These are the occupations eligible for IRCC’s new physicians category
Some dermatologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and other doctors now have a more streamlined pathway to Canadian permanent residence (PR).
On December 8, Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced the creation of a new Express Entry category dedicated to physicians with Canadian work experience.
See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams
Because category-based selection draws typically feature some of the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-offs, this new stream is expected to offer qualified physicians with Canadian work experience a greater advantage in securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
According to the minister, the first draws under this category are expected to begin in early 2026. Eligible candidates can create or update their Express Entry profile now to ensure they are considered when draws commence.
This article will cover:
Eligibility requirements for candidates;
Which medical occupations are included in the new category;
How to find the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code that corresponds to your work experience; and
The difference between the new category and the existing healthcare occupations category.
Eligibility for the new Physicians with Canadian work experience category
To qualify for this category, a foreign national must have work experience in one of the occupations listed below (even if it is not a primary occupation).
Moreover, their work experience must be:
12 months of continuous full-time work (or equivalent part-time experience);
Completed in Canada; and
Accumulated within the past three years.
Candidates must also meet all requirements outlined in the ministerial instructions for the specific round of invitations.
Candidates must also be eligible for an Express Entry program, and be in the candidate pool, (in addition to meeting the above criteria) to be eligible to receive an ITA under a for category-based selection draw.
Those who do not meet these criteria may still be eligible under IRCC’s existing healthcare and social services occupations category, which also lists all three occupations (more on that below).
What occupations are included in the new Physicians with Canadian work experience category?
The newly introduced category only lists three occupations as of the time of writing.
General practitioners and family physicians
NOC Code: 31102
Eligible job titles include:
Family physician, general practice resident, general practitioner (GP), medical doctor.
Professionals should have experience performing some or all of the following duties:
Prescribing and administering medications and treatments
Performing or assisting in routine surgery
Providing emergency and acute care
Vaccinating patients
Delivering babies and providing pre- and post-natal care
Advising patients and families on health promotion, disease prevention, and lifestyle issues
Offering counselling and support
Acting as patient advocates
Coordinating or managing primary care
Providing continuous care and supervising home care services
Reporting births, deaths, and communicable diseases to authorities
Examining patients, ordering tests, and consulting with other practitioners
See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams
Specialists in surgery
NOC Code: 31101
Eligible job titles include:
Cardiac surgeon, general surgeon, neurosurgeon, obstetrician-gynecologist, ophthalmologist, orthopedic surgeon, otorhinolaryngologist, pediatric surgeon, plastic surgeon, thoracic surgeon, urologist, vascular surgeon.
Professionals should have experience performing some or all of the following duties:
General surgeons: Treating diseases, injuries, and deformities using surgical methods
Obstetricians/gynecologists: Providing care related to pregnancy and childbirth
Ophthalmologists: Diagnosing and treating eye diseases and injuries
Urologists: Treating medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system
Other surgical specialists:
– Assessing conditions to determine surgical procedures
– Performing and supervising surgeries
– Consulting with other physicians on surgical care and treatment
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
NOC Code: 31100
Eligible job titles include:
Anatomical pathologist, anesthetist, cardiologist, dermatologist, diagnostic radiologist, emergency physician, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, general pathologist, geriatrician, hematologist, medical biochemist, medical microbiologist, nephrologist, neurologist, oncologist, pediatrician, physiatrist, pneumologist, psychiatrist, radiation oncologist, respirologist, rheumatologist, and others.
Professionals should have experience performing some or all of the following duties:
Anesthesiologists: Administering anesthesia before, during, and after procedures
General internists: Diagnosing and treating internal organ diseases
Pediatricians: Treating infants, children, and adolescents
Psychiatrists: Treating mental and psychiatric disorders
Allergists/immunologists: Treating immune system and allergic conditions
Hospitalists: Coordinating inpatient hospital care
Neurologists: Diagnosing and treating brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Nuclear medicine physicians: Using radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease
Dermatologists: Treating skin diseases and conditions
Physiatrists: Treating conditions requiring rehabilitation and physiotherapy
Preventive medicine physicians: Applying public health and preventive medicine principles
Radiologists: Diagnosing conditions using imaging techniques
Other clinical specialists: Diagnosing and treating diseases, prescribing treatments, ordering tests, referring for surgery, and conducting research
Laboratory specialists (including pathologists): Diagnosing diseases using laboratory techniques, consulting with physicians, and performing autopsies
See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams
How can I check if my work experience matches one of these occupations?
To get the best idea of each occupation, including a full list of main duties, exclusions, and alternate job titles, visit Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC’s) official webpage for the NOC system, and search the occupation you are interested in by job title or NOC code.
Once you at the relevant occupation page, you can tell if your work experience meets the criteria for the occupation if
Your occupation broadly conforms to the description in the lead of the National Occupational Category page; and
You do most of the “main duties” outlined on that page.
For more details on how to match your work experience to an occupation in the NOC system, visit our dedicated article on the topic.
How does this new category differ from the existing healthcare and social services occupations category?
IRCC’s new physicians category differs from the existing healthcare and social services occupations category when it comes to the location and duration of the work experience required to qualify.
CriteriaPhysicians with Canadian Work Experience CategoryHealthcare and Social Services Occupations Category
Required work experience12 months of continuous Canadian work experience (full-time or equivalent part-time)6 months of continuous work experience (full-time or equivalent part-time)
Location of work experienceMust be gained in CanadaCan be gained in Canada or abroad
Number of eligible occupations3 occupations37 occupations (including many social services roles)
