IMMERGITY
Canada's Express Entry system runs on two tracks. The first is the general pool — every eligible candidate ranked by CRS score, highest first. The second is category-based selection (CBS) — where IRCC issues invitations exclusively to candidates who meet criteria for a specific occupational category, often at CRS cutoffs 50 to 100 points lower than general draws.
Since April 2024, category-based draws have become the dominant route to an ITA for candidates without Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination. If your NOC code is on a category list, your effective CRS threshold drops dramatically. If it is not, you are competing in CEC draws where every point matters.
As of February 18, 2026, Canada has 10 active Express Entry categories — the most since the system launched in 2023. Three are brand new. One has been retired. And the work experience threshold has changed across the board. Here is the complete picture.
Key Rule Change for 2026: Work Experience Minimum Is Now 12 Months
This is the first thing to understand before looking at the occupation lists.
Under the 2025 rules, candidates needed as little as 6 months of recent work experience in a qualifying occupation to be eligible for most category-based draws. As of February 2026, that threshold has been raised to 12 months of non-continuous work within the past 3 years — for all occupational categories.
The 12 months does not need to be consecutive. You can have worked 6 months at one employer and 6 months at another, as long as the combined experience in the qualifying NOC code reaches 12 months within the 3-year window.
This change effectively disqualifies candidates who were relying on 6-month experience periods. If you are close to the 12-month mark, your priority is continuing to build that experience before applying. Use the Eligibility Assessment to see your current status across all categories.
The 10 Active Categories — Full List
Canada currently runs draws under these 10 Express Entry categories:
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Researchers with Canadian work experience
- Skilled military recruits
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- Education occupations
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Transport occupations
- French-language proficiency
Categories 1, 2, 3, and 4 specifically require Canadian work experience. The remaining categories accept both Canadian and foreign work experience (except French-language proficiency, which is based on language test scores).
The Agriculture and agri-food occupations category has been retired as of February 2026 and will not see new draws.
New Category 1: Physicians with Canadian Work Experience
Added December 8, 2025, this category targets medical doctors who have already been working in Canada — addressing the physician shortage that has left millions of Canadians without a family doctor.
Eligible occupations:
- Physicians (general practitioners and family physicians) — NOC 31102
- Specialist physicians — NOC 31100
Requirements beyond standard category eligibility:
- 12 months of Canadian work experience in the eligible NOC
- Must hold a valid licence to practice medicine in a Canadian province or territory
The first draws under this category were announced for late February 2026. CRS cutoffs for this category are expected to be significantly lower than general draws given the small eligible pool and strong government prioritization.
New Category 2: Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience
Announced February 18, 2026. Targets senior-level managers who have built careers in Canada and represent high economic value for long-term retention.
Eligible occupations:
- Senior managers — financial, communications and other business services — NOC 00012
- Senior managers — health, education, social and community services and membership organizations — NOC 00013
- Senior managers — trade, broadcasting and other services — NOC 00014
- Senior managers — construction, transportation, production and utilities — NOC 00015
Requirement: 12 months of Canadian work experience in one of the above NOC codes within the past 3 years.
This is the first category targeting NOC TEER 0 (management) occupations directly. If you are in a senior leadership role at a Canadian organization, this category was built for your profile. Check if you qualify with the Eligibility Assessment.
New Category 3: Researchers with Canadian Work Experience
Also announced February 18, 2026. Part of Canada's push to retain academic and research talent — aligned with the Defence Industrial Strategy and Mark Carney's nation-building economic program.
Eligible occupations:
- University professors and lecturers — NOC 41200
- Post-secondary teaching and research assistants — NOC 41201
Requirement: 12 months of Canadian work experience in one of the above NOC codes within the past 3 years.
If you are on a post-doctoral fellowship, a research assistantship, or a lectureship at a Canadian university, this category is directly relevant. Note that NOC 41201 (research assistants) is accessible to a broad range of academic support roles — not just senior researchers.
New Category 4: Skilled Military Recruits
The most restrictive new category, with requirements well beyond standard Express Entry eligibility. Announced February 18, 2026 as part of Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy.
Eligible occupations:
- Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces — NOC 40042
- Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces — NOC 42102
- Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces — NOC 43204
Additional requirements beyond 12 months of eligible work experience:
- Currently serving in a recognized foreign military
- At least 10 years of continuous service in that military
- A full-time job offer from the Canadian Armed Forces for at least 3 years, issued by the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group
- A post-secondary credential of at least 2 years (Canadian or foreign equivalent with ECA)
This is a narrow, highly specific category. The 10-year continuous service requirement and mandatory CAF job offer make it inaccessible to most candidates. It is designed to facilitate the direct recruitment of experienced foreign military professionals into the Canadian Armed Forces — not a broad pathway for veterans.
Continuing Category: Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
One of the original six categories from 2023, and the most active in terms of draw frequency — 7 healthcare draws in 2025 alone with over 14,500 ITAs issued.
Selected eligible occupations:
- Nurse practitioners — NOC 31302
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses — NOC 31301
- Licensed practical nurses — NOC 32101
- Paramedical occupations — NOC 32102
- Medical laboratory technologists — NOC 32120
- Medical radiation technologists — NOC 32121
- Physiotherapists — NOC 31202
- Occupational therapists — NOC 31203
- Pharmacists — NOC 31120
- Dentists — NOC 31110
- Social workers — NOC 41300
- Early childhood educators and assistants — NOC 42202
- Home support workers and related occupations — NOC 44101
Foreign work experience counts for this category. If you are a healthcare professional working outside Canada, this is your primary Express Entry pathway. Use the PNP Program Finder alongside this — many provinces run separate healthcare streams that can add +600 CRS points on top of category eligibility.
Continuing Category: STEM Occupations
Three draws in 2025 with 10,900 ITAs. After a quieter period, the expectation for 2026 is a rebound as Ottawa targets technology and engineering talent gaps — particularly given the wave of US-based tech workers seeking Canadian pathways.
Selected eligible occupations:
- Software engineers and designers — NOC 21231
- Computer systems developers and programmers — NOC 21232
- Web designers — NOC 21233
- Database analysts and data administrators — NOC 21223
- Information systems analysts and consultants — NOC 21221
- Cybersecurity specialists — NOC 21220
- Data scientists — NOC 21211
- Civil engineers — NOC 21300
- Mechanical engineers — NOC 21301
- Electrical and electronics engineers — NOC 21310
- Chemical engineers — NOC 21302
- Physicists and astronomers — NOC 21100
- Chemists — NOC 21101
- Biologists and related scientists — NOC 21110
If you are a tech worker in the US on an H-1B or OPT, STEM category draws are your most direct Express Entry pathway. The US to Canada Pathway Finder maps out exactly which route makes most sense for your specific occupation and visa status. And use the FSW 67-Point Calculator to confirm you meet the Federal Skilled Worker minimum before building your profile.
Continuing Category: Education Occupations
Added in February 2025. Two draws in 2025 with 3,500 ITAs. Targets the national teacher shortage, particularly at the K-12 level and in early childhood education.
Eligible occupations include:
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers — NOC 41221
- Secondary school teachers — NOC 41220
- Teachers of persons with special needs — NOC 41222
- Early childhood educators and assistants — NOC 42202
- Educational counsellors — NOC 41320
- Instructors and teachers of persons with visual impairments — NOC 41223
Note that early childhood educators (NOC 42202) appear in both the Education and Healthcare/Social Services categories — check both when assessing your eligibility.
Continuing Category: Trade Occupations
Four draws in 2025 (Version 1) and one additional draw (Version 2) with over 7,350 ITAs combined. One of the strongest category pathways for candidates with skilled trades experience.
Selected eligible occupations:
- Electricians (general) — NOC 72200
- Industrial electricians — NOC 72201
- Plumbers — NOC 72300
- Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers — NOC 72301
- Welders and related machine operators — NOC 72106
- Carpenters — NOC 72310
- Bricklayers — NOC 72120
- Roofers and shinglers — NOC 72121
- Heavy-duty equipment operators — NOC 72400
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics — NOC 72401
- Cooks — NOC 63200
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) inside Express Entry is specifically designed for trades workers. Use the FSW 67-Point Calculator to check your minimum eligibility score, and the Eligibility Assessment to see your full CRS and category standing.
New Transport Category (Replaces Retired 2025 Version)
The original transport category from 2023 was retired in February 2025. A brand new transport category was introduced February 2026 with a completely different set of occupations — focused on aviation and automotive mechanics rather than the previous ground transportation focus.
Eligible occupations:
- Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors — NOC 72600
- Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers — NOC 72410
- Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors — NOC 72404
- Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors — NOC 22313
This category directly addresses Canada's aviation sector labour shortage. Pilots, aircraft mechanics, and avionics technicians now have a dedicated category-based draw pathway. If you are a commercial pilot or aviation maintenance professional, check your full eligibility with the Eligibility Assessment.
Continuing Category: French-Language Proficiency
The most accessible category for candidates who speak French — no specific occupation required. Eligibility is based entirely on language test results.
Requirement: A minimum score equivalent to CLB 7 in French across all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking), as demonstrated by a TEF Canada or TCF Canada test. English language results are not relevant for this category.
This category has produced some of the lowest CRS cutoffs in Express Entry history — draws have cleared candidates below CRS 400. It is also the only category where foreign work experience in any TEER 0-3 occupation qualifies, with no occupation restriction.
If you speak French at an intermediate or higher level, taking the TEF Canada or TCF Canada and achieving CLB 7 across all abilities should be your immediate priority. Use the CLB Converter to see exactly what test scores you need to hit CLB 7 in French.
Retired Category: Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations
This category saw 3 draws with 1,150 ITAs before being retired in February 2026. No further draws will be held under this category. Candidates in agriculture-related occupations can still qualify through the general pool or applicable PNP streams — use the PNP Program Finder to identify provincial alternatives.
What This Means for Your Strategy
The expansion to 10 categories is the most significant structural change to Express Entry since category-based selection launched in May 2023. Here is how to think about it strategically:
- Check all 10 categories, not just your primary occupation — many NOC codes appear in multiple categories. An early childhood educator qualifies under both Education and Healthcare. A software engineer at a university could qualify under both STEM and Researchers. The Eligibility Assessment checks all categories simultaneously.
- The 12-month experience change is a hard gate — if you are at 8 months of experience in a qualifying occupation, your strategy is to continue building that experience before submitting your profile, not to rush an application now.
- The three new Canadian experience categories are the most powerful for in-Canada workers — Physicians, Senior Managers, and Researchers all require Canadian experience, which means the eligible pool is small and CRS cutoffs will be lower.
- French + any skilled occupation is still the single most underused pathway — CLB 7 in French unlocks category draws that have historically cleared below CRS 400. Use the CLB Converter to see how close you are to that threshold.
- PNP stacks on top of all of this — a provincial nomination adds +600 CRS points regardless of which category you fall into. Use the PNP Program Finder to see which provincial streams align with your occupation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Express Entry categories are active in 2026?
As of February 18, 2026, there are 10 active Express Entry categories: Physicians with Canadian work experience, Senior Managers with Canadian work experience, Researchers with Canadian work experience, Skilled Military Recruits, Healthcare and Social Services, Education, STEM, Trades, Transport, and French-Language Proficiency. The Agriculture and agri-food category was retired. Check all 10 against your profile with the Eligibility Assessment.
What is the work experience requirement for category-based draws in 2026?
As of February 2026, the minimum work experience requirement for all occupational categories is 12 months of non-continuous experience in a qualifying occupation within the past 3 years. This is an increase from the previous 6-month minimum. The experience does not need to be consecutive — it can be accumulated across multiple employers.
Do I need Canadian work experience for Express Entry category draws?
Not for most categories. Healthcare, STEM, Education, Trades, Transport, and French-Language Proficiency all accept foreign work experience. However, the Physicians, Senior Managers, and Researchers categories specifically require Canadian work experience. Military Recruits also requires a Canadian Armed Forces job offer.
What are the new Express Entry categories added in 2026?
Three new categories were announced February 18, 2026: Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience (NOC 00012-00015), Researchers with Canadian Work Experience (NOC 41200-41201), and Skilled Military Recruits (NOC 40042, 42102, 43204). A fourth — Physicians with Canadian Work Experience — was added December 8, 2025. A new Transport category (aviation/automotive focus) also replaced the retired 2025 transport category.
What NOC codes qualify for the STEM category in Express Entry?
Key STEM NOC codes include: Software engineers (21231), Computer systems developers (21232), Cybersecurity specialists (21220), Data scientists (21211), Civil engineers (21300), Electrical engineers (21310), and Mechanical engineers (21301), among others. Use the Eligibility Assessment to verify whether your specific NOC code qualifies.
What CRS score do I need for category-based Express Entry draws?
Category draws typically clear at lower CRS scores than general draws. French-language draws have cleared as low as CRS 336. Healthcare and STEM draws generally clear between 430-480. The new Canadian experience categories may clear lower due to the smaller eligible pool. Run your full profile through the Eligibility Assessment to see your score and which categories you currently qualify for.