Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the 2025 Express Entry categories on February 27, 2025.
The department introduced big changes to category-based draws, introducing a new category, and removing another.
The new category. announced in 2025 is Education. There are five occupations listed under this new category.
Meanwhile, Transport is no longer listed under the category-based draws.
IRCC has also added a number of social services occupations to the healthcare category.
The current Express Entry categories listed on IRCC’S website are:
- French-language proficiency;
- Healthcare and Social service occupations;
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations;
- Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations;
- Trades occupations; and
- Education occupations.
While IRCC still retains all the above categories, the department announced that the 2025 Express Entry priority categories are:
- French-language proficiency;
- Healthcare and Social service occupations;
- Trades occupations; and
- Education occupations.
These categories will be prioritized for invitation to apply(ITA) through category-based draws within the Express Entry system.
These aren’t the only changes that have been made to the category-based selection.
What other changes have been made to Express Entry categories?
All previously included Express Entry categories that remain after today’s change have seen major changes to eligible occupations.
Existing categories have seen several occupations that have been added, and a number removed, as shown below:
| Category name | Number of occupations added | Number of occupations removed |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare and Social Services occupations | 8 | 6 |
| Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations | 6 | 19 |
| Trade occupations | 19 | 4 |
| Agriculture and Agri-food occupations | 0 | 2 |
Healthcare and social services
The following occupations have been added to the Healthcare and social services category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 | 2 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 | 2 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 | 2 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 | 2 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | 1 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 | 2 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 | 2 |
| Social workers | 41300 | 1 |
The following occupations have been removed from the Healthcare and social services category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| Educational counsellors | 41320 | 1 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | 2 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 31204 | 1 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 | 3 |
| Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 | 2 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 | 2 |
STEM
The following occupations have been added to the STEM category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 | 2 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 | 2 |
| Geological Engineers | 21331 | 1 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 22301 | 2 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 21301 | 1 |
| Insurance agents and brokers | 63100 | 3 |
The following occupations have been removed from the STEM category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| Architects | 21200 | 1 |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 | 1 |
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 | 0 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 | 1 |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 | 1 |
| Data scientists | 21211 | 1 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 | 1 |
| Engineering managers | 20010 | 0 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 | 1 |
| Land surveyors | 21203 | 1 |
| Landscape Architects | 21201 | 1 |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 | 1 |
| Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 | 1 |
| Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants, and program officers | 41400 | 1 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 | 1 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 | 1 |
| Urban and land use planners | 21202 | 1 |
| Web designers | 21233 | 1 |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 | 1 |
Trade
The following occupations have been added to the Trade category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 82021 | 2 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 | 3 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 | 3 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 | 3 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 | 3 |
| Other technical trades and related occupations | 72999 | 2 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 | 2 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 | 2 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 | 2 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 | 2 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 | 2 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 | 2 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 | 2 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 | 2 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 | 2 |
| Home building and renovation managers | 70011 | 0 |
| Construction managers | 70010 | 0 |
| Cooks | 63200 | 3 |
| Construction estimators | 22303 | 2 |
The following occupations have been removed from the Trade category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 | 3 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 | 2 |
| Machine fitters | 72405 | 2 |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 | 2 |
Agriculture and agri-food
The following occupations have been removed from the Agriculture and agri-food category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services | 82031 | 2 |
| Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 | 2 |
Which occupations have been added to the new Education category?
The following occupations have been added to IRCC’s new Education category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 | 3 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | 2 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 | 2 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 41221 | 1 |
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 | 1 |
How are Express Entry categories determined?
Express Entry categories are determined by IRCC, with consideration to Canada’s economic and demographic goals.
Most occupation-based categories follow labour market demand and are included in the Express Entry system due to Canada’s need to increase the numbers of workers in critical areas. These occupations are usually ones in which workers in Canada are not available, and that require immigration to fill key labour gaps.
The French-language proficiency category on the other hand follows Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and promoting the French language outside of Quebec (as outlined in Canada’s Official Languages Act). Due to the importance of immigration in this venture, IRCC is responsible with facilitating the entry and settlement of francophone newcomers to Canada.
