IRCC Invites 1,000 Healthcare Candidates in First Category-Based Express Entry Draw #385 of December

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted a new category-based selection round, issuing 1,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates with experience in the Healthcare and Social Services sector. This Express Entry draw #385 required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 476, and profiles created before 7:44 a.m. UTC on November 26, 2025 were eligible for consideration.

This is the first healthcare-focused draw of December and comes during one of the busiest ITA-issuing periods of the year. It also follows the largest Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw in more than 16 months and the largest PNP draw of 2025.

Why This Healthcare-Focused Draw Matters

Healthcare continues to be a critical labour market need across Canada, with provinces reporting shortages in nursing, clinical support, long-term care, and specialized medical services. Category-based Express Entry draws allow IRCC to directly target occupations where shortages are most severe.

With 1,000 healthcare invitations, this draw reinforces IRCC’s strategy of prioritizing workers whose skills directly support Canada’s healthcare workforce stability.

Draw Summary

• Draw Type: Healthcare and Social Services
• Number of ITAs: 1,000
• Minimum CRS Score: 476
• Tie-breaking rule: Profiles created before 7:44 a.m. UTC, November 26, 2025

Many candidates may benefit from re-evaluating their Express Entry profile, as healthcare-category draws often have more predictable CRS ranges compared to all-program rounds.

Express Entry Trends in 2025

With today’s draw, IRCC has issued 106,599 ITAs in 2025. Draws this year have primarily focused on:

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 22 draws
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 14 draws
• French-language proficiency: 8 draws
• Healthcare and social services: 6 draws
• Education: 2 draws
• Trade: 1 draw

Healthcare remains one of the most frequently targeted categories, reflecting continuous national demand.

Who Benefits from Healthcare Category-Based Selection?

Typical eligible occupations include:

• Registered nurses
• Licensed practical nurses
• Physicians
• Medical technicians
• Social workers
• Personal support workers
• Therapists and allied health professionals

These targeted draws allow healthcare workers to receive invitations even if their CRS score falls below recent all-program thresholds.

What This Draw Signals for Future Healthcare Rounds

Given Canada’s escalating demographic pressures and healthcare staffing shortages, more healthcare-focused draws are likely through early 2026. Candidates with Canadian experience, strong language scores, or provincial nominations may become even more competitive.

Updating language results, gaining additional Canadian work experience, or exploring provincial pathways may significantly improve future chances of receiving an ITA. Stay ahead of future healthcare draws. Use our CRS calculator, follow our Express Entry latest draw updates, and track trends using the Express Entry system page to prepare for the next Express Entry draw prediction. For tailored guidance, explore provincial options through the Express Entry PNP pathways.