Explore Latest Draw in Healthcare 

Health workers provide treatment, services and advice. Health workers can include:

• dentists and dental hygienists
• dietitians
• massage, occupational, and physical therapists
• nurses
• orderlies
• optometrists
• paramedics
• personal support workers
• midwives
• pharmacists
• physicians
• psychologists, and more

To apply for Express Entry under healthcare and social services occupations, you typically need:

1. At least one year of work experience in a relevant healthcare or social services occupation (this may vary by program).
2. A valid language test result showing proficiency in English or French (e.g., IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF).
3. Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): If your education was obtained outside Canada, you’ll need to have it assessed to show that it meets Canadian standards.
4. Some occupations, like doctors, nurses, or social workers, may also require licensing or certification from a Canadian regulatory body.

For many healthcare and social services professions, you must be licensed or certified by a provincial or territorial regulatory body to practice in Canada. For example, nurses, doctors, and social workers must be licensed in the province where they want to work. In some cases, you can apply for Express Entry and get the necessary certification after arriving in Canada, but it’s often required to work in your profession.

• Improve your language skills: High language proficiency can increase your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and improve your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

• Get a provincial nomination: If a province nominates you, you’ll get additional points toward your CRS score, increasing your chances of getting an ITA.

• Gain Canadian work experience: If you have previous experience working in Canada, it will help you apply under the Canadian Experience Class and improve your CRS score.

• Meet the job market demand: Provinces with high demand for healthcare and social service professionals may give priority to applicants with these skills.

If you don’t meet all the requirements for Express Entry, you can still explore other pathways, such as:

• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Some provinces have programs that target healthcare and social service workers, even if you don’t qualify for Express Entry directly.

• Work Permit: If you don’t yet have Canadian work experience, applying for a temporary work permit can help you gain experience and increase your chances of qualifying for permanent residency later.

The processing time for Express Entry applications is typically 6 months or less, provided all documents and requirements are in order. However, processing times can vary depending on factors such as the volume of applications and the complexity of your case.

Yes, if you are working in Canada on a temporary work permit, you can apply for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class if you meet the other criteria, such as having at least one year of work experience in your healthcare or social services occupation.