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Category-based selection – candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal are invited. There are ten categories on which separate rounds of invitations are held based on either certain groups of occupations or French language proficiency.
To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, a candidate must:
meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for 1 of the 3 immigration programs (you have to first meet criteria under either Federal Skilled Worker, or Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades) it covers, and
meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round.
Generally saying, before considering being selected on the basis of certain occupation or French language proficiency, you must first meet criteria established under one of the abovementioned programs.
French-language proficiency
Healthcare and social services occupations
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
Trade occupations
Education occupations
Transport occupations
Physicians with Canadian work experience
Senior managers with Canadian work experience
Researchers with Canadian work experience
Skilled military recruits
All categories can be divided into four groups in terms of additional requirements.
I. The first group includes only French language proficiency category. To be eligible under this category, a candidate must have French-language test results (TEF-Canada or TCF-Canada) that show a minimum score of NCLC 7 in all 4 language abilities, meaning that:
in TEF-Canada, you must score minimum of:
310 for speaking (expression orale),
249 for listening (compréhension de l’oral),
207 for reading (compréhension de l’écrit), and
310 for writing (expression écrite), or
in TCF-Canada, you must score minimum of:
10 for speaking (expression orale),
458 for listening (compréhension de l’oral),
453 for reading (compréhension de l’écrit), and
10 for writing (expression écrite).
It is not necessary if your English or French results are better. If you score this minimum in French, you will be considered under this category.
II. The second group includes the categories which are based on certain groups of occupations (categories 2–6) where experience obtained both abroad and in Canada is accepted. To be eligible under these categories, a candidate much have a minimum 12-months full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience; not necessarily continuous) in past 3 years in any single profession which NOC falls under any of the occupations listed below (no matter your primary occupation; check the NOC description for your occupation to understand if your work experience falls under a certain occupation) in Canada or abroad.
Healthcare and social services occupations include a broad list of professions which include, to name a few, Audiologists, Chiropractors, Dentists, Dieticians and nutritionists, General practitioners and family physicians, Massage therapists, Medical laboratory assistants, Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates, Nurse practitioners, Occupational therapists, Optometrists, Paramedical occupations, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Social and community service workers, Social workers, Specialists in surgery, Veterinarians, and others (full list here, or right-click on the image and select the option to view the full list in a new window in high resolution).
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) group includes 11 positions, such as Architecture and science managers, Civil engineering technologists and technicians, Civil Engineers, Cybersecurity specialists, Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians, Electrical and electronics engineers, Geological Engineers, Industrial and manufacturing engineers, Insurance agents and brokers, Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Mechanical Engineers (full list here, or right-click on the image and select the option to view the full list in a new window in high resolution).
Trade occupations include a broad list of professions which include, to name a few, Concrete finishers, Electrical mechanics, Heavy-duty equipment mechanics, Bricklayers, Cabinetmakers, Carpenters, Plumbers, Electricians, Welders and related machine operators, Butchers, and many others (full list here, or right-click on the image and select the option to view the full list in a new window in high resolution).
Education occupations includes 5 positions, which are Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants, Instructors of persons with disabilities, Early childhood educators and assistants, Elementary school and kindergarten teachers, Secondary school teachers (full list here, or right-click on the image and select the option to view the full list in a new window in high resolution).
Transport occupations includes 4 positions, which are Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors, Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers, Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors, Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors (full list here, or right-click on the image and select the option to view the full list in a new window in high resolution).
III. The third group includes the categories which are based on certain groups of occupations (categories 7–10) where only Canadian experience is accepted. To be eligible under these categories, a candidate much have a minimum 12-months full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience; not necessarily continuous) in past 3 years in any single profession which NOC falls under any of the occupations listed below (no matter your primary occupation; check the NOC description for your occupation to understand if your work experience falls under a certain occupation) in Canada.
Physicians with Canadian work experience includes 3 positions, which are General practitioners and family physicians, Specialists in surgery and Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (full list here, or right-click on the image and select the option to view the full list in a new window in high resolution).
Senior managers with Canadian work experience includes 4 senior manager positions, which are Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities, Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations, Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (full list here, or right-click on the image and select the option to view the full list in a new window in high resolution).
Researchers with Canadian work experience includes 2 positions, which are Post-secondary teaching and research assistants and University professors and lecturers (full list here, or right-click on the image and select the option to view the full list in a new window in high resolution).
IV. The fourth group includes only one category, which is Skilled military recruits. It consists of three eligible occupations, which are Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 43204), Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 42102), Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 40042). Its requirements are different from all of the above-mentioned categories, and an applicant must:
- be a Foreign Skilled Military Applicant (FSMA)
eligible foreign national who is serving in a recognized foreign military
with a minimum of ten years of continuous service
has work experience and training aligned with the main duties of one or more of the qualified occupations under this category
- have an offer of arranged employment with the Canadian Armed Forces that is
made by the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group for continuous full-time work in Canada lasting at least 3 years
listed in National Occupational Classification as one of the qualified occupations under this category
- have at least a 2-year post-secondary credential (If a candidate completed their education outside Canada, they’ll need to get their education credential assessed to show that it’s equal).
Since Category-Based Selection is a part of the Express Entry system, you will be selected under one of the three immigration programs (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades) – links to programs explain the entire procedure.
You can check previous draws here.
Disclaimer: Provided information is not legal advice. Every case is unique. We recommend you to discuss your case with a specialist first.
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Last updated February 28, 2026
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