Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) wrapped up a landmark week of Express Entry activity with Draw 398, held on February 20, 2026. The draw issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category (2026 – Version 3), with a minimum CRS cut-off of 467.
This is the first healthcare and social services draw of 2026, and comes just one day after the historic Physicians draw (Draw 397) that set an all-time record low CRS of 169. Together, the four draws held between February 16 and 20 produced 10,670 ITAs across PNP, CEC, Physician, and Healthcare categories – one of the most active weeks in Express Entry history.
For nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, paramedics, dental professionals, and dozens of other healthcare roles, Draw 398 is one of the most accessible and direct routes to Canadian permanent residence available today. With 35 eligible NOC codes, overseas experience accepted, and no job offer required, this category is genuinely broad.
Key Details of Express Entry Draw 398
| Draw Number | 398 |
| Date | February 20, 2026 |
| Category | Healthcare and Social Services Occupations (2026 – Version 3) |
| Invitations Issued | 4,000 |
| CRS Cut-off Score | 467 |
| Tie-breaking Rule | December 9, 2025, at 18:22:06 UTC |
A Record-Breaking Week: February 16–20, 2026
Draw 398 closed out four consecutive Express Entry draws targeting four completely different candidate groups:
• February 16 – Draw 395 (PNP): 279 ITAs at CRS 789
• February 17 – Draw 396 (CEC): 6,000 ITAs at CRS 508
• February 19 – Draw 397 (Physicians): 391 ITAs at CRS 169 (historic record low)
• February 20 – Draw 398 (Healthcare & Social Services): 4,000 ITAs at CRS 467
This multi-draw approach is the defining feature of IRCC’s 2026 strategy. Category-based selection allows each group – provincial nominees, experienced workers, physicians, broader healthcare staff – to be invited in separate rounds without competing against one another. No general all-program draw has been held in 2026.
Complete Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026
| Draw # | Date | Category | CRS | ITAs |
| 398 | Feb 20 | Healthcare & Social Services (Version 3) | 467 | 4,000 |
| 397 | Feb 19 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 169 | 391 |
| 396 | Feb 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| 395 | Feb 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| 394 | Feb 6 | French-Language Proficiency (Version 2) | 400 | 8,500 |
| 393 | Feb 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| 392 | Jan 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| 391 | Jan 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| 390 | Jan 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| 389 | Jan 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
Healthcare Draw History: How Draw 398 Compares
| Draw # | Date | Version | CRS | ITAs |
| 398 | Feb 20, 2026 | Version 3 | 467 | 4,000 |
| 385 | Dec 11, 2025 | Version 2 | 476 | 1,000 |
| 379 | Nov 14, 2025 | Version 2 | 462 | 3,500 |
| 373 | Oct 15, 2025 | Version 2 | 472 | 2,500 |
| 362 | Aug 19, 2025 | Version 2 | 470 | 2,500 |
| 357 | Jul 22, 2025 | Version 2 | 475 | 4,000 |
| 349 | Jun 4, 2025 | Version 2 | 504 | 500 |
| 345 | May 2, 2025 | Version 2 | 510 | 500 |
| 327 | Nov 20, 2024 | Version 1 | 463 | 3,000 |
| 301 | Jul 5, 2024 | Version 1 | 445 | 3,750 |
| 284 | Feb 14, 2024 | Version 1 | 422 | 3,500 |
Draw 398 is the largest healthcare draw of 2026 and ties with Draw 357 (July 2025) as the largest in the category’s history at 4,000 ITAs. At CRS 467, it is also significantly more accessible than the 504-510 range seen in smaller draws from early 2025. The downward CRS trend across consecutive healthcare rounds, combined with growing draw size, signals IRCC’s deliberate effort to clear a larger portion of the eligible healthcare pool with each successive round.
Key Statistics: 2026 Express Entry Draws to Date (as of February 20)
• Total ITAs issued in 2026: 34,848
• CEC: 20,000 ITAs across 3 draws
• French-Language Proficiency: 8,500 ITAs across 1 draw
• PNP: 1,977 ITAs across 3 draws
• Healthcare and Social Services: 4,000 ITAs – Draw 398
• Physicians with Canadian Work Experience: 391 ITAs – Draw 397
• No general all-program draw has been held in 2026 to date
Eligible Occupations for the Healthcare and Social Services Category
Draw 398 covered 35 designated NOC unit groups across the full spectrum of healthcare and social services – from TEER 1 specialists to TEER 3 support roles. The complete list is set out below:
| NOC Code | Occupation | TEER |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 1 |
| 32123 | Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 2 |
| 31201 | Chiropractors | 1 |
| 31110 | Dentists | 1 |
| 31121 | Dieticians and nutritionists | 1 |
| 41320 | Education counsellors | 1 |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians | 1 |
| 42203 | Instructors of persons with disabilities | 2 |
| 31204 | Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 1 |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses | 2 |
| 32201 | Massage therapists | 2 |
| 33101 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 3 |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists | 2 |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists | 2 |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers | 2 |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 3 |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners | 1 |
| 31300 | Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 1 |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists | 1 |
| 31111 | Optometrists | 1 |
| 33109 | Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 3 |
| 32209 | Other practitioners of natural healing | 2 |
| 31209 | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 1 |
| 32109 | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 2 |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations | 2 |
| 33103 | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 3 |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 1 |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists | 1 |
| 31200 | Psychologists | 1 |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 1 |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 2 |
| 42201 | Social and community service workers | 2 |
| 41300 | Social workers | 1 |
| 32200 | Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 2 |
| 31103 | Veterinarians | 1 |
The breadth of this list is significant. The category extends well beyond physicians and registered nurses to include paramedics, dental hygienists, massage therapists, medical sonographers, psychologists, social workers, social and community service workers, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, and veterinarians. Candidates working in any of these roles should assess whether their profile qualifies for upcoming healthcare category draws.
Current Express Entry Pool Composition (March 5, 2026)
At a CRS of 467, Draw 398 selected candidates from the lower end of the 451-500 band – the largest concentration of candidates in the pool. The current pool composition is:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
| 601–1200 | 258 |
| 501–600 | 14,031 |
| 451–500 | 71,680 |
| 401–450 | 65,868 |
| 351–400 | 53,727 |
| 301–350 | 18,694 |
| 0–300 | 8,276 |
| Total | 232,534 |
With 71,680 candidates in the 451-500 range, there remains a large reservoir of potentially eligible healthcare professionals who could receive ITAs if future draws continue at this CRS level or drop further. Healthcare candidates currently scoring 451-466 should focus on profile improvements and monitor upcoming draw announcements closely.
Eligibility Requirements
To receive an ITA through a healthcare and social services category-based draw, candidates must satisfy all of the following:
• Active Express Entry profile under FSWP, CEC, or FSTP
• At least 12 months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in one of the 35 eligible NOC codes within the past three years – in Canada or abroad
• Experience must be in a single eligible occupation; hours from different NOC codes cannot be combined
• Minimum language proficiency: CLB 7 for TEER 0/1 occupations; CLB 5 for TEER 2/3 under CEC
• No job offer or LMIA required
• Intent to reside outside Quebec
Important update: Effective February 18, 2026, IRCC raised the minimum experience threshold for all renewed occupational categories – including healthcare – from 6 months to 12 months. Candidates who qualified under Version 2 with only 6 months of experience should confirm they now meet the 12-month requirement.
How to Apply Through Express Entry
If you work in an eligible healthcare or social services occupation and are not yet in the Express Entry pool, the steps are:
• Step 1 – Confirm eligibility: Verify your NOC code is on the list of 35 eligible occupations and that you meet work experience, language, and program requirements
• Step 2 – Submit your Express Entry profile: Create or update your profile through your IRCC online account with accurate employment history, language scores, and credentials
• Step 3 – Enter the pool: Your profile is ranked by CRS. Healthcare category draws pull from eligible profiles when IRCC issues a round
• Step 4 – Receive an ITA: Successful candidates receive an Invitation to Apply directly through their IRCC account
• Step 5 – Submit your PR application: You have 60 days from the ITA date to file a complete application with all supporting documents
• Step 6 – Processing: IRCC targets a 6-month processing timeline for complete Express Entry applications
What to Prepare After an ITA
Candidates who received an ITA in Draw 398 must submit their complete PR application within 60 days. Required documents include:
• Employment reference letters confirming 12 months of eligible work experience in a qualifying healthcare or social services occupation
• Valid language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada)
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if required under your Express Entry program
• Police clearance certificates from all countries of residence since age 18
• Medical examination results from an IRCC-designated physician
• Proof of settlement funds (if applicable – not required for CEC candidates with a valid job offer)
Healthcare professionals should also begin researching provincial licensing requirements for their specific occupation immediately. Requirements vary by province and profession, and while provincial registration is not needed before applying for PR, it must be in place before practising in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Canadian work experience for the healthcare category draw?
No. Unlike CEC draws, the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category accepts qualifying experience gained in Canada or abroad, as long as it falls within one of the 35 eligible NOC codes and was accumulated within the past three years. You must still hold an active Express Entry profile under FSWP, CEC, or FSTP and meet all other program requirements.
Why did the CRS drop from 476 in December 2025 to 467 in February 2026?
The previous healthcare draw (Draw 385, December 2025) issued only 1,000 ITAs. Draw 398 issued 4,000 – four times as many. When more invitations are issued, IRCC reaches further down the ranked list of eligible healthcare candidates, naturally producing a lower cut-off. The 9-point drop directly reflects the larger draw size, not a general change in pool composition.
I am a social worker. Am I eligible?
Yes. Social Workers (NOC 41300, TEER 1) are explicitly included among the 35 eligible occupations. You need at least 12 months of qualifying experience in this role within the past three years, an active Express Entry profile, and a CRS score at or above the cut-off in a future draw.
Will there be more healthcare draws in 2026?
Based on IRCC’s 2026 category framework and the draw history – which has included 3 to 5 healthcare rounds per year since 2023 – further draws are expected throughout the year. Eligible candidates who did not receive an ITA in Draw 398 should keep profiles updated and have documentation ready to file within 60 days of any future invitation.
Is a job offer required to qualify?
No. A job offer or LMIA is not required for healthcare category-based draw eligibility. Selection is based entirely on work experience in an eligible NOC code and Express Entry program eligibility. A qualifying job offer can still add CRS points if you have one, but it is not mandatory.
What is the difference between Draw 397 (Physicians) and Draw 398 (Healthcare & Social Services)?
Draw 397 was exclusively for physicians with Canadian work experience under three specific NOC codes (31100, 31101, 31102), producing a record-low CRS of 169 due to the very small eligible pool. Draw 398 covers 35 NOC codes across all levels of healthcare and social services, accepts overseas experience, and is open to a far larger candidate base – resulting in the higher CRS of 467. Physicians are technically included in Draw 398 eligibility, but the dedicated Physician draw offers a dramatically lower threshold for those who qualify.
The Bottom Line
Express Entry Draw 398 issued 4,000 ITAs to healthcare and social services professionals at a CRS of 467 – the largest and most accessible healthcare draw in the history of the category. With 35 eligible NOC codes spanning everything from registered nurses and physiotherapists to social workers and paramedics, and with overseas experience fully accepted, this draw reinforces Canada’s commitment to building a robust healthcare immigration pipeline.
For healthcare and social services professionals at all career stages, the 2026 Express Entry landscape has never offered more structured, occupation-specific opportunities. The key is ensuring your profile is in the pool, your NOC code is correctly identified, your language scores are current, and your documentation is ready the moment an ITA arrives.
At Earnest Immigration, our licensed consultants provide end-to-end support – from confirming category eligibility and optimising your CRS score, to preparing complete, accurate applications within the 60-day ITA window. Contact the Earnest Immigration team today for a profile assessment and personalised immigration strategy.
