First Lotteries in September: Priority for the Healthcare Sector and the Canadian Experience

The start of September confirms that work experience gained within the country remains a priority for the Express Entry system.

The first selection rounds focused on the healthcare sector and Canadian work experience, featuring record-breaking draws and impressive scores.

In this blog post, I’ll break down important details about these rounds and their categories, offer recommendations for those who received an invitation or remain in the pool, and explain how the “physicians with Canadian experience” category translates into daily practice. 

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Breakdown of the First Selection Rounds in September

• Draw #441: September 4, 2026

Occupations in the Health and Social Services Sector, 2026

Invitations issued: 3,500

Minimum CRS score: 475

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• Draw #440: September 3, 2026

Physicians with work experience in Canada, 2026

Invitations issued: 229 

Minimum CRS score: 198

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• Draw #439: September 1, 2026

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Invitations issued: 2,000

Minimum CRS score: 521

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Analysis 

In February 2026, the Canadian Experience Class for Physicians was officially launched, and from the first draw to date, the minimum cutoff scores have ranged from 169 to 223 points—figures that are extraordinarily low compared to the more than 500 points required by the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

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In these September rounds, the largest number of invitations went to the healthcare sector (3,500 ITAs with a minimum score of 475), as Canada needs specialists such as animal health technologists, veterinary technicians, massage therapists, and occupational therapists, among others. This was followed by the Canadian Experience Class (2,000 ITAs with a score of 521), which covers nearly all skilled occupations (TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3).

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In the "Physicians with Canadian Experience" category, fewer invitations were issued (229 ITAs), and there are only three eligible occupations, but the minimum score required was just 198 points.

This category is explained in detail below in the context of daily practice.

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The "Physicians with Canadian Work Experience" Category Explained in Everyday Practice

The Canadian government created this category for physicians who meet the following requirements:

• Eligible experience: Applicants must have accumulated at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada (1,560 hours)—or the equivalent in part-time hours—within the three years prior to selection.

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• Authorized occupations: Belong to one of the three groups Main categories of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):
  
  • NOC 31100: Clinical and Laboratory Medicine Specialists.
  • NOC 31101: Surgical specialists.
  • NOC 31102: General Practitioners and Family Physicians.

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• Substantial duties: Have performed the primary duty and a substantial number of the essential duties described in the official NOC profile.

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• Exclusion of Unauthorized Work: Any period of work in Canada without proper legal authorization is strictly excluded from the calculation of work experience.

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The immigrant physician's experience in three stages:

1. Before Beginning the Application: Legal Practice and Gaining Experience

In their day-to-day work, professionals must be practicing in the Canadian healthcare system under a valid work permit.

NOTE: Only hours worked with express authorization count toward the required 12 months within the three-year period.

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2. During the pooling process: Evaluation in a priority group

By creating a separate category for physicians with local experience, the Ministry sets these professionals apart from the general pool of applicants. Since this is a highly qualified but small group, the required CRS score is quite low and more attainable compared to the requirements of the general program.

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3. After Receiving the ITA: Withholding and Final Tax Assessment

The Ministry’s explicit economic goal is the long-term retention of top talent who are already familiar with the Canadian healthcare system. For physicians, receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) represents a real opportunity to transition from temporary status to the stability of permanent residence.

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Recommendations for Candidates

Those who received an invitation in this round must complete the application for permanent residence, along with all supporting documents, within the first 60 days.

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1. Make sure that the reference letters issued by your Canadian employers explicitly state the correct NOC code (31100, 31101, or 31102), the number of hours worked per week, and a breakdown of the duties performed.

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2. Make sure you have not included periods of work performed under expired permits or without the proper implicit or explicit authorization, as the system excludes such time.

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3. Inconsistencies or omissions in the data may result in the cancellation of your application or penalties for misrepresentation.

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Those who did NOT receive an invitation this time should review the exact calculation of their work experience by verifying that they have 12 months of qualified work experience in Canada (a minimum of 1,560 hours accumulated over a period of at least 12 calendar months).

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1. Improve your language profile by achieving higher scores on official language tests (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF).

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2. Verify that the duties (Main Duties) described in your contracts and employment certificates match the official descriptions in the Canadian classification system.

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3. Keep your documentation up to date. Don't wait until you receive an invitation to apply for a criminal background check, educational credential evaluation (ECE), or medical certification. Take action early.

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Do you have questions about how to verify the consistency of your documents, or do you need to review your profile before submitting an application? At Immiland Canada, we have regulated consultants (CICC) and qualified Canadian lawyers who can help you.

You can request a Free Assessment or Schedule a Personalized Consultation and get started with us.

I hope this information is helpful for your immigration process. 

See you in our next blog post, where we’ll continue to help you build your Canadian dream with empathy, dedication, and professionalism.

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With love,

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Immiland Canada