Healthcare occupations (Version 1) - Draws year: 2023

Overview

Canada's Express Entry system has evolved the way it prioritizes healthcare-related occupations through category-based draws. Under earlier ministerial instructions, there was a category called "Healthcare occupations (Version 1)", which focused mainly on traditional healthcare roles such as physicians, nurses, and other direct clinical practitioners. Following the 2025 reforms to the Express Entry category-based selection, this category was effectively replaced by a broader category named "Healthcare and social services occupations (Version 2)", which expanded eligibility to include not only core healthcare professions but also related social services roles like social workers and community service workers. These changes reflect Canada's updated policy approach to addressing labour shortages across both healthcare and social support sectors.

The updated category under Version 2 is aligned with current Express Entry categories listed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and includes an expanded set of eligible NOC codes covering a wider range of occupations in both health and social services. By broadening the scope of eligible roles, the Version 2 category enhances pathways for skilled workers in allied services to be considered for permanent residence through targeted draws.