of Canada website.