On February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the Express Entry categories for the year, implementing notable updates to category-based draws.
One major change is the introduction of a new Education category, which includes five specified occupations. At the same time, the Transport category has been removed from category-based draws.
Additionally, IRCC has expanded the Healthcare category to include various social services occupations.
As per IRCC’s official website, the current Express Entry categories are:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social Service occupations
- Agriculture and Agri-Food occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
Despite retaining all these categories, IRCC has identified the following as priority categories for 2025:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social Service occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
These categories will receive priority for Invitations to Apply (ITA) through category-based draws under the Express Entry system.
Beyond these adjustments, additional modifications have also been made to category-based selection.
Additional Changes to Express Entry Categories
Along with the recent updates, the remaining Express Entry categories have undergone significant modifications in terms of eligible occupations. Several occupations have been added to existing categories, while others have been removed. The details of these changes are outlined below:
|
Category name |
Number of occupations added |
Number of occupations removed |
|
Healthcare and Social Services occupations |
8 |
6 |
|
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations |
6 |
19 |
|
Trade occupations |
19 |
4 |
|
Agriculture and Agri-food occupations |
0 |
2 |
Healthcare and social services
The following occupations have been added to the Healthcare and social services category:
|
Job Title |
NOC Code |
TEER Level |
|
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
32104 |
2 |
|
Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists |
32123 |
2 |
|
Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
32111 |
2 |
|
Other medical technologists and technicians |
32129 |
2 |
|
Pharmacists |
31120 |
1 |
|
Pharmacy technicians |
32124 |
2 |
|
Social and community service workers |
42201 |
2 |
|
Social workers |
41300 |
1 |
The following occupations have been removed from the Healthcare and social services category:
|
Job Title |
NOC Code |
TEER Level |
|
Educational counsellors |
41320 |
1 |
|
Instructors of persons with disabilities |
42203 |
2 |
|
Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment |
31204 |
1 |
|
Other assisting occupations in support of health services |
33109 |
3 |
|
Other practitioners of natural healing |
32209 |
2 |
|
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists |
32200 |
2 |
STEM
The following occupations have been added to the STEM category:
|
Job Title |
NOC Code |
TEER Level |
|
Civil engineering technologists and technicians |
22300 |
2 |
|
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
22310 |
2 |
|
Geological Engineers |
21331 |
1 |
|
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians |
22301 |
2 |
|
Mechanical Engineers |
21301 |
1 |
|
Insurance agents and brokers |
63100 |
3 |
The following occupations have been removed from the STEM category:
|
Job Title |
NOC Code |
TEER Level |
|
Architects |
21200 |
1 |
|
Business systems specialists |
21221 |
1 |
|
Computer and information systems managers |
20012 |
0 |
|
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) |
21311 |
1 |
|
Computer systems developers and programmers |
21230 |
1 |
|
Data scientists |
21211 |
1 |
|
Database analysts and data administrators |
21223 |
1 |
|
Engineering managers |
20010 |
0 |
|
Information systems specialists |
21222 |
1 |
|
Land surveyors |
21203 |
1 |
|
Landscape Architects |
21201 |
1 |
|
Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries |
21210 |
1 |
|
Metallurgical and materials engineers |
21322 |
1 |
|
Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants, and program officers |
41400 |
1 |
|
Software developers and programmers |
21232 |
1 |
|
Software engineers and designers |
21231 |
1 |
|
Urban and land use planners |
21202 |
1 |
|
Web designers |
21233 |
1 |
|
Web developers and programmers |
21234 |
1 |
Trade
The following occupations have been added to the Trade category:
|
Job Title |
NOC Code |
TEER Level |
|
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services |
82021 |
2 |
|
Floor covering installers |
73113 |
3 |
|
Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) |
73112 |
3 |
|
Roofers and shinglers |
73110 |
3 |
|
Concrete finishers |
73100 |
3 |
|
Other technical trades and related occupations |
72999 |
2 |
|
Water well drillers |
72501 |
2 |
|
Electrical mechanics |
72422 |
2 |
|
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
72401 |
2 |
|
Bricklayers |
72320 |
2 |
|
Cabinetmakers |
72311 |
2 |
|
Gas fitters |
72302 |
2 |
|
Industrial electricians |
72201 |
2 |
|
Sheet metal workers |
72102 |
2 |
|
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors |
72100 |
2 |
|
Home building and renovation managers |
70011 |
0 |
|
Construction managers |
70010 |
0 |
|
Cooks |
63200 |
3 |
|
Construction estimators |
22303 |
2 |
The following occupations have been removed from the Trade category:
|
Job Title |
NOC Code |
TEER Level |
|
Residential and commercial installers and servicers |
73200 |
3 |
|
Elevator constructors and mechanics |
72406 |
2 |
|
Machine fitters |
72405 |
2 |
|
Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers |
72014 |
2 |
Agriculture and agri-food
The following occupations have been added to the Agriculture and agri-food category:
|
Job Title |
NOC Code |
TEER Level |
|
Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services |
82031 |
2 |
|
Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors |
82030 |
2 |
Which occupations have been added to the new Education category?
The following occupations have been added to IRCC's new Education category:
|
Job Title |
NOC Code |
TEER Level |
|
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
43100 |
3 |
|
Instructors of persons with disabilities |
42203 |
2 |
|
Early childhood educators and assistants |
42202 |
2 |
|
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
41221 |
1 |
|
Secondary school teachers |
41220 |
1 |
How Does IRCC Determine Express Entry Categories?
IRCC establishes Express Entry categories based on Canada’s economic and demographic priorities.
Most occupation-based categories align with labor market demands, focusing on sectors experiencing worker shortages. These occupations are included in the Express Entry system to address critical labor gaps that cannot be filled domestically, making immigration essential for maintaining workforce stability.
Meanwhile, the French-language proficiency category reflects Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and the promotion of the French language outside Quebec, as outlined in the Official Languages Act. Recognizing immigration as a key factor in this effort, IRCC plays a vital role in facilitating the entry and settlement of French-speaking newcomers.
