Immigration Minister Sean Fraser recently unveiled the introduction of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates, aiming to prioritize individuals with strong French language proficiency or work experience in specific fields.
Focus on Key Categories
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will concentrate on Express Entry candidates with expertise in the following areas:
- Healthcare
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Transport
- Agriculture and agri-food
These categories were chosen based on labor market information, projections, and extensive input from IRCC partners, provinces and territories, and stakeholders nationwide.
Importance of Healthcare Professionals
The healthcare sector plays a crucial role in Canada’s workforce, and the country heavily relies on immigration to fill job vacancies in this field. The Healthcare and Social Assistance category alone had 143,695 job vacancies in the fourth quarter of 2022, making it the sector with the highest number of job openings.
Despite the demand, foreign-trained medical professionals often face challenges in obtaining accreditation from Canadian authorities, hindering their ability to work in their respective fields. To address this issue, IRCC is implementing measures to facilitate the immigration process for foreign-trained healthcare workers, including removing certain barriers for physicians already in Canada on a temporary resident visa.
Eligibility for Healthcare Occupations Category
To qualify for the new healthcare occupations category, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Meet the eligibility requirements of at least one Express Entry program (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program).
- Have accumulated at least 6 months of continuous work experience within the past 3 years in one of the listed healthcare occupations.
- Fulfill all other requirements specified in the instructions for the draw.
Diverse Healthcare Occupations
The healthcare occupations category encompasses a wide range of professions. Some of the included occupations are:
- Dentists
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Massage therapists
- Nurse aids, orderlies, and patient service associates
- Optometrists
- Physiotherapists
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- Specialists in surgery
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- Veterinarians
These occupations highlight the diversity of roles available within the healthcare sector, catering to various specializations and expertise.
Category-Based Rounds of Invitations and Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
Category-based rounds of invitations will be conducted based on specific criteria, such as language proficiency, work experience in targeted National Occupational Classification (NOC) categories, and education. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which evaluates various factors like age, education, language skills, and work experience. The CRS score remains relevant in determining invitations for category-based draws, as IRCC will prioritize candidates with high rankings who are eligible for the targeted category.
Check Eligibility and Stay Updated
If you are interested in participating in category-based selection draws, it is advisable to assess your eligibility by visiting the official IRCC website. Regularly staying informed about the latest updates and announcements from IRCC will help you navigate the immigration process more effectively.
