Express Entry Draw 398 issued 4,000 invitations to Healthcare and Social Services candidates on February 20, 2026, at a CRS cut-off of 467 – the category’s first 2026 round.
Originally published February 2026. Last updated July 2026 with Draw 422 results and current pool data.
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 was the first healthcare and social services draw of 2026, and came 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, the healthcare category remains one of the most accessible and direct routes to Canadian permanent residence available today. Overseas experience is accepted, and no job offer is required.
Key Details of Express Entry Draw 398
| Field | Value |
| 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.
What Has Happened Since Draw 398
Draw 398 is no longer the most recent healthcare round. The category has since run a second time, and the comparison between the two is the most useful thing on this page for anyone still waiting in the pool.
Draw 422: The Second Healthcare Round of 2026
On June 25, 2026, IRCC held Draw 422 under the same Healthcare and Social Services Occupations (2026 – Version 3) category.
| Field | Draw 398 | Draw 422 |
| Date | February 20, 2026 | June 25, 2026 |
| Invitations issued | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| CRS cut-off | 467 | 475 |
| Tie-breaking rule | December 9, 2025, 18:22:06 UTC | May 21, 2026, 12:14 UTC |
Identical volume, an 8-point higher cut-off. The gap between the two rounds was 125 days. With the same number of invitations issued and a longer interval for the eligible pool to refill with higher-scoring profiles, the cut-off moved up rather than down.
The practical read for healthcare candidates: volume alone does not push the threshold down when the gap between rounds is long. A candidate sitting at CRS 468 would have been invited in February and missed out in June.
Healthcare and Physicians Ran Back-to-Back in June
Draw 422 was preceded by Draw 421 on June 24, 2026 – a Physicians with Canadian Work Experience round (2026 – Version 1) that issued 271 ITAs at CRS 223.
This mirrored the February pattern exactly: a small, very low-threshold physicians round followed immediately by a large healthcare round. It is now a recognisable IRCC habit rather than a one-off, and it is worth knowing about if you hold a physician NOC – the dedicated physician category has cleared at 169 and 223 in 2026, hundreds of points below the broader healthcare category.
For physicians assessing which route fits, see our guide to Express Entry pathways for doctors in 2026.
Healthcare Draw History: How Draw 398 Compares
| Draw # | Date | Version | CRS | ITAs |
| 422 | Jun 25, 2026 | Version 3 | 475 | 4,000 |
| 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 ties Draw 357 (July 2025) and Draw 422 (June 2026) as the largest healthcare rounds on record at 4,000 ITAs each. At CRS 467, it is the most accessible healthcare round since November 2024, and considerably more accessible than the 504-510 range seen in the small 500-ITA rounds of early 2025.
The longer pattern is worth reading carefully. Cut-offs under Version 1 of the category (2024) ran materially lower – 422, 445, 463 – than anything seen under Version 2 or Version 3. As the eligible pool has grown and IRCC has tightened the experience threshold, the healthcare category has settled into a 462 – 476 band across every round since late 2025.
Express Entry in 2026: Where the Year Stands Now
The figures below reflect the year to date, not the position at the time of Draw 398. They are the numbers that matter if you are still waiting in the pool.
- Total Express Entry draws in 2026 (to July 23): 42
- Total ITAs issued in 2026 (to July 23): 104,616
- Healthcare and Social Services: 2 draws, 8,000 ITAs (Draw 398 at 467, Draw 422 at 475)
- Physicians with Canadian Work Experience: 2 draws, 662 ITAs (Draw 397 at 169, Draw 421 at 223)
- French-Language Proficiency: 8 draws, 40,500 ITAs, cut-offs ranging from 393 to 420
- Most recent rounds: PNP July 20 (511 ITAs at 744), CEC July 21 (2,000 at 516), French July 22 (5,000 at 399), Skilled Military Recruits July 23 (4 ITAs at 368 – the smallest Express Entry round ever held)
- Still no general all-program draw in 2026
Two structural points stand out. First, the healthcare category accounts for a small fraction of 2026 volume – roughly 7.6% of all ITAs – despite being one of the most visible categories. Second, the French-language category has issued five times as many invitations as healthcare, at cut-offs 60 to 80 points lower. If you hold a healthcare NOC and have any French, both pathways are open to you simultaneously.
Track current rounds on our Express Entry draw page, and see the most recent CEC round and PNP round for current thresholds in those categories.
Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026 up to Draw 398
This table reflects the position as at February 20, 2026, and is retained as the record of that period.
| 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 |
Position as at February 20, 2026:
- Total ITAs issued in 2026: 34,848
- Canadian Experience Class: 20,000 ITAs across 3 draws
- French-Language Proficiency: 8,500 ITAs across 1 draw
- Provincial Nominee Program: 1,957 ITAs across 4 draws
- Healthcare and Social Services: 4,000 ITAs – Draw 398
- Physicians with Canadian Work Experience: 391 ITAs – Draw 397
Eligible Occupations for the Healthcare and Social Services Category
Draw 398 covered designated NOC unit groups across the full spectrum of healthcare and social services – from TEER 1 specialists to TEER 3 support roles. The occupations listed in the round instructions were:
| 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 |
Verify your NOC against the current round instructions. IRCC publishes the authoritative occupation list in the Ministerial Instructions for each individual round, and the list can be revised between rounds. Occupations widely reported as eligible under this category that do not appear in the table above include pharmacists (31120), dental hygienists and dental therapists (32111), specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100), specialists in surgery (31101), and animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (32104). If your occupation is one of these, confirm your position against IRCC’s published list for the most recent round before relying on eligibility.
The breadth of this category is its defining feature. It extends well beyond physicians and registered nurses to include paramedics, massage therapists, medical sonographers, psychologists, social workers, social and community service workers, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, and veterinarians.
Your NOC Code Is Decided by Duties, Not Job Title
This is where most eligibility failures occur. A job title of “registered nurse” abroad does not automatically qualify you under NOC 31301 if your actual day-to-day duties align more closely with a support role. Your employment reference letters must describe duties matching the official NOC lead statement and main duties for the code you claim.
Express Entry Pool Composition
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.
Pool as at March 2, 2026 (the IRCC update closest to Draw 398):
| 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 |
Pool as at July 19, 2026:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
| 601-1200 | 511 |
| 501-600 | 18,133 |
| 451-500 | 72,579 |
| 401-450 | 63,877 |
| 351-400 | 51,107 |
| 301-350 | 17,490 |
| 0-300 | 7,836 |
| Total | 231,533 |
The total pool has barely moved – down about 1,000 profiles in four and a half months. What has moved is the shape of it. The 501-600 band has grown by roughly 4,100 candidates and the 601-1200 band has doubled, while the 351- 400 band has shrunk by over 2,600. The pool is not shrinking; it is stratifying upward.
That is the mechanical reason Draw 422 cleared 8 points higher than Draw 398 with identical volume. For healthcare candidates in the 451-470 sub-range – where roughly 31,000 profiles sit as at July 19 – the message is that waiting passively is not a neutral strategy. See our guide on boosting your Express Entry profile.
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 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
- Profile created before the tie-breaking date and time specified in the round instructions
Important update: Effective February 18, 2026 – two days before Draw 398 – 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. This change remains in force.
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:
- Confirm eligibility: Verify your NOC code appears on the eligible occupation list published in the most recent round instructions, and that you meet work experience, language, and program requirements.
- Submit your Express Entry profile: Create or update your profile through your IRCC online account with accurate employment history, language scores, and credentials.
- Enter the pool: Your profile is ranked by CRS. Healthcare category draws pull from eligible profiles when IRCC issues a round.
- Receive an ITA: Successful candidates receive an Invitation to Apply directly through their IRCC account.
- Submit your PR application: You have 60 days from the ITA date to file a complete application with all supporting documents.
- Processing: IRCC targets a 6-month processing timeline for complete Express Entry applications. Actual times vary – check IRCC’s current processing tool.
What to Prepare After an ITA
Candidates who receive an ITA must submit a 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, with duties matching the NOC description
- 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, unless you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class, or you are applying under FSWP or FSTP and are currently authorised to work in Canada with a valid job offer
Healthcare professionals should also begin researching provincial licensing requirements 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 an eligible NOC code 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, producing a lower cut-off. The 9-point drop reflected the larger draw size.
Why did the CRS then rise to 475 in Draw 422?
Draw 422 issued the same 4,000 invitations as Draw 398 but came 125 days later. Over that gap the eligible pool refilled with higher-scoring profiles, and the upper CRS bands grew across the pool as a whole. With volume held constant, the longer interval pushed the threshold up 8 points.
I am a social worker. Am I eligible?
Social Workers (NOC 41300, TEER 1) were included among the eligible occupations for Draw 398. 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. Confirm 41300 appears on the list published for the round you are targeting.
Will there be more healthcare draws in 2026?
The category has run twice in 2026 – February 20 and June 25, roughly four months apart. On that spacing, a third round would fall in the autumn, though IRCC does not announce category draws in advance and the interval has varied widely. Eligible candidates should keep profiles updated and documentation ready to file within 60 days of any 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 on work experience in an eligible NOC code and Express Entry program eligibility. Note also that a job offer no longer adds any CRS points – IRCC removed arranged employment points from the Comprehensive Ranking System on March 25, 2025, for both LMIA-backed and LMIA-exempt offers, and they have not been reinstated.
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, producing a record-low CRS of 169 due to the very small eligible pool. Draw 398 covered the full healthcare and social services occupation list, accepted overseas experience, and was open to a far larger candidate base – resulting in the higher CRS of 467. The pattern repeated in June 2026, with the physicians round (Draw 421) clearing at 223 and the healthcare round (Draw 422) at 475.
What CRS score do I need for the next healthcare draw?
There is no fixed number. The two 2026 rounds cleared at 467 and 475; every round since late 2025 has landed in a 462- 476 band. A score above 476 would have cleared every healthcare round held since December 2025, but the threshold is set per round based on pool depth and IRCC’s targets.
The Bottom Line
Express Entry Draw 398 issued 4,000 ITAs to healthcare and social services professionals at a CRS of 467 – tied for the largest healthcare round on record, and the most accessible since November 2024.
Draw 422 in June 2026 has since confirmed the pattern: the same volume, a slightly higher threshold, and a category that continues to run at CRS levels 40 to 50 points below the Canadian Experience Class. With an occupation list spanning everything from registered nurses and physiotherapists to social workers and paramedics, and with overseas experience fully accepted, this remains one of the most structured routes to Canadian permanent residence for healthcare workers.
The variables you control are your NOC accuracy, your language scores, and your readiness to file. The pool is stratifying upward, which means a score that cleared in February may not clear in the autumn. Candidates whose CRS sits below the recent band should also assess alternatives for lower CRS scores and provincial nominee options, which add 600 CRS points on nomination.
At Earnest Immigration, our RCIC-licensed consultants help you confirm category eligibility, verify your NOC against the current round instructions, identify realistic CRS improvements, and prepare complete applications within the 60-day ITA window. Contact us for a profile assessment and a personalised strategy.
