On May 01, 2025, Canada held its first Express Entry draw since the national election, exclusively targeting candidates in the education sector. A total of 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to eligible teachers, professors, and early childhood educators under the category-based selection stream.
This draw highlights IRCC’s renewed focus on addressing critical labour shortages in the education system by prioritizing skilled professionals through a more targeted immigration approach.
Details of the Latest Canada Express Entry Draw
✔️ Invitation Round: #344
✔️ Date of Round: May 01, 2025
✔️ Type of Draw: Education
✔️ Number of ITAs Issued: 1,000
✔️ CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate Invited: 479
✔️ Tie-Breaking Rule: August 10, 2024, at 10:35:26 UTC
This draw follows Canada's strategic shift to category-based selections, already used for healthcare, trades, transport, STEM, and agriculture, and now expands to meet the urgent demand in education.
Eligible Criteria of this Draw
IRCC targeted professionals in these National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes:
NOC 40020 – School principals and administrators
NOC 41200 – University professors and lecturers
NOC 41201 – College and vocational instructors
NOC 41210 – Secondary school teachers
NOC 41221 – Elementary and kindergarten teachers
NOC 42200 – Early childhood educators and assistants
These roles are crucial for a well-functioning education system, particularly in remote or underserved regions of Canada where recruitment challenges are persistent.
Overview of this Draw
This draw reflects Canada’s commitment to:
Filling labour shortages in high-priority sectors.
Making Express Entry better suited to meet the real needs of the workforce.
Attracting international talent that directly contributes to the country’s future.
With an aging educator population and rising student enrolment across provinces, Canada is looking abroad for qualified professionals who can integrate quickly and help meet this demand.
Possible Impacts on Immigration
This draw isn’t just about numbers; it signals key changes for the future of Canadian immigration:
More Global Attention from Educators
Expect increased interest from teachers, lecturers, and education administrators worldwide aiming to enter Canada via Express Entry.
Greater Access for Mid-Range CRS Profiles
The lower cut-off score of 489 is a welcome opportunity for candidates who may not rank highly in general draws but have strong qualifications in education.
Stronger Federal-Provincial Collaboration
Provinces may align their immigration streams to focus more on education-related occupations, increasing the number of PNP nominations in this field.
Enhanced Development in Rural Regions
Immigration can now help close education gaps in rural and northern areas where recruitment is most difficult.
Shift Toward Demand-Driven Selection
Canada’s move toward sector-based draws could redefine how permanent residency is granted, placing job relevance ahead of points alone.
Why the Education Sector Is a Key Focus
The decision to prioritize educators in Express Entry reflects deeper challenges within Canada's education system. This draw addresses urgent gaps that have grown in recent years due to structural and demographic shifts.
Rising student enrolment: Increased immigration and population growth have expanded classroom sizes, putting pressure on existing teaching staff.
Lack of specialized educators: Roles in special education, language instruction, and STEM teaching are among the hardest to fill.
Urban-rural disparity: Remote and rural communities struggle to attract and retain qualified teachers, widening education inequality.
Policy-driven demand: Investments in early learning and childcare have expanded the need for certified early childhood educators.
Aging workforce: A wave of retirements in the sector has led to long-term vacancies, especially in public schools.
This focus signals that Canada views immigration as not only an economic driver but a solution to strengthening essential public services.
