Last Updated On 15 October 2025, 8:23 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency in a category-based Express Entry draw for candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services occupations (Version 2).
IRCC invited candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 472 or more in the Express Entry draw today.
This draw marks the fourth healthcare and social services round of 2025 and is in line with our expectations and predictions posted at the beginning of October 2025.
Below is an in-depth look at today’s draw, comparisons with prior healthcare draws, implications for applicants, and strategies to strengthen one’s prospects in future rounds.
Table of Contents
Key Facts: October 15, 2025 Healthcare Draw
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | October 15, 2025 |
| Category/Stream | Healthcare and Social Services Occupations (Version 2) |
| Invitations (ITAs) issued | 2,500 |
| CRS Cutoff Score | 472 |
| Tie-breaking rule timestamp | May 12, 2025 at 23:17:30 UTC |
| Minimum “rank needed” | 2,500 or above (i.e. the top 2,500 candidates by CRS in that category) |
A tie-breaker timestamp of May 12, 2025 at 23:17:30 UTC was applied to adjudicate among candidates at the same CRS threshold.
Full List of 37 Eligible Occupations For Healthcare Express Entry Draws
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code |
|---|---|
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 31112 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
CRS score distribution in the pool as of October 13, 2025
| CRS score range | Number of candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 345 |
| 501-600 | 25,411 |
| 451-500 | 70,641 |
| 491-500 | 12,289 |
| 481-490 | 12,571 |
| 471-480 | 15,370 |
| 461-470 | 15,698 |
| 451-460 | 14,713 |
| 401-450 | 72,026 |
| 441-450 | 13,923 |
| 431-440 | 14,694 |
| 421-430 | 14,918 |
| 411-420 | 14,783 |
| 401-410 | 13,708 |
| 351-400 | 52,448 |
| 301-350 | 19,496 |
| 0-300 | 7,975 |
| Total | 248,342 |
All The Healthcare & Social Services Draws in 2025
To date in 2025, IRCC has increasingly deployed category-based draws for healthcare and social services occupations after we urged them to conduct more healthcare draws.
These draws are part of the government’s efforts to ensure immigration contributes to filling critical workforce gaps.
Below is a summary of all healthcare/social services Express Entry draws in 2025 before today:
| Date | Round type | Invitations issued | CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited | Notes |
| October 15, 2025 | Healthcare and social services occupations (Version 2) | 2,500 | 472 | Today’s healthcare draw with the CRS cutoff continues to be around 470. |
| August 19, 2025 | Healthcare and social services occupations (Version 2) | 2,500 | 470 | Fourth healthcare draw with cutoff stabilizing at 470. |
| July 22, 2025 | Healthcare and social services occupations (Version 2) | 4,000 | 475 | Largest healthcare-category draw and cutoff drop significantly. |
| June 4, 2025 | Healthcare and social services occupations (Version 2) | 500 | 504 | Second healthcare draw with cutoff continuous to be high. |
| May 2, 2025 | Healthcare and social services occupations (Version 2) | 500 | 510 | First healthcare draw of the year with CRS cutoff. |
Today’s draw (#373) continues this pattern, with 2,500 ITAs and a new cutoff of 472.
Trend Analysis
- The May and June draws were much smaller (500 each) and had significantly higher CRS cutoffs (510 and 504) as IRCC refined its use of the healthcare category.
- The July draw expanded the scale dramatically (4,000 ITAs), with the CRS cutoff relaxing to 475.
- The August draw (2,500 ITAs) lowered the barrier further to 470.
- Today’s draw continues a measure of balance—2,500 ITAs, but with a slightly higher CRS threshold (472) than August’s draw.
These fluctuations reflect IRCC’s efforts to calibrate the scale and competitiveness of healthcare draws depending on labour market demand, profile availability in the pool, and overarching immigration targets.
As of mid-2025, healthcare draws are among several category-based rounds IRCC uses (others being French-language, trade, education, etc.).
Will There Be More Healthcare Draws in 2025?
Given IRCC’s pattern and the government’s stated interest in addressing healthcare labour shortages, further healthcare category draws remain likely through late 2025.
Immigration policy documents suggest the draws will persist through at least November.
However, timing, scale, and cutoff scores will remain subject to adjustments based on:
- The number of eligible candidates in the pool
- Canada’s immigration target ceilings
- Shifts in labor demand or sectoral priorities
- Competing draws (e.g. CEC, French language, education)
What Should Candidates Do Now?
- Stay informed—monitor IRCC announcements and trusted immigration news sources.
- Continue optimizing—retake language tests, add credentials, gain work experience, improve education.
- Be patient but proactive—healthcare draws may return soon; readiness is key.
- Double-check eligibility—ensure your occupation remains listed in the updated Version 2 healthcare/social services category.
- Watch for tie-breaker cutoffs—early profile submission remains a strategic advantage.
The October 15, 2025 Express Entry draw marks a notable milestone in Canada’s targeted immigration strategy.
By issuing 2,500 ITAs to healthcare and social services professionals and setting the CRS cutoff at 472, IRCC underscores the continuing priority placed on healthcare labour gaps.
For aspiring immigrants in healthcare roles, this draw offers both encouragement and a roadmap: refine your CRS, ensure category eligibility, submit early, and stay agile.
As additional draws unfold, the margin between success and near-miss will likely rest on small incremental gains and timing.
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