Key takeaways
- IRCC’s 2026 list has 10 categories, including healthcare, STEM, trades, education and transport
- Most job categories need 12 months of full-time work (or the same part-time) in the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad
- Physicians, senior managers and researchers need that experience in Canada
- French at NCLC 7 in all four skills opens the French category for any job
- Recent cut-offs: Trades 476 (Oct 1), Healthcare 475 (Sep 4), French 382 (Aug 19)
What are Express Entry categories?
In a category-based draw, IRCC invites only people who meet a category’s rules. The cut-off score is often lower than in general or Canadian Experience Class draws, because fewer people compete. You still need to be eligible for an Express Entry program (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades) and have a profile in the pool.
IRCC checks the category on the day of the draw, using the work history in your profile. You do not apply to a category. If you qualify, you are included automatically.
The 2026 categories and their rules
| Category | Main rule | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare and social services | 12 months in the last 3 years, Canada or abroad | 37 jobs, from doctors and nurses to nurse aides and social workers |
| STEM | 12 months in the last 3 years, Canada or abroad | 11 jobs, such as civil, mechanical and electrical engineers and cybersecurity specialists |
| Trades | 12 months in the last 3 years, Canada or abroad | 25 jobs, such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders and construction managers |
| Education | 12 months in the last 3 years, Canada or abroad | 5 jobs, such as teachers and early childhood educators |
| Transport | 12 months in the last 3 years, Canada or abroad | 4 jobs, such as pilots, aircraft mechanics and automotive technicians |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 12 months in Canada in the last 3 years | 3 physician codes |
| Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 12 months in Canada in the last 3 years | NOC 00012 to 00015 |
| Researchers with Canadian work experience | 12 months in Canada in the last 3 years | University professors and post-secondary teaching and research assistants |
| French-language proficiency | NCLC 7 or higher in all 4 French skills | Any job |
| Skilled military recruits | Foreign military service and a Canadian Armed Forces job offer | 3 Canadian Armed Forces codes |
The 12 months can be full time or an equal amount of part time. They do not need to be in one job: experience in any of the listed jobs in the same category counts together.
Latest cut-off scores by category (2026)
| Round | Date | Invitations | CRS cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trades | Oct 1, 2026 | 3,500 | 476 |
| Senior managers | Sep 16, 2026 | 250 | 389 |
| Healthcare and social services | Sep 4, 2026 | 3,500 | 475 |
| Physicians | Sep 3, 2026 | 229 | 198 |
| French-language proficiency | Aug 19, 2026 | 5,000 | 382 |
| Transport | Aug 7, 2026 | 300 | 470 |
| Skilled military recruits | Jul 23, 2026 | 4 | 368 |
IRCC held no STEM, education or researcher rounds between February 16 and October 1, 2026. For comparison, the last Canadian Experience Class round (September 29, 2026) needed 518. See all rounds in the Express Entry draw tracker.
How the checker works
- It looks up your NOC code in IRCC’s 2026 occupation lists. Some codes are in two categories. For example, family physicians (31102) are in both healthcare and the physician category.
- It checks your months of experience against 12 months. For physicians, senior managers and researchers, it uses only your months in Canada.
- It adds the French category if you have NCLC 7 in all four skills.
- It shows the latest cut-off for each category you match and compares it with your CRS score if you enter one.
Your NOC code must match your real duties, not just your job title. Use the NOC code finder to check.
Worked example
Priya is a registered nurse (NOC 31301) in India with 18 months of full-time work in the last 3 years. Her CRS score is 480. The checker shows she may qualify for the healthcare and social services category. The last healthcare round, on September 4, 2026, needed 475, so her score is above it. She would not qualify for the physician category, which needs Canadian work and a physician code.
What to do next
- Make sure your profile lists the right NOC code and the right dates for each job.
- Get reference letters that describe your duties in detail. IRCC compares them to the NOC description.
- If no category fits, raise your score instead. Try the CRS improvement simulator. French is often the biggest boost.
- Check your full score with the CRS calculator.