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Express Entry 2025: Key Updates
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced its highly anticipated 2025 Express Entry categories, introducing a new Education category alongside updates to the existing occupation lists.
While we previously published an article on February 27 detailing the additions and removals of occupations, many readers have requested a full list of occupations that are now eligible for targeted Express Entry draws.
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Express Entry 2025: Key Updates
Canada’s evolving economy has driven changes in Express Entry categories, emphasizing in-demand sectors such as healthcare, STEM, trades, agriculture, and now education.
Below is the comprehensive list of all occupations included in the 2025 Express Entry category-based draws, organized by category:
Full List of Occupations Eligible for Targeted Express Entry Draws (2025)
- Healthcare and Social Services Category
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Category
- Trade Category
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Category
- Education Category
What Are Category-Based Draws?
Category-based selection is a targeted approach within the Express Entry system.
Unlike general draws, these rounds focus on candidates with specific skills, work experience, or language proficiency that align with Canada’s economic needs.
The IRCC invites top-ranking candidates from the Express Entry pool for permanent residency based on:
✅ Proficiency in English or French (especially favoring French speakers)
✅ Work experience in high-demand occupations
To qualify, candidates must meet Express Entry’s baseline requirements under one of these programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Additionally, they must meet the specific criteria for their selected category.
1. Healthcare and Social Services Category
Eligible Occupations in Healthcare (2025)
| 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
Eligible Occupations in STEM (2025)
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 |
| Geological engineers | 21331 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 |
| Insurance agents and brokers | 63100 |
| Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 22301 |
| Mechanical engineers | 21301 |
3. Trade Category
Eligible Occupations in Trades (2025)
| 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
Eligible Occupations in Agriculture (2025)
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Butchers – retail and wholesale | 63201 |
5. Education Category
Eligible Occupations in Education (2025)
| 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 |
Conclusion
With new occupations added and an emphasis on the Education sector, the 2025 Express Entry updates provide fresh opportunities for skilled professionals looking to secure permanent residency in Canada.
If your profession is on this updated list, now is the time to prepare your Express Entry profile and take advantage of targeted category-based draws!
Gill Bikram Singh