Third Express Entry Draw Of December Issues 1,000 ITAs

Last Updated On 11 December 2025, 7:32 PM EST (Toronto Time)

On December 11, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held the third Express Entry draw of the month, inviting 1,000 candidates with experience in one of the 37 Healthcare and Social Services Occupations.

This latest targeted category draw invited candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 476.

The cutoff score increases by 14 points as compared to the previous healthcare draw on November 14, 2025.

Anyone ranked 1,000 or above received an Invitation to Apply. The tie-breaking rule was applied for profiles submitted before November 26, 2025 at 07:44:30 UTC.

This draw adds further momentum to Canada’s push to welcome skilled healthcare professionals as the country manages increasing demand for essential services across hospitals, long-term care, community health, and social support sectors.

All The Healthcare Express Entry Draws In 2025

Healthcare remains one of the most frequently targeted categories throughout 2025.

Below is a full list of all healthcare draws conducted this year.

Date	Invitations	CRS Score Cutoff
December 11, 2025	1,000	476
November 14, 2025	3,500	462
October 15, 2025	2,500	472
August 19, 2025	2,500	470
July 22, 2025	4,000	475
June 4, 2025	500	504
May 2, 2025	500	510
Total	14,500	462-510

The December draw’s CRS cut-off of 476 marks a moderate increase from the November round but remains below several earlier 2025 thresholds, offering a promising opportunity for healthcare professionals seeking permanent residency.

To qualify for this category, applicants must:

Have at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience within the last 3 years, or the equivalent part-time experience
Hold experience in one of the eligible occupations listed below
Meet all requirements outlined in the instructions for the round
Hold qualifying experience either in Canada or abroad

These requirements ensure candidates possess recent, specialized experience aligned with Canada’s priority labour needs.

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

With three category-based rounds in December and healthcare draws becoming more frequent, candidates in these occupations should ensure their Express Entry profiles are updated and active.

CRS scores continue to fluctuate but remain competitive across all targeted rounds.

More healthcare rounds are likely as Canada continues prioritizing essential sectors facing acute labour shortages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does international work experience count for the healthcare category?

Yes. Candidates can qualify with experience gained in Canada or abroad. The requirement is at least 6 months of full-time, continuous experience (or equivalent part-time) within the last 3 years in one eligible occupation.

What are my chances of receiving an ITA in future healthcare draws?

Chances depend on your CRS score, occupation, and the number of invitations issued in upcoming rounds. Healthcare draws in 2025 ranged from CRS 462 to 510, and invitation sizes varied from 500 to 4,000. If your CRS score is competitive within this range, your chances increase.

How often has IRCC conducted healthcare draws in 2025?

As of December 11, 2025, there have been seven healthcare category Express Entry draws this year. These draws have consistently issued thousands of invitations as IRCC prioritizes this sector.

Satinder Bains

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada. Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website