On October 15, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry draw # 373, specifically targeting candidates with experience in healthcare and social services. A total of 2,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence were issued.
Key Highlights of the October 15, 2025 Healthcare Draw:
· Focus: Category-based draw for Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
· ITAs Issued: 2,500
· CRS Score Cut-off: 472
· Tie-breaking Rule: May 12, 2025, at 23:17:30 UTC
· Draw Frequency: This was the fifth healthcare-specific draw in 2025, an increase from previous years.
What Does This Mean for Express Entry Candidates?
CRS Score Matters: The CRS cut-off was slightly higher than the previous healthcare draw in August (470). With a large number of candidates in the Express Entry pool, continually improving your CRS score is crucial.
Healthcare Draws in 2025: While another healthcare draw is possible before the end of the year, it's uncertain. The upcoming Immigration Levels Plan for 2026-2028 will provide more clarity.
Draw Size Implications: This larger-than-expected draw could indicate a change in IRCC's processing or targets for healthcare applicants.
Will There Be a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Draw Soon?
Predicting future draws is challenging due to recent inconsistencies. While historical trends might suggest a potential CEC draw, current patterns are unreliable. Invitation numbers in recent months have fluctuated, making it difficult to forecast upcoming draw volumes. Overall, another draw this week looks unlikely, but not impossible!
Are you eligible for Healthcare & Social Services Occupation Draw?
To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, you must:
Qualify for one of the three main immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Meet the minimum requirements for the round, including the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off and tiebreaker rules.
Additionally, you must have at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equivalent in part-time work experience) in one eligible occupation. Here are some examples of jobs that are eligible for the Healthcare & Social Services Occupation Draw: *
* Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
* Audiologists and speech language pathologists
* Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
* Chiropractors
* Dental hygienists and dental therapists
Dentists Dieticians and nutritionists
* General practitioners and family physicians
* Licensed practical nurses
* Massage therapists
* Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
* Medical laboratory technologists
* Medical radiation technologists
* Medical sonographers
* Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
* Nurse practitioners
* Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
* Occupational therapists
* Optometrists
* Other medical technologists and technicians
* Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
* Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
* Paramedical occupations
* Pharmacists
* Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
* Pharmacy technicians
* Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
* Physiotherapists
* Psychologists
* Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
* Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
* Social and community service workers
* Social workers
* Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
* Specialists in surgery
* Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
· Veterinarians.
Stay tuned for updates on the Immigration Levels Plan for 2026-2028. Continue to work on improving your CRS score and ensure your Express Entry profile is up to date.
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