In a category-based draw for Express Entry applicants with prior work experience in healthcare, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to individuals with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 422 on February 14.
After category-based drawings were introduced in June 2023, this CRS score was the lowest minimum score of any healthcare draw to date, coming in nine points below the previous record-low (431 on October 26, 2023) to date. Furthermore, this is the lowest CRS of any standard or category-based Express Entry draw that has occurred since December 21, 2023.
During the department’s February 14 draw*, IRCC granted its second-highest number of draw ITAs ever for the healthcare sector, however applicants who did not obtain an ITA might be asking how they might have improved their profiles sufficiently to qualify. The following will describe, using fictitious Express Entry profiles, how various applicants would have obtained a high enough CRS score to acquire an ITA on February 14, 2024, in order to help candidates reach this objective.
*On October 26, the IRCC sent out 3,600 ITAs.
Qualifications for category-based draws in healthcare
Prior to generating an Express Entry profile and subscribing to the Express Entry pool for the IRCC’s category-based draws, applicants must confirm they fulfill all applicable eligibility requirements.
In order to qualify for an Express Entry draw under the healthcare jobs category, individuals must:
- possess three years’ worth of continuous work experience, which is equivalent to at least six months of full-time employment (or the equivalent amount of part-time work)
- fulfill every prerequisite listed in the round’s guidelines.
*All of this work experience needs to be in one of the 35 professions that the IRCC has identified as qualifying for healthcare occupation draws. That being said, this experience may have been gained elsewhere or in Canada.
Sample ITA recipient profiles that are successful
Note: After applying for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), all three of the fictitious Express Entry candidates below built their profiles. Three programs are overseen by the IRCC’s Express Entry application management system: the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the FSWP.
From the United States of America (USA), Michael
Michael’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) Code for 2021 is 31110, indicating that he is an experienced dentist.
- Age: 40
- Highest Level of Completed Education: Master’s or Entry-to-Practice Professional Degree
- 2nd Post-Secondary Credential: Yes
- Study in Canada: No
- English Proficiency: 10 for all abilities
- French Proficiency: Three for all abilities
- Full-Time Skilled Work Experience Outside Canada within the last 10 years: Six years or more
- Full-Time Skilled Work Experience Inside Canada within the last 10 years: None
- Marriage/Common-Law Partnership: Yes
- Spouse’s Highest Level of Completed Education: Post-secondary credential of three or more years
- Spouse’s Study in Canada: No
- Spouse’s Full-Time Skilled Work Experience Inside Canada within the last 10 years: None
- Spouse’s English Proficiency: 10 for all abilities
- Spouse’s French Proficiency: Three for all abilities
- Sibling in Canada (Citizen or Permanent Resident, living in Canada, 18+ years old): No
- “Close Family Member” in Canada (Citizen or Permanent Resident, living in Canada, 18+ years old): No
- Trades Certificate of Qualification: No
- Provincial Nomination: No
- Skilled Job Offer from Canadian Employer: No
As a result, Michael’s CRS score with this profile was 427.
Belgian Claire
Using the National Occupation Classification 2021 (NOC 2021) Code: 31121, Claire works as a dietitian.
- Age: 31
- Highest Level of Completed Education: Post-secondary credential of three or more years
- 2nd Post-Secondary Credential: Yes
- Study in Canada: No
- English Proficiency: Seven for writing/speaking; Six for reading; Nine for listening
- French Proficiency: 10 for all abilities
- Full-Time Skilled Work Experience Outside Canada within the last 10 years: Four years
- Full-Time Skilled Work Experience Inside Canada within the last 10 years: None
- Marriage/Common-Law Partnership: Yes
- Spouse’s Highest Level of Completed Education: Post-secondary credential of three or more years
- Spouse’s Study in Canada: No
- Spouse’s Full-Time Skilled Work Experience Inside Canada within the last 10 years: None
- Spouse’s English Proficiency: Four for all abilities
- Spouse’s French Proficiency: 10 for all abilities
- Sibling in Canada (Citizen or Permanent Resident, living in Canada, 18+ years old): No
- “Close Family Member” in Canada (Citizen or Permanent Resident, living in Canada, 18+ years old): No
- Trades Certificate of Qualification: No
- Provincial Nomination: No
- Skilled Job Offer from Canadian Employer: Yes
- Job Offer for Senior Managerial Position: No
- Full-Time Job Offer for Minimum One Year: Yes
- Job Offer Supported by Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): No
- Currently Working in Canada on a Valid Work Permit for the Employer Offering Job: No
Result: This profile helped Claire earn a CRS score of 528.
Kady from the Philippines
Kady is a kinesiologist – National Occupation Classification 2021 (NOC 2021) Code: 31204
- Age: 24
- Highest Level of Completed Education: Two or more post secondary credentials with at least one being three-plus years
- Study in Canada: No
- English Proficiency: Eight for all abilities
- French Proficiency: Three for all abilities
- Full-Time Skilled Work Experience Outside Canada within the last 10 years: None
- Full-Time Skilled Work Experience Inside Canada within the last 10 years: None
- Marriage/Common-Law Partnership: No
- Sibling in Canada (Citizen or Permanent Resident, living in Canada, 18+ years old): Yes
- Trades Certificate of Qualification: No
- Provincial Nomination: Yes
- Skilled Job Offer from Canadian Employer: Yes
- Job Offer for Senior Managerial Position: No
- Full-Time Job Offer for Minimum One Year: Yes
- Job Offer Supported by LMIA: Yes
Result: With the above profile, Kady earned a CRS score of 955.
