Category-based selection Occupation Demand List
Express Entry Category-based selection Occupation Demand List 2025-26: Canada uses category-based Express Entry draws to invite candidates whose profiles match with the country’s economic goals.
What is category-based selection
In category-based rounds of invitations, Canada invite candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal.
Canada invite candidates to apply for permanent residence based on criteria such as:
- ability to communicate in a specific official language
- work experience in a specific occupation
- education
Current categories – 2025
Find out who’s eligible for each category: (required)
Who’s eligible for each category
To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, you must:
- meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for 1 of the 3 immigration programs it covers, and
- meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
When Canada hold a category-based round of invitations, they’ll:
- rank candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements, and
- invite top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence
2025 Priority Categories for Category-Based Express Entry Draws
While all categories remain active, IRCC has designated the following as priorities for ITAs in 2025:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social Service occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
These prioritized categories will receive more frequent and targeted draws, increasing opportunities for eligible candidates.
1. French-language proficiency
Who’s eligible for the French-language proficiency category
To be eligible, you must:
- have French-language test results that show a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens
2. (37 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the healthcare and social services occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)
- in a single occupation listed in the table below
- in Canada or abroad
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 | 2 |
| Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 31112 | 1 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 | 2 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 | 1 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 | 2 |
| Dentists | 31110 | 1 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 | 1 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | 2 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 | 2 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 | 3 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 | 2 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 | 2 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 | 2 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | 3 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 | 1 |
| Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 31300 | 1 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 | 1 |
| Optometrists | 31111 | 1 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 | 2 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 | 1 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 | 2 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 | 2 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | 1 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 | 3 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 | 2 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 | 1 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | 1 |
| Psychologists | 31200 | 1 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | 1 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 | 2 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 | 2 |
| Social workers | 41300 | 1 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 | 1 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 | 1 |
3. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations (11 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)
- in a single occupation listed in the table below
- in Canada or abroad
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 | 0 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 | 2 |
| Civil Engineers | 21300 | 1 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 | 1 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 | 2 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 | 1 |
| Geological Engineers | 21331 | 1 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | 1 |
| Insurance agents and brokers | 63100 | 3 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 22301 | 2 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 21301 | 1 |
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round.
4. Trade occupations (25 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the trade occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)
- in a single occupation listed in the table below
- in Canada or abroad
| 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 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 | 2 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 | 2 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 | 2 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 | 2 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 | 2 |
| Carpenters | 72310 | 2 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 | 2 |
| Plumbers | 72300 | 2 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 | 2 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 | 2 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 | 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 |
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round.
5. Agriculture and agri-food occupations (1 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the agriculture and agri-food occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)
- in a single occupation listed in the table below
- in Canada or abroad
| Butchers – retail and wholesale | 63201 | 3 |
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round.
6. Education Occupations (5 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the education occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)
- in a single occupation listed in the table below
- in Canada or abroad
| 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 |
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round.
Need to Apply Canada Express Entry Category Based Selection?
To find out if you’re eligible for immigration to Canada, simply complete our free assessment! A member of the Expressway Immigration Team will review your eligibility and contact you to discuss your options!
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