The Most Recent Healthcare Draw: February 20, 2026

The first — and so far only — healthcare-specific Express Entry round of 2026 was held on February 20, 2026 (the 10th overall Express Entry selection of the year):

• Invitations issued: 4,000 ITAs
• CRS cutoff: 467
• Tie-break rule: candidates needed a profile created before December 9, 2025, at 6:22 p.m. UTC

That’s a notably larger round and lower cutoff than the May 2025 draw this post originally covered (500 ITAs at a CRS of 510), reflecting IRCC’s broader 2026 pattern of bigger, more frequent category-based rounds.

Why There Hasn’t Been a Healthcare Draw Since February

IRCC doesn’t run category-based draws on a fixed schedule, and it has favoured other categories through the spring — particularly French language proficiency and the Canadian Experience Class. Through the first five months of 2026, IRCC issued 79,841 ITAs across 30 draws in total. For comparison, a PNP-linked draw on June 22, 2026 required a CRS of 730, reflecting the 600-point boost a provincial nomination provides. See our full 2026 Express Entry breakdown and latest CEC draw results for current numbers across every category.

Eligibility for the Healthcare and Social Services Category

To qualify, you generally need:

• Work experience: at least 12 months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) experience in an eligible healthcare or social services occupation within the past 3 years — IRCC raised this from 6 months as of February 18, 2026, so older guides citing a 6-month minimum are out of date.
• An active Express Entry profile under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.
• General Express Entry requirements: language test results and an Educational Credential Assessment for foreign credentials.

Eligible occupations span roughly three dozen health and social-services roles, including registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, physicians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, dentists, dental hygienists, and social workers. Check IRCC’s official category page for the complete, current occupation list before assuming your role qualifies.

How to Strengthen Your Profile While You Wait

• Language proficiency: stronger IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF results raise your core CRS points meaningfully — and French ability can also open the French-language category, which has had the lowest cutoffs of any stream in 2026.
• Provincial nomination: adds a flat 600 CRS points and is close to a guaranteed invitation; several provinces actively recruit healthcare workers.
• Canadian work experience: qualifying you for CEC draws and adding meaningful CRS points.
• Education: a completed Educational Credential Assessment ensures you’re getting full credit for foreign credentials.

See our Express Entry CRS guide for the full points breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the most recent healthcare Express Entry draw?

February 20, 2026, issuing 4,000 ITAs at a CRS cutoff of 467.

Did the work experience requirement for healthcare candidates change?

Yes. As of February 18, 2026, IRCC raised the minimum qualifying work experience from 6 months to 12 months.

How often does IRCC run healthcare-specific draws?

There’s no fixed schedule. IRCC alternates between categories (French, healthcare, trades, and others) based on labour-market priorities and pool composition.

What happens after I receive an ITA?

You have 60 days to submit a complete application, and IRCC’s service standard targets six months to process most complete Express Entry applications.

Conclusion

The Healthcare and Social Services category remains one of the more accessible category-based routes into Express Entry, but the rules have shifted meaningfully since early 2025 — a longer work-experience requirement, bigger draws, and a lower cutoff than this time last year. Confirm the current occupation list and draw history directly on the official IRCC category-based selection page before planning your application around it.