Maple News reports that Canada has officially introduced a new education-focused category within the Express Entry system, offering a promising new immigration pathway for international educators and early childhood professionals seeking permanent residency.
As of February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched a dedicated category under Express Entry for candidates with recent work experience in key education occupations. This move is part of IRCC’s ongoing strategy to prioritize immigration pathways that directly address labor shortages and critical skills needed in the Canadian workforce.
The new education category includes a range of education and teaching-related occupations, such as early childhood educators, elementary and secondary school teachers, teacher assistants, and instructors who support individuals with disabilities. These roles are defined using Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system under TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) categories 1 to 3.
Specifically, the eligible occupations and their corresponding NOC codes and TEER levels are:
– Secondary school teachers (NOC 41220, TEER 1)
– Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (NOC 41221, TEER 1)
– Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202, TEER 2)
– Instructors of persons with disabilities (NOC 42203, TEER 2)
– Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100, TEER 3)
To qualify for invitation under this category, foreign nationals must maintain an active Express Entry profile and have at least six months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) experience in one of the eligible occupations within the past three years. The work experience must be within the same eligible occupation code.
Category-based draws, introduced in 2023, have consistently featured lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-offs compared to general or program-specific draws in Express Entry. This new category could therefore offer a faster, more accessible route to Canadian permanent residency for qualified education professionals.
As Canada continues to face a growing demand for skilled teachers and childcare professionals—particularly in fast-growing provinces and aging communities—this move could significantly accelerate recruitment and integration of talented individuals in the sector.
Maple News will continue to follow developments within Express Entry and category-based draw trends as IRCC refines its targeted immigration approach in 2025 and beyond.