Can Doctors Apply for Canada Express Entry?

Doctors can apply for the Express Entry program through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programs. To qualify for Express Entry as a doctor, your occupation must be listed in the "Skills Occupations list" of Canada. You must also have work experience in skill types A, B, or 0. The Canadian government also introduced a new pathway, category-based selection draws, through which skilled professionals with prior work experience in priority occupations can apply for PR. The Express Entry category-based draws is another way for doctors to apply for permanent residence in Canada.  Around 7,250 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been issued to healthcare professionals via the healthcare occupation draws in 2024 so far.

 

*To know if you can migrate to Canada as a Doctor, also read…

How to migrate to Canada as a Doctor?

 

Express Entry Category-based rounds of invitations

Canada introduced category-based Express Entry draws in 2023 to invite skilled professionals in specific in-demand categories. Six categories were shortlisted by IRCC's then-Minister, Sean Fraser, in an effort to meet the country's economic goals. Candidates are invited to apply for Canada PR based on their ability to communicate in specific official languages, educational qualifications, and work experience in specific occupations. So far, 7,250 healthcare professionals have been invited via the Express Entry category-based draws in 2024.

 

*Want to check your eligibility to Canada? Try the FREE Y-Axis Canada points calculator and get an instant score!

 

Eligibility Criteria for Healthcare Occupations Category

To be eligible for the healthcare occupations category, you must fulfill the below criteria:

 

• Have a minimum of 6 months of full-time experience in the past 3 years
• The work experience must be acquired overseas or in any of the eligible healthcare occupations in Canada
• Meet the invitation-round specific requirements
• Fulfill the eligibility requirements for Express Entry programs, such as the FSWP and the CEC

 

*To know if you Nurses can apply for Express Entry, also read…

Can Nurses Apply for Canada Express Entry?

 

List of eligible healthcare occupations for the Express Entry Program

The table below has the list of healthcare occupations that are eligible for the Express Entry category-based draws. You can apply for healthcare jobs in Canada in any of the occupations listed below:

Occupation	2021 NOC code	2021 TEER category
Audiologists and speech language pathologists	31112	1
Chiropractors	31201	1
Dentists	31110	1
Dieticians and nutritionists	31121	1
Education counsellors	41320	1
General practitioners and family physicians	31102	1
Instructors of persons with disabilities	42203	2
Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment	31204	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 assisting occupations in support of health services	33109	3
Other practitioners of natural healing	32209	2
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating	31209	1
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment	32109	2
Paramedical occupations	32102	2
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants	33103	3
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
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine	31100	1
Specialists in surgery	31101	1
Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies	41301	1
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists	32200	2
Veterinarians	31103	1

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with Canada Immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy, for end-to-end assistance!