Healthcare and social services has been named a priority category in 2025, giving people working in these occupations a much better shot at permanent residence through Express Entry.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already issued 5,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) in the healthcare and social service category in 2025.

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In the most recent category-based draw, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was 475.

Here’s a look at some fictional profiles that would have qualified for an ITA in the latest draw.

Example 1

Kasun Perera is a 28-year-old from Sri Lanka.

Kasun has a bachelor’s degree in social work, and a master’s degree in psychology. After this he worked in a community and social service agency in Sri Lanka for three years as a social worker.

Kasun speaks English fluently and has Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 10 across all abilities, but no knowledge of French.

He has no Canadian work experience or educational qualifications.

His CRS score is as follows:

Factors determining CRS scoreQualificationsPoints accrued

Age28110

Level of educationMaster’ degree135

First official languageCLB 10136

Skill transferability (education)Official language proficiency + education50

Skill transferability (foreign work experience)Official language proficiency + foreign work experience50

Total CRS score481

Based on Kasun’s score, he would have a CRS score of 481, qualifying him for the most recent healthcare and social services draw.

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*Social work is regulated at the provincial level in Canada. So, if Kasun wishes to continue practicing as a social worker, he must get registered. For example, if he wishes to practice in Ontario, he would have to meet requirements set by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)

Example 2

Camille Holmes is a 26-year-old from the United Kingdom.

After completing a secondary school diploma in the UK, she worked for a year as a hairstylist there.

She moved to Ontario and pursued a two-year diploma in massage therapy.

Following this, she finds a job in a wellness clinic and works there for two years while on a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Camille has CLB level 9 in English in all abilities. She does not speak French.

Camille’s CRS score is as follows:

Factors determining CRS scoreQualificationsPoints accrued

Age26110

Level of educationTwo-year diploma98

Official languagesCLB 9124

Canadian work experience2 years53

Skill transferability factors (education)CLB 9 + two year diploma + 2 years of Canadian work experience50

Skill transferability factors (foreign work experience)CLB 9  + 1 year of foreign work experience + two years of Canadian work experience50

Additional pointsStudied in Canada15

Total500

With a CRS score of 500, Camille would have easily qualified for the last health and social services category based draw.

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Example 3

Salma Tatar is a 27-year-old woman from Algeria.

She has secondary school education in Algeria and spent a year there working as an administrative assistant.

She moved to Canada with her husband on a spousal open work permit.

During that time in Canada, she got a study permit and then enrolled in an eight-month-long Personal Support Worker program in Toronto, then got a job in a hospital as a nurse aide. She continued to work there for two years.

Salma has CLB level 8 across all abilities in English and NCLC Level 7 in French.

She applies with her husband, who has a bachelor’s degree, CLB level 8 in all abilities in English, and three years of Canadian work experience.

Her CRS score is as follows:

Factors determining CRS scoreQualificationsPoints accrued

Age27100

Level of educationPSW program84

Official languagesCLB 8 in English + CLB 7 in French100

Canadian work experience2 years46

Skill transferability factors (education)Language skills + certificate diploma + 2 years of Canadian work experience38

Skill transferability factors (foreign work experience)Language skills + 2 years of foreign work experience + 2 years of Canadian work experience38

Additional pointsStudied in Canada15

Additional pointsFrench language skills50

Spousal factors

Spouse’s educationBachelor’s degree8

Spouse’s language abilityCLB level 812

Spouse’s Canadian work experiencethree years8

Total499

Salma’s CRS score of 499 would qualify her for the latest health and social services category-based draw.

Qualifying for category-based draws

To qualify for an occupation-based category-based draw, you must have at least six months of continuous full-time work experience in a single occupation within an Express Entry category, in addition to meeting all other Express Entry requirements.

You can also qualify with an equivalent amount of part-time work experience.

Assess your eligibility for all Express Entry categories

 

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