Third Express Entry Draw Of December Issues 1,000 ITAs

Last Updated On 11 December 2025, 7:32 PM EST (Toronto Time)

On December 11, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held the third Express Entry draw of the month, inviting 1,000 candidates with experience in one of the 37 Healthcare and Social Services Occupations.

This latest targeted category draw invited candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 476.

The cutoff score increases by 14 points as compared to the previous healthcare draw on November 14, 2025.

Anyone ranked 1,000 or above received an Invitation to Apply. The tie-breaking rule was applied for profiles submitted before November 26, 2025 at 07:44:30 UTC.

This draw adds further momentum to Canada’s push to welcome skilled healthcare professionals as the country manages increasing demand for essential services across hospitals, long-term care, community health, and social support sectors.

All The Healthcare Express Entry Draws In 2025

Healthcare remains one of the most frequently targeted categories throughout 2025.

Below is a full list of all healthcare draws conducted this year.

DateInvitationsCRS Score CutoffDecember 11, 20251,000476November 14, 20253,500462October 15, 20252,500472August 19, 20252,500470July 22, 20254,000475June 4, 2025500504May 2, 2025500510Total14,500462-510

The December draw’s CRS cut-off of 476 marks a moderate increase from the November round but remains below several earlier 2025 thresholds, offering a promising opportunity for healthcare professionals seeking permanent residency.

Who Is Eligible For The Healthcare And Social Services Occupations Category

To qualify for this category, applicants must:

Have at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience within the last 3 years, or the equivalent part-time experience

Hold experience in one of the eligible occupations listed below

Meet all requirements outlined in the instructions for the round

Hold qualifying experience either in Canada or abroad

These requirements ensure candidates possess recent, specialized experience aligned with Canada’s priority labour needs.

Full List of Eligible Occupations For The Healthcare And Social Services Category

Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians – NOC 32104

Audiologists and speech language pathologists – NOC 31112

Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists – NOC 32123

Chiropractors – NOC 31201

Dental hygienists and dental therapists – NOC 32111

Dentists – NOC 31110

Dieticians and nutritionists – NOC 31121

General practitioners and family physicians – NOC 31102

Licensed practical nurses – NOC 32101

Massage therapists – NOC 32201

Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations – NOC 33101

Medical laboratory technologists – NOC 32120

Medical radiation technologists – NOC 32121

Medical sonographers – NOC 32122

Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates – NOC 33102

Nurse practitioners – NOC 31302

Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors – NOC 31300

Occupational therapists – NOC 31203

Optometrists – NOC 31111

Other medical technologists and technicians – NOC 32129

Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating – NOC 31209

Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment – NOC 32109

Paramedical occupations – NOC 32102

Pharmacists – NOC 31120

Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants – NOC 33103

Pharmacy technicians – NOC 32124

Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals – NOC 31303

Physiotherapists – NOC 31202

Psychologists – NOC 31200

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses – NOC 31301

Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists – NOC 32103

Social and community service workers – NOC 42201 – TEER 2

Social workers – NOC 41300

Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine – NOC 31100 – TEER 1

Specialists in surgery – NOC 31101

Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies – NOC 41301

Veterinarians – NOC 31103

With three category-based rounds in December and healthcare draws becoming more frequent, candidates in these occupations should ensure their Express Entry profiles are updated and active.

CRS scores continue to fluctuate but remain competitive across all targeted rounds.

More healthcare rounds are likely as Canada continues prioritizing essential sectors facing acute labour shortages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does international work experience count for the healthcare category?

Yes. Candidates can qualify with experience gained in Canada or abroad. The requirement is at least 6 months of full-time, continuous experience (or equivalent part-time) within the last 3 years in one eligible occupation.

What are my chances of receiving an ITA in future healthcare draws?

Chances depend on your CRS score, occupation, and the number of invitations issued in upcoming rounds. Healthcare draws in 2025 ranged from CRS 462 to 510, and invitation sizes varied from 500 to 4,000. If your CRS score is competitive within this range, your chances increase.

How often has IRCC conducted healthcare draws in 2025?

As of December 11, 2025, there have been seven healthcare category Express Entry draws this year. These draws have consistently issued thousands of invitations as IRCC prioritizes this sector.

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada.

Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website