Express Entry Categories

Canada’s Express Entry system does not select candidates only through broad CRS-based draws. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can also hold category-based rounds of invitations, targeting candidates with specific language skills or work experience in occupations Canada wants to prioritize.

For 2026, the list has changed significantly. Canada now has 10 Express Entry categories, including five categories announced as new for 2026. The work experience requirement for occupation-based categories has also increased, making it especially important to check the current rules rather than relying on older occupation lists.

This guide explains the current Express Entry categories, the work experience rules, eligible NOC codes and TEER levels, and which categories accept work experience gained outside Canada.

Information checked against the current Government of Canada category-based selection page, updated June 22, 2026.

What Is Express Entry Category-Based Selection?

Express Entry manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

To participate in a category-based draw, you must first qualify for at least one of these programs and have an eligible Express Entry profile in the pool.

IRCC then identifies candidates who meet the requirements of a particular category. Those candidates are still ranked using their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and the highest-ranking candidates in that category may receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Being eligible for a category does not guarantee an invitation.

Current Express Entry Categories for 2026

IRCC currently lists the following 10 categories.

Express Entry Category	Main Requirement	Can Foreign Work Experience Qualify?
French-language proficiency	NCLC 7 in all four French abilities	Not an occupation-based category
Healthcare and social services	12 months in an eligible occupation	Yes
STEM	12 months in an eligible occupation	Yes
Trade occupations	12 months in an eligible occupation	Yes
Education occupations	12 months in an eligible occupation	Yes
Transport occupations	12 months in an eligible occupation	Yes
Physicians with Canadian work experience	12 months in an eligible physician occupation	No / Canadian experience required
Senior managers with Canadian work experience	12 months in an eligible management occupation	No / Canadian experience required
Researchers with Canadian work experience	12 months in an eligible research occupation	No / Canadian experience required
Skilled military recruits	Special military, employment and education requirements	Special rules apply

This distinction is important for candidates applying from outside Canada. Five occupational categories currently accept qualifying experience gained either in Canada or abroad, while the physician, senior manager and researcher categories specifically require Canadian work experience.

What Changed in Express Entry Categories for 2026?

IRCC announced five categories as new for 2026:

• Physicians with Canadian work experience
• Researchers with Canadian work experience
• Senior managers with Canadian work experience
• Transport occupations
• Skilled military recruits

Canada also renewed:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare and social services
• Education
• STEM
• Trades

Agriculture and agri-food is not included in the current 2026 category list.

Another major change is the work experience requirement.

For the current occupation-based categories, candidates generally need at least 12 months of full-time work experience, or an equal amount of part-time experience, during the last three years. The qualifying experience does not need to be continuous.

For Healthcare, STEM, Trades, Education and Transport, this experience may be gained in Canada or abroad. For the separate physician, senior manager and researcher categories, the qualifying experience must have been gained in Canada.

Who Can Qualify for a Category-Based Express Entry Draw?

Meeting the requirements of a category is only one part of the process.

You must also be eligible for one of the three programs managed through Express Entry.

Express Entry Program	General Profile
Canadian Experience Class	Skilled workers with eligible Canadian work experience
Federal Skilled Worker Program	Skilled workers with eligible Canadian or foreign work experience
Federal Skilled Trades Program	Workers qualified in eligible skilled trades

For example, being a civil engineer listed under the STEM category does not automatically make you an Express Entry candidate. You must first qualify under CEC, FSWP or FSTP and enter the Express Entry pool.

Once you are in the pool, IRCC can identify your profile as eligible for a category-based round.

1. French-Language Proficiency Category

The French-language category works differently from the occupational categories because there is no special list of eligible professions.

To qualify for this category, your approved French-language test results must show a minimum NCLC level 7 in all four abilities:

• Speaking
• Listening
• Reading
• Writing

You must also meet the requirements of the particular invitation round and remain eligible under an Express Entry program.

This means your occupation does not need to appear in one of the occupational category tables simply because you want to qualify through the French-language category.

However, you still need to satisfy the requirements of CEC, FSWP or FSTP to enter the Express Entry pool.

2. Healthcare and Social Services Occupations

This is one of the largest Express Entry occupational categories.

You need at least 12 months of qualifying work experience within the last three years in one occupation on the current IRCC list. The experience can be full-time or an equivalent amount of part-time work, does not need to be continuous, and may have been gained in Canada or abroad.

Common examples include nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists, psychologists, veterinarians and social workers.

Eligible Healthcare and Social Services NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine	31100	1
Specialists in surgery	31101	1
General practitioners and family physicians	31102	1
Veterinarians	31103	1
Dentists	31110	1
Optometrists	31111	1
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists	31112	1
Pharmacists	31120	1
Dietitians and nutritionists	31121	1
Psychologists	31200	1
Chiropractors	31201	1
Physiotherapists	31202	1
Occupational therapists	31203	1
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating	31209	1
Nursing coordinators and supervisors	31300	1
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses	31301	1
Nurse practitioners	31302	1
Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals	31303	1
Licensed practical nurses	32101	2
Paramedical occupations	32102	2
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists	32103	2
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians	32104	2
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment	32109	2
Dental hygienists and dental therapists	32111	2
Medical laboratory technologists	32120	2
Medical radiation technologists	32121	2
Medical sonographers	32122	2
Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists	32123	2
Pharmacy technicians	32124	2
Other medical technologists and technicians	32129	2
Massage therapists	32201	2
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations	33101	3
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates	33102	3
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants	33103	3
Social workers	41300	1
Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies	41301	1
Social and community service workers	42201	2

Source: current IRCC category-based selection occupation table.

Example

3. STEM Occupations

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The current list is narrower than many older Express Entry STEM lists found online, so checking the latest government table is important.

To qualify, you need at least 12 months of eligible experience within the last three years in one occupation listed below. The experience does not need to be continuous and can be obtained in Canada or abroad.

Eligible STEM NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
Architecture and science managers	20011	0
Cybersecurity specialists	21220	1
Civil engineers	21300	1
Mechanical engineers	21301	1
Electrical and electronics engineers	21310	1
Industrial and manufacturing engineers	21321	1
Geological engineers	21331	1
Civil engineering technologists and technicians	22300	2
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians	22301	2
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians	22310	2
Insurance agents and brokers	63100	3

Source: current IRCC category-based selection occupation table.

Common Examples

Do not assume that every technology-related job is currently part of the STEM category. For example, the current 2026 list should be checked rather than relying on older lists that included a much wider range of software and IT occupations.

4. Trade Occupations

The Trades category covers a broad group of construction, industrial, mechanical and related skilled occupations.

To qualify, you need at least 12 months of work experience within the previous three years in one occupation listed by IRCC. The experience may be obtained in Canada or abroad and does not need to be continuous.

Eligible Trade Occupation NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
Construction estimators	22303	2
Construction managers	70010	0
Home building and renovation managers	70011	0
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors	72100	2
Sheet metal workers	72102	2
Welders and related machine operators	72106	2
Electricians, except industrial and power system	72200	2
Industrial electricians	72201	2
Plumbers	72300	2
Gas fitters	72302	2
Carpenters	72310	2
Cabinetmakers	72311	2
Bricklayers	72320	2
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics	72400	2
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics	72401	2
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics	72402	2
Electrical mechanics	72422	2
Water well drillers	72501	2
Other technical trades and related occupations	72999	2
Concrete finishers	73100	3
Roofers and shinglers	73110	3
Painters and decorators, except interior decorators	73112	3
Floor covering installers	73113	3
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services	82021	2
Butchers – retail and wholesale	63201	3

Source: current IRCC category-based selection occupation table.

Common Examples

Your exact job title is not enough to confirm your NOC. The duties you actually performed should match the main duties of the NOC you claim.

5. Education Occupations

The Education category covers several teaching, early childhood education and education-support occupations.

As with the other occupation-based categories, candidates need at least 12 months of eligible experience within the past three years. The experience can be gained inside or outside Canada and does not have to be continuous.

Eligible Education NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
Secondary school teachers	41220	1
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers	41221	1
Early childhood educators and assistants	42202	2
Instructors of persons with disabilities	42203	2
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants	43100	3

Source: current IRCC category-based selection occupation table.

Common Examples

A teacher who has never worked in Canada may still potentially qualify under this category because foreign qualifying experience is accepted.

6. Transport Occupations

Transport is one of the categories announced for 2026.

An important point for candidates outside Canada is that this category does not require Canadian work experience. Qualifying experience may be obtained in Canada or abroad.

You need at least 12 months of experience during the previous three years in one eligible occupation, and the experience does not need to be continuous.

Eligible Transport NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors	72404	2
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors	72600	2
Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors	22313	2
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers	72410	2

Source: current IRCC category-based selection occupation table.

Important: Transport Does Not Mean Every Transportation Job

The current Transport category is much narrower than its name may suggest.

For example, the current official list contains pilots, aircraft-related mechanics and inspectors, avionics occupations and automotive service technicians/mechanics.

You should not assume that working somewhere in the transportation or logistics industry automatically makes you eligible. Your actual occupation must match one of the current NOC codes.

7. Physicians With Canadian Work Experience

This is different from the broader Healthcare and Social Services category.

The separate Physicians with Canadian work experience category requires at least 12 months of qualifying work experience within the last three years in Canada.

The experience does not have to be continuous.

Eligible Physician NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine	31100	1
Specialists in surgery	31101	1
General practitioners and family physicians	31102	1

Source: current IRCC category-based selection occupation table.

Healthcare Category vs Canadian Physician Category

A useful distinction is:

Broader Healthcare and Social Services category:
Eligible physician occupations can potentially use qualifying Canadian or foreign experience.

Physicians with Canadian work experience category:
Requires qualifying physician experience specifically gained in Canada.

A doctor may therefore need to consider which category requirements apply to a particular invitation round rather than treating the two categories as interchangeable.

8. Senior Managers With Canadian Work Experience

This new category focuses on senior managers who already have qualifying experience in Canada.

Candidates need at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience during the previous three years in one occupation listed below. The experience does not have to be continuous.

Eligible Senior Manager NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services	00012	0
Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations	00013	0
Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services	00014	0
Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities	00015	0

Source: current IRCC category-based selection occupation table.

These NOCs can cover senior leadership positions across many industries.

However, having a title such as CEO, director, vice-president or general manager does not automatically place you in one of these NOCs. Your duties and level of responsibility need to match the relevant NOC classification.

9. Researchers With Canadian Work Experience

The Researchers category is also limited to qualifying work performed in Canada.

Candidates need at least 12 months of eligible Canadian experience within the last three years. The experience may be an equivalent combination of full-time or part-time work and does not need to be continuous.

Eligible Researcher NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
University professors and lecturers	41200	1
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants	41201	1

Source: current IRCC category-based selection occupation table.

Examples may include qualifying work as:

• University professor
• University lecturer
• Post-secondary research assistant
• Teaching assistant

Again, the Canadian work experience requirement is central to this category.

10. Skilled Military Recruits

The Skilled Military Recruits category has a very different set of requirements from the other Express Entry categories.

A candidate must be a Foreign Skilled Military Applicant (FSMA) who is an eligible foreign national currently serving in a recognized foreign military.

IRCC also requires a minimum of 10 years of continuous military service and relevant work experience and training aligned with the duties of one or more specified Canadian Armed Forces NOCs.

Eligible Military NOC Codes

Occupation	NOC 2021	TEER
Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces	40042	0
Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces	42102	2
Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces	43204	3

Candidates must also have an arranged employment offer from the Canadian Armed Forces through the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group for continuous full-time work in Canada lasting at least three years in one of the eligible NOCs.

A minimum two-year post-secondary credential is also required. If the education was completed outside Canada, an educational credential assessment is required to show Canadian equivalency.

Can Foreign Work Experience Qualify for Express Entry Categories?

Yes, for several major categories.

This is one of the most useful distinctions for candidates who have never worked in Canada.

Category	Foreign Experience	Canadian Experience
Healthcare and social services	Accepted	Accepted
STEM	Accepted	Accepted
Trades	Accepted	Accepted
Education	Accepted	Accepted
Transport	Accepted	Accepted
Physicians with Canadian work experience	Not enough for this category	Required
Senior managers with Canadian work experience	Not enough for this category	Required
Researchers with Canadian work experience	Not enough for this category	Required
French-language proficiency	Not an occupational experience category	Not specifically required by the category
Skilled military recruits	Special military requirements	Canadian Armed Forces job offer required

For the first five occupational categories in this table, IRCC currently requires at least 12 months of qualifying work experience within the past three years in a single listed occupation.

How to Find the Correct NOC Code for Your Job

Finding an occupation with a similar job title is not enough.

Canada uses NOC 2021 to classify occupations based on training, education, experience and responsibilities.

IRCC specifically advises candidates to:

1. Search for the occupation.
2. Find the possible NOC code.
3. Open that occupation in the official NOC system.
4. Review its description and main duties.
5. Make sure the main duties match what you actually did in your job.

If the duties do not match, IRCC advises finding a different NOC that better reflects your actual work.

Example

What Does TEER Mean?

TEER stands for: Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities

Canada’s NOC 2021 system uses six TEER categories, from TEER 0 to TEER 5.

A simple way to understand the levels is:

TEER	General Type of Occupation
0	Management occupations
1	Usually requires a university degree
2	Usually requires college education, longer apprenticeship training or supervisory experience
3	Usually requires college education, shorter apprenticeship training or significant on-the-job training
4	Usually requires secondary school or several weeks of on-the-job training
5	Usually requires short work demonstration and no formal education

The TEER number itself does not determine whether you qualify for a category-based draw. What matters is whether your specific NOC appears in the current category list and whether you meet the other requirements.

Does a Category-Based Draw Replace the CRS Score?

No. CRS remains an important part of Express Entry.

IRCC first identifies candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements. It then ranks those candidates using their CRS scores and invites the highest-ranking candidates in that round.

So there are two separate questions:

1. Are you eligible for the category?

and

2. Is your CRS score competitive enough for the round?

A candidate may meet every occupational requirement but still not receive an ITA if their CRS score is below the cut-off for that particular round.

Are CRS Cut-Offs Lower in Category-Based Draws?

They can be, but there is no rule saying they must be.

The cut-off depends on factors such as:

• Which category IRCC targets
• How many invitations IRCC issues
• How many eligible candidates are in the pool
• The CRS scores of those candidates

This is why it is better to evaluate your actual profile rather than assume that qualifying for a category automatically makes a low CRS score competitive.

Do You Need a Job Offer for a Category-Based Express Entry Draw?

Not simply because you qualify for an occupational category.

Your underlying Express Entry program may have its own rules concerning job offers, and the Skilled Military Recruits category specifically requires arranged employment with the Canadian Armed Forces.

Another important change is that, since March 25, 2025, regular job offers no longer provide the previous 50 or 200 additional CRS points.

However, removing CRS points did not remove job-offer requirements where a valid offer is part of the eligibility rules of a particular immigration program.

Does My Occupation Need to Be My Primary Express Entry Occupation?

Not necessarily for category eligibility.

For the current occupation-based categories, IRCC states that the required experience can be in a single occupation listed in the relevant category table regardless of your primary occupation.

You still need to meet the separate requirements of the Express Entry program under which you qualify.

Example

The exact profile should still be reviewed carefully because program eligibility and category eligibility are separate tests.

Which Categories Are Most Relevant if You Are Outside Canada?

For a person who has never worked in Canada, the occupational categories that currently allow foreign work experience are:

• Healthcare and social services
• STEM
• Trades
• Education
• Transport

The French-language proficiency category may also be available without Canadian work experience if the candidate meets the French threshold and qualifies for an Express Entry program.

By contrast, the separate categories for physicians, senior managers and researchers specifically require qualifying Canadian work experience.

This does not mean one category is automatically easier or better than another. Your CRS score, Express Entry program eligibility, NOC, language results, education and actual work history all affect the outcome.

Common Mistakes When Checking Express Entry Categories

Frequently Asked Questions About Express Entry Categories

Closing Note

The 2026 Express Entry categories create targeted opportunities for candidates whose French-language skills or work experience match Canada’s current immigration priorities.

But the first question should not simply be:

“Is my job on the list?”

A more useful sequence is:

1. Do I qualify for Express Entry?
2. What is my correct NOC based on my actual job duties?
3. Is that NOC included in a current category?
4. Do I have the required 12 months of recent qualifying experience?
5. Does the category accept foreign experience, or does it require Canadian experience?
6. What is my CRS score, and how competitive is it for the type of rounds IRCC is conducting?

For candidates outside Canada, Healthcare and Social Services, STEM, Trades, Education and Transport remain especially important because qualifying foreign work experience can be accepted. French-language proficiency also provides a separate category that is not tied to a specific occupation list.

For physicians, senior managers and researchers, however, the new 2026 categories place much greater importance on experience already gained in Canada.

Because occupation lists and category requirements can change, always verify your NOC and the latest IRCC category table before making an immigration plan.

Official Sources:

Government of Canada — Express Entry Category-Based Selection

IRCC — 2026 Express Entry Categories Announcement

Government of Canada — Find Your NOC Code and TEER