The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched its 2025 Express Entry categories by establishing an education segment while updating the current professions available for immigration.
The article that listed occupation changes on February 27 generated many reader requests for the complete list of eligible occupations that could trigger express entry draws.
Current immigration candidates should look closely because this opportunity exists for you to obtain permanent residency in Canada.
The updated categories mirror the various employment needs of Canada’s shifting market across health care, STEM, trade occupations, agriculture and education.
The following document lists all occupations eligible for 2025 Express Entry category-based draws according to their occupational groups.
Full List of Occupations Eligible For Targeted Express Entry Draws 2025
1. Healthcare and Social Services Category
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
2. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Category
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
3. Trade Category
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 82021 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 |
| Other technical trades and related occupations | 72999 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 |
| Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 |
| Home building and renovation managers | 70011 |
| Construction managers | 70010 |
| Cooks | 63200 |
| Construction estimators | 22303 |
4. Agriculture and Agri-Food Category
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Butchers – retail and wholesale | 63201 |
5. Education Category
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 41221 |
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 |
What Are Category-Based Draws?
The Express Entry system features Category-based selection which operates as its special selection method.
The standard draw rules do not apply to these targeted rounds because they exclusively seek candidates whose qualifications align with Canadian economic requirements.
The IRCC selects leading candidates who qualified under the Express Entry pool by invitation for permanent resident applications through these criteria:
1. Proficiency in English or French (with a special nod to French speakers).
“OR”
2. Work experience in high-demand occupations.
Applicants need to fulfill Express Entry’s essential criteria which establishes eligibility through the Federal Skilled Worker Program , Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience Class in combination with extra requirements for each group.