STEM Express Entry: Get to Canadian PR Without Waiting for a STEM Draw
Canada’s STEM category covers 11 engineering, technology and science occupations, but IRCC has not held a STEM-only round since April 11, 2024. You can stay in the STEM pool and still get invited sooner through the Canadian Experience Class, French-language draws or a provincial nomination. Check our Express Entry draw tracker for the latest rounds.
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What is the Express Entry STEM category?
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) category is a set of targeted Express Entry draws for skilled workers in 11 occupations. IRCC renewed it for 2026, and it now asks for 12 months of work in one of those jobs within the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad.
Here is the honest part. The last STEM round was held on April 11, 2024, with a cut-off of 491. The list has also been cut back, and software developers and data scientists are no longer on it.
What happens if you only wait for a STEM draw?
IRCC publishes no draw schedule, so a STEM round may not come for a long time. Meanwhile your language test results expire after 2 years, and after age 29 you lose CRS points with every birthday.
What to do instead while STEM draws are paused
- Canadian Experience Class: 12 months of skilled work in Canada qualifies you for CEC rounds, which IRCC holds often
- French-language draws: NCLC 7 in French opens a category with some of the lowest cut-offs
- Provincial nomination: tech and engineering streams in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta add 600 CRS points
- A higher CRS score: a language retest or your spouse’s points can move you into general rounds
- Stay in the STEM pool: your profile still counts if a STEM round returns
- No job offer required to receive an invitation
- Family included: bring your spouse and children
Is the STEM route right for you?
An honest answer before you spend money on tests and fees.
A good fit if you have
- 12 months of paid work in one of the 11 STEM occupations in the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad
- A degree or diploma, with an ECA if it is from outside Canada
- English or French at CLB 7 or higher, or you are ready to test
- Eligibility for an Express Entry program: the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class
- A backup plan you can start now, such as a provincial stream or French
Consider another route if
- You are a software developer, programmer or data scientist, because these jobs left the list
- Your only plan is to wait for a STEM-only draw
- You have less than 12 months in a listed occupation
General Express Entry, the French category or a provincial tech stream may be the faster route.
STEM category eligibility requirements
You must qualify for one Express Entry program, then meet the STEM work experience rule. Here is what IRCC checks.
Language proficiency
Take IELTS General, CELPIP General or PTE Core for English, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. The Federal Skilled Worker Program needs CLB 7. The Canadian Experience Class needs CLB 7 for TEER 0 and 1 jobs and CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3 jobs.
Education
Federal Skilled Worker candidates need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for a degree or diploma from outside Canada. The Canadian Experience Class does not require one, but an ECA still earns CRS points.
STEM work experience
At least 12 months of full-time paid work, or the same amount part-time, in one of the 11 STEM occupations within the last 3 years. It can be in Canada or abroad and does not need to be continuous. Work done while you were a full-time student does not count toward Express Entry.
Proof of funds
Federal Skilled Worker candidates must show settlement funds, from $15,263 CAD for one person. You are exempt if you are invited under the Canadian Experience Class or hold a valid job offer.
Admissibility
A medical exam with an IRCC panel physician for you and your dependants, and police certificates from every country you have lived in for 6+ months since age 18.
Not sure your occupation qualifies?
Answer 7 questions for an assessment based on IRCC’s recent draw data.
The 11 eligible STEM occupations
Engineers
Civil (NOC 21300), mechanical (21301), electrical and electronics (21310), industrial and manufacturing (21321) and geological (21331) engineers. All five are TEER 1.
Engineering technologists and technicians
Civil (NOC 22300), mechanical (22301), and electrical and electronics (22310) engineering technologists and technicians. All three are TEER 2.
Managers, cybersecurity and insurance
Architecture and science managers (NOC 20011), cybersecurity specialists (21220) and insurance agents and brokers (63100). IRCC can change this list each year.
Common roles we file
Your duties decide your NOC, not your title. We match your duties to the right code before you pay for tests.
How to apply through the STEM category, step by step
Six stages from checking your NOC code to landing in Canada.
Confirm your NOC code and Canadian months
We check your duties against the 11 STEM codes, count your 12 months and pick your best program and backup routes before you pay for tests.
Get your language test
Book IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core or TEF, order your ECA if you studied outside Canada, and ask employers for letters that list your duties, hours and dates.
Create your profile and enter the pool
We review your profile line by line. You are then eligible for STEM, CEC, PNP and general rounds, and the first one you qualify for invites you.
Receive an Invitation to Apply
Our team manages your 60-day countdown so no deadline is missed.
Submit your PR application
Reference letters showing your duties, hours and salary, police certificates, a medical exam, proof of funds if you need it and government fees of $1,590 CAD per adult.
Become a permanent resident
You receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and confirm your status, so your career in Canada is no longer tied to one employer or permit.
CRS scores for STEM candidates
The last STEM round, on April 11, 2024, invited candidates with 491 points or more. With no STEM rounds since, most STEM workers are invited through CEC, French or PNP rounds, so check current cut-offs in our Express Entry draw tracker.
CRS points at a glance (without spouse)
Ways to raise your score
Costs and timelines
Typical costs for a single applicant, confirmed during your consultation because IRCC fees change periodically.
Can you get Canadian PR this year?
Answer 7 questions and get a strategy-level Express Entry assessment based on IRCC’s recent draw data, including the new category-based draws.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
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A strategy built for your profile
We identify the fastest realistic pathway for you, not a template.
Application accuracy
Documentation review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track every draw, policy shift and IRCC announcement for you.
End-to-end support
From eligibility checks to landing, we guide every step.
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STEM Express Entry FAQs
Which occupations qualify for the STEM category in 2026?
Eleven occupations qualify: five engineering roles, three engineering technologist and technician roles, architecture and science managers, cybersecurity specialists, and insurance agents and brokers. You need 12 months of work in one of them within the last 3 years.
When was the last STEM Express Entry draw?
The last STEM round was held on April 11, 2024, with a cut-off of 491. IRCC has not held a STEM-only round since then, so check our Express Entry draw tracker for any new round.
Are software developers still eligible for the STEM category?
No. Software developers, programmers and data scientists are not on the current STEM list. You can still be invited through general, Canadian Experience Class or French rounds, or through a provincial tech stream.
Does work experience outside Canada count for the STEM category?
Yes. Your 12 months can be in Canada or abroad. Canadian experience also qualifies you for the Canadian Experience Class and earns more CRS points. See how the CRS works and how to improve your CRS score.
Should I stay in the pool and wait for a STEM draw?
Stay in the pool, but do not only wait. Your profile is considered for every round you qualify for, so build a backup plan such as a provincial nomination, French or a higher CRS score.
Which provinces have streams for tech and engineering workers?
Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta run streams or draws aimed at tech and engineering workers. A provincial nomination through Express Entry adds 600 CRS points.
Can French help STEM workers get invited?
Yes. French at NCLC 7 or higher qualifies you for French-language category rounds, which often have lower cut-offs. Strong French also adds up to 50 extra CRS points.
Does work done while I was a student count?
No. Express Entry does not count work done while you were a full-time student. Work after graduation, including on a post-graduation work permit, can count.
Do I need a job offer for the STEM category?
No. A job offer is not required to receive an invitation, and since March 2025 a job offer no longer adds CRS points.
How long does it take to get PR through the STEM category?
It depends mostly on how long you wait in the pool for an invitation, from any round you qualify for. After an Invitation to Apply, you have 60 days to submit, and IRCC aims to process most complete applications within 6 months.
