Canada’s healthcare workforce is one of the most essential pillars of its society and economy. Recognizing this, the Express Entry Category‑Based Selection (CBS) system now prioritizes healthcare professionals urgently needed across Canadian provinces. With targeted invitations focused on healthcare occupations, nurses, physicians, therapists, technologists, and allied health professionals have higher chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada permanent residence through Express Entry.
This new healthcare‑first approach means skilled medical professionals can now benefit from a faster immigration route, aligning with Canada’s labor market needs in hospitals, community care, research, and specialized medical services.
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Priority Healthcare Occupations Under Express Entry Category‑Based Selection
If you’re a healthcare worker aiming to immigrate to Canada, it’s important to understand the full list of eligible occupations that qualify under the healthcare CBS category. To be considered, you must have at least 6 months of full‑time work experience (or equivalent part‑time) within the past 3 years in a single eligible occupation, whether that experience was gained in Canada or abroad.
Here’s the detailed list of healthcare roles along with their 2021 NOC codes and TEER categories — all directly from the official Government of Canada source:
Medical Specialists & Physicians
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine — NOC 31100 (TEER 1)
- Specialists in surgery — NOC 31101 (TEER 1)
- General practitioners and family physicians — NOC 31102 (TEER 1)
- Veterinarians — NOC 31103 (TEER 1)
- Dentists — NOC 31110 (TEER 1)
- Optometrists — NOC 31111 (TEER 1)
- Audiologists and speech‑language pathologists — NOC 31112 (TEER 1)
Pharmacists & Allied Professionals
- Pharmacists — NOC 31120 (TEER 1)
- Dieticians and nutritionists — NOC 31121 (TEER 1)
- Psychologists — NOC 31200 (TEER 1)
- Chiropractors — NOC 31201 (TEER 1)
Therapists & Specialized Health Professionals
- Physiotherapists — NOC 31202 (TEER 1)
- Occupational therapists — NOC 31203 (TEER 1)
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating — NOC 31209 (TEER 1)
- Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals — NOC 31303 (TEER 1)
Nursing & Practical Care
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors — NOC 31300 (TEER 1)
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses — NOC 31301 (TEER 1)
- Nurse practitioners — NOC 31302 (TEER 1)
- Licensed practical nurses — NOC 32101 (TEER 2)
- Paramedical occupations — NOC 32102 (TEER 2)
Medical Technicians & Support Workers
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists — NOC 32103 (TEER 2)
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians — NOC 32104 (TEER 2)
- Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment — NOC 32109 (TEER 2)
- Dental hygienists and dental therapists — NOC 32111 (TEER 2)
- Medical laboratory technologists — NOC 32120 (TEER 2)
- Medical radiation technologists — NOC 32121 (TEER 2)
- Medical sonographers — NOC 32122 (TEER 2)
- Cardiology technologists — NOC 32123 (TEER 2)
- Pharmacy technicians — NOC 32124 (TEER 2)
- Other medical technologists and technicians — NOC 32129 (TEER 2)
- Massage therapists — NOC 32201 (TEER 2)
Healthcare Support Roles
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical roles — NOC 33101 (TEER 3)
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates — NOC 33102 (TEER 3)
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants — NOC 33103 (TEER 3)
- Social workers — NOC 41300 (TEER 1)
- Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies — NOC 41301 (TEER 1)
- Social and community service workers — NOC 42201 (TEER 2)
This comprehensive list ensures that healthcare professionals across clinical, technical, and support roles have a strong opportunity to qualify for targeted Express Entry rounds.
How This Helps Healthcare Workers Immigrate to Canada
Canada’s healthcare category ensures that if you are a qualified nurse, physician, therapist, or allied health professional with the required work experience, your chances of receiving a PR invitation in an Express Entry draw improve significantly — since the system prioritizes occupations experiencing acute shortages.
Unlike general draws, where millions compete for limited ITAs, healthcare experts have a focused pathway, aligning with government priorities to strengthen healthcare services nationwide. This means accelerated processing for those who meet the eligibility criteria and have strategic skills that Canada urgently needs.
Strategic Tips for Healthcare Professionals -Update your Express Entry profile with precise NOC codes and accurate details to ensure you qualify for the healthcare category.
-Improve language test scores — especially CLB 8 or above — to maximize your ranking.
-Seek a provincial nomination if possible — it adds 600 CRS points and almost guarantees an ITA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as healthcare work experience?
To qualify, you must have at least 6 months of full‑time continuous experience (or equivalent part‑time) in one eligible NOC within the last 3 years — this can be from Canada or abroad.
Does Canadian experience help more?
Yes — while foreign experience counts, Canadian healthcare experience can improve your profile’s competitiveness in Express Entry draws.
Do I need a job offer from Canada?
Not necessarily. A valid job offer may help increase your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, but it is not mandatory for CBS eligibility.
Is language proficiency important?
Absolutely — strong English (IELTS/CLB) or French language scores boost your CRS and can make you more competitive in healthcare draws.
What if my occupation isn’t on the list?
Only occupations listed under the healthcare category are considered for targeted CBS invitations. If your role isn’t included, you may still qualify through general Express Entry streams.