Canada New Physician Express Entry Category

Which occupations are eligible for Canada new physicians category?

On December 8, 2025, IRCC announced a brand-new Express Entry category specifically for physicians with Canadian work experience.

This isn’t an expansion of the existing healthcare category.

This is a completely separate pathway designed exclusively for doctors.

And if you’re a physician working in Canada right now, this changes everything.

What You’ll Find on This Page

The three eligible physician categories and their NOC codes
Exact eligibility requirements for the new pathway
How does this differ from the existing healthcare category
The 5,000 reserved provincial nomination spots
How to find your correct NOC code
Timeline for first invitations in early 2026

The Big Picture: Why This Matters

Let’s be clear about what just happened.

Canada created an Express Entry category that targets ONE profession: physicians.

Not nurses. Not dentists. Not pharmacists.

Just doctors.

This tells you everything you need to know about how desperate Canada is for physicians right now.

Nearly 100% of Canada’s labour force growth comes from immigration.

And the healthcare system can’t keep up.

IRCC isn’t just tweaking existing programs anymore.

They’re building custom pathways for the professions they need most.

If you’re a doctor working in Canada on a temporary permit, you have just become a priority candidate for permanent residence.

The Three Eligible Physician Categories

The new “Physicians with Canadian Work Experience” category targets three specific occupations.

Your work experience must fall under ONE of these NOC codes:

General Practitioners and Family Physicians: NOC 31102. Includes Family doctors, GPs providing primary care in clinics, community health centers, or private practice
Specialists in Surgery: NOC 31101. Includes all surgical specialists, including general surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, gynecological surgery, ophthalmology, urology, and surgical residents in training.
Specialists in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine: NOC 31100. Includes internal medicine specialists, cardiologists, oncologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, dermatologists, pathologists, laboratory medicine specialists, and medical residents training in these specialties

Here’s what you need to understand:

These aren’t job titles.

They’re occupation classifications are based on what you actually do.

Your job title might be “Medical Officer” or “Staff Physician,” but what matters is whether your duties match one of these three NOC descriptions.

Eligibility Requirements: The 12-Month Rule

To qualify for this new physician category, you must meet ALL of these conditions:

1. Work Experience Duration

At least 12 months of full-time, continuous Canadian work experience
OR the equivalent in part-time work
Full-time = 30 hours per week or more
Part-time example: 15 hours per week for 24 months = 12 months full-time equivalent

2. Recency Requirement

Work experience must be gained within the last 3 years
This is calculated from when you submit your Express Entry profile

3. Single Occupation

All 12 months must be in ONE eligible physician occupation
You can’t combine 6 months as a GP with 6 months as a surgeon

4. Canadian Experience

Experience must be earned IN Canada on a valid work authorization
Foreign physician experience does NOT count for this category

5. Express Entry Eligibility

You must already be eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (rare for physicians)

The 12-month requirement is firm.

Six months won’t cut it for this category; that’s the existing healthcare stream.

This new pathway requires double the Canadian work experience.

Why?

Because IRCC wants to retain doctors who are already integrated into Canada’s healthcare system and treating Canadian patients.

How to Find Your NOC Code

Here’s where doctors get confused.

Your work permit might say “Physician” or list an old NOC code.

But Express Entry uses the NOC 2021 system.

Here’s how to confirm your NOC:

Step 1: Go to the Official NOC Website Visit: https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/

Step 2: Search Your Occupation

Search “General practitioner” for NOC 31102
Search “Surgeon” for NOC 31101
Search “Specialist clinical medicine” for NOC 31100

Step 3: Match Your Main Duties Read the duties listed under each NOC code.

Your actual day-to-day responsibilities must match what’s described.

Not your job title. Not what your contract says.

What you actually do.

Example for NOC 31102 (Family Physicians):

Examine patients and take their histories
Order laboratory tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic procedures
Prescribe and administer medications and treatments
Perform and assist in routine surgery
Provide emergency care
Refer patients to medical specialists when necessary

If these duties describe your work, you’re NOC 31102.

Example for NOC 31101 (Surgeons):

Assess patients to determine appropriate surgical procedures
Perform surgical operations
Prescribe pre-operative and post-operative treatments and procedures
Supervise surgical residents and fellows

If you’re primarily performing surgeries, you’re NOC 31101.

Example for NOC 31100 (Clinical/Laboratory Specialists):

Diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders
Prescribe medication and treatment
Act as consultants to other physicians
May conduct medical research

This includes internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and pathology.

Critical Point: Even if you’re technically licensed in multiple specialties, choose the ONE NOC that matches where you’ve spent the most work hours.

IRCC will verify this against your employment records.

New Physicians Category vs. Existing Healthcare Category: What’s the Difference?

This is where doctors get really confused.

Canada already has a healthcare category under Express Entry.

So what’s different about this new physician-specific category?

Here’s what this means for you:

If you have 6-11 months of Canadian physician experience: You still don’t qualify for the new physician category. But you CAN apply under the existing healthcare category if you have at least 6 months.

If you have 12+ months of Canadian physician experience: You’ll qualify for BOTH categories. You’ll be in the pool for whichever category IRCC draws from. The new physician category may have lower CRS cutoffs since it’s more targeted.

If you have foreign physician experience but haven’t worked in Canada yet: The new physician category won’t help you. But the existing healthcare category accepts foreign experience (minimum 6 months). Use that pathway, or explore the Provincial Nominee Program with a job offer.

The key insight:

The new physician category is designed to fast-track doctors who are already embedded in Canada’s healthcare system.

If you’re treating Canadian patients right now, Canada wants to keep you permanently.

The 5,000 Provincial Nomination Spots: A Separate Opportunity

Alongside the new Express Entry category, IRCC announced something else:

5,000 permanent residence admission spaces are reserved specifically for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers.

These are SEPARATE from the Express Entry category.

Here’s how this works:

What These Spots Mean:

Each province can nominate doctors through its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Doctors nominated through this stream get 14-day expedited work permit processing
These spots are ADDITIONAL to existing PNP allocations
You need to be licensed (or eligible for licensing) in that province
You need a valid job offer from a Canadian employer

Why This Matters: If you’re a doctor outside Canada with a job offer, or you’re in Canada but don’t have 12 months of experience yet, the PNP route might be faster.

Provinces with doctor shortages, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia, will likely use these spots aggressively.

The 14-Day Work Permit Processing: This is huge.

Normally, work permit processing from within Canada takes 4-6 months.

For provincial nominees under this physician stream?

14 days.

That means you can start working (or continue working) while your permanent residence application is processed.

No gap in employment. No stress about permit expiry.

How to Access These Spots: You apply through a Provincial Nominee Program.

Each province has its own criteria, but generally you need:

A permanent, full-time job offer from a Canadian employer
Provincial medical licensing (or eligibility to obtain it)
Commitment to work in that province

Check individual province PNP websites for physician-specific streams.

Timeline: When Do Invitations Start?

IRCC announced this category on December 8, 2025.

First invitations to apply are expected in early 2026.

What “early 2026” means:

Likely January or February 2026.

IRCC typically announces new categories at year-end and launches them in Q1.

What you should do right now:

If you already have an Express Entry profile: Update it immediately with accurate NOC codes and work experience details.

If you don’t have a profile yet, create one as soon as possible. Get your language tests done (IELTS or CELPIP for English, TEF for French) and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment if you were educated outside Canada.

If your 12 months of experience are coming up soon, track your hours carefully. Full-time is 30+ hours per week. Part-time counts but takes longer to accumulate.

Being in the Express Entry pool BEFORE the first physician draw gives you the best chance.

What Happens Next: Expected Draw Patterns

We don’t know the CRS score cutoffs yet.

But here’s what we can predict based on IRCC’s approach to other category-based draws:

Lower CRS Cutoffs Than General Draws: General Express Entry draws currently require CRS scores of 520+.

Category-based draws for healthcare in 2024-2025 ranged from 422-510.

The new physician category will likely have cutoffs between 400-480, especially in early draws.

Frequency: IRCC will likely hold physician category draws every 1-2 months, similar to the healthcare category pattern.

Volume: Unknown how many ITAs per draw. Healthcare category draws issued between 500-4,000 invitations, depending on demand.

CRS Score Trends: Early draws typically have lower cutoffs as IRCC clears the backlog of highly qualified candidates who’ve been waiting.

Scores may rise over time if the physician supply in the pool increases.

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How to Maximize Your Chances

Here’s what you control:

1. Improve Your Language Scores. Even 1-2 points in IELTS or CELPIP can add 5-10 CRS points.

Retake the test if you’re below CLB 9 in any category.

2. Add French Language Ability. French language skills can add 25-50 CRS points even if you’re not applying to Quebec.

If you speak any French, take the TEF and report those scores.

3. Get Additional Canadian Experience. Every extra month of work experience in Canada increases your CRS score (up to 3 years total).

4. Provincial Nomination: A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, guaranteeing an invitation.

If you have a job offer, explore PNP options in parallel.

5. Spouse’s Language Scores If you have a spouse, their language test scores also contribute to your CRS.

Encourage them to take IELTS or TEF if they haven’t.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Listing the Wrong NOC Code. Don’t guess your NOC based on your job title. Match your actual duties to the NOC description on the official website.

Mistake 2: Combining Multiple Physician Roles. If you worked 6 months as a GP and 6 months as a hospitalist, you need to determine which NOC code covers BOTH roles. If they’re different NOCs, only count the one where you have 12+ months.

Mistake 3: Counting Post-Grad Training Incorrectly. Residents in training to become specialists ARE included under NOC 31100 or 31101 if they’re being paid and performing duties listed in the NOC. But medical school rotations during your MD don’t count.

Mistake 4: Assuming Your Work Permit NOC is Correct. Work permits issued before 2022 may use old NOC codes. Always verify against NOC 2021.

Mistake 5: Waiting to Create Your Express Entry Profile. You need to be IN the pool before the draws happen. Don’t wait until after the first draw to realize you needed language tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I’m a medical resident. Do I qualify under Canada’s new physicians category?

Yes, IF you’re being paid for your work and your duties match the NOC description for your specialty. Medical students do not qualify, but residents in training do

Q: Can I use part-time physician work in Canada’s new physicians category?

Yes. 15 hours per week for 24 months equals 12 months full-time equivalent (1,560 hours total).

Q: I worked 12 months, but my contract was with an agency, not a hospital. Does that count in Canada’s new physicians category?

Yes, as long as you were legally authorized to work in Canada and your duties align with the corresponding NOC code. Employment through agencies counts.

Q: I’m licensed in my home country but working in Canada under a provisional license. Does that count in Canada’s new physicians category?

Yes. What matters is that you were legally authorized to work in Canada in the physician occupation, not your licensing status.

Q: Will Canada’s new physicians category have lower CRS scores than the healthcare category?

Unknown, but likely. Narrower categories typically have lower cutoffs because they’re targeting specific shortages.

Q: Can I apply under both Canada’s new physicians category and the healthcare category-based selection?

You don’t “apply” to categories. You create ONE Express Entry profile, and IRCC invites you based on whichever categories match your profile. If you meet both, you could be invited through either draw.

Q: What if I don’t have 12 months yet for Canada’s new physicians category, but I’m close?

Wait until you hit 12 months, then update your Express Entry profile. Your CRS score will increase, and you’ll become eligible for the physician category.

Q: Does a self-employed physician’s work count in Canada’s new physicians category?

This is unclear. In some provinces, like Ontario, physicians are self-employed but bill OHIP. IRCC has historically accepted this. Wait for official guidance in early 2026.

Next Steps: Your Action Plan For Canada new physicians category

Here’s what to do right now:

Step 1: Confirm Your NOC Code: Visit the NOC 2021 website and verify which of the three physician codes matches your duties.

Step 2: Calculate Your Work Experience: Count your hours over the past 3 years. Do you have 12 months full-time (1,560 hours) in ONE physician NOC?

Step 3: Take Language Tests (If Not Already Done): Book IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF. You need test results to create your Express Entry profile.

Step 4: Get Your Educational Credential Assessment If you completed medical school outside Canada, get an ECA from a designated organization. WES and IQAS are common choices.

Step 5: Create Your Express Entry Profile: Go to IRCC’s website and set up your profile. This is free.

Step 6: Monitor IRCC Announcements: IRCC will publish details on the first physician category draw in early 2026. Watch for CRS cutoffs and invitation numbers.

Step 7: Consider Provincial Pathways Simultaneously: don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you have a job offer, explore PNP options for the 5,000 reserved spots.

The Bottom Line

Canada just created a dedicated Express Entry pathway for doctors with Canadian experience.

This isn’t a tweak. This is a statement.

Physicians are now one of the most prioritized professions in Canada’s immigration system.

If you’re a doctor working in Canada right now, you have a clear, fast pathway to permanent residence starting in 2026.

12 months of Canadian work experience in one of three physician NOCs.

That’s the ticket.

For personalized guidance on Canada’s new physician Express Entry category, contact Amir Ismail at www.amirismail.com/book-a-consultation.

With 34+ years of experience across Canadian, American, Australian, and global immigration systems, Amir and his team can help you navigate the physician category pathway and maximize your permanent residence application.

With offices in Toronto, Dubai, and Karachi, we’ve helped over 25,000 clients, including hundreds of healthcare professionals, achieve their immigration goals.

Based in Toronto, Canada, Amir Ismail is a Licensed Immigration Consultant (RCIC) who has been assisting clients in their immigration and citizenship matters since 1991. He is a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC).