Express Entry draw #398 has invited 4,000 healthcare and social services professionals on February 20, 2026, under the “Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026‑Version 3” category, with a CRS cut‑off of 467 and a tie‑break date of December 9, 2025. This is the first health/social services category‑based round of 2026 and continues IRCC’s push to prioritize critical care and community support workers across Canada.
Draw 398: key facts at a glance
From IRCC’s notice and draw trackers:
- Draw number: 398
- Date and time: February 20, 2026 at 12:02:57 UTC
- Category: Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026‑Version 3
- Number of ITAs: 4,000
- CRS score of lowest‑ranked candidate: 467
- Rank required: 4,000 or above in this category grouping
- Tie‑breaking rule: December 09, 2025 at 18:22:06 UTC
- Programs: ITAs may be issued under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) for candidates who meet the category requirements.[query]
The tie‑break means that among candidates at CRS 467, only those whose Express Entry profiles were submitted before December 9, 2025 at 18:22:06 UTC received an invitation.
Who qualifies for this healthcare & social services category?
The Ministerial Instructions set out the rules for the “Healthcare and Social Services Occupations (Version 3)” category:[query]
To be a member of this category, an eligible foreign national must:
- Not be in the Provincial Nominee class described in paragraph 2(d) of the general Express Entry Instructions.[query]
- In the last three years, have at least one year of full‑time work experience (or the equivalent in part‑time) in one of the listed NOC unit groups; and
- During that work period:
- Have performed the actions described in the lead statement of the NOC description; and
- Have performed a substantial number of the main duties, including all essential duties, for that occupation.[query]
Periods of unauthorized work in Canada cannot be counted toward this one‑year experience requirement.[query]
The category is active for invitations issued between February 20 and February 21, 2026 (section 7), and the economic goal is to “address long‑term labour market shortages” in health and social services roles.[query]
Eligible occupations in this draw (simple list)
The Instructions list 37 NOC unit groups in healthcare and social services.[query] These include (in plain language):
- Doctors and other regulated health professionals
- General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102)
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100)
- Specialists in surgery (NOC 31101)
- Dentists (NOC 31110)
- Veterinarians (NOC 31103)
- Optometrists (NOC 31111)
- Audiologists and speech‑language pathologists (NOC 31112)
- Dietitians and nutritionists (NOC 31121)
- Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
- Nurses and nursing leadership
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301)
- Nurse practitioners (NOC 31302)
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors (NOC 31300)
- Licensed practical nurses (NOC 32101)
- Allied health professionals and therapists
- Physiotherapists (NOC 31202)
- Occupational therapists (NOC 31203)
- Chiropractors (NOC 31201)
- Psychologists (NOC 31200)
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (NOC 31209)
- Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies (NOC 41301)
- Medical technologists and technicians
- Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 32120)
- Medical radiation technologists (NOC 32121)
- Medical sonographers (NOC 32122)
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (NOC 32123)
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 32103)
- Other medical technologists and technicians (NOC 32129)
- Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (NOC 32109)
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (NOC 33101)
- Pharmacy support and other health support occupations
- Pharmacy technicians (NOC 32124)
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants (NOC 33103)
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102)
- Massage therapists (NOC 32201)
- Paramedical occupations (e.g., paramedics) (NOC 32102)
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104)
- Social work and community services
- Social workers (NOC 41300)
- Social and community service workers (NOC 42201)
- Other health leadership and allied roles
Candidates with eligible experience in any of these unit groups, who meet Express Entry program criteria and have at least one year of recent work in the occupation, could be selected in this category‑based round.[query]
How this draw compares to other 2026 Express Entry rounds
2026 is shaping up as a heavy year for category‑based draws. So far:
Compared to the last healthcare & social services draw in December 2025, commentators note that draw #398 features:
- A larger number of ITAs (4,000 vs. a smaller batch previously).
- A lower CRS cut‑off, making it easier for mid‑400s healthcare and social services candidates to receive an invitation.
This aligns with the 2026 category announcement that promised ongoing priority for healthcare and social services, alongside physicians, researchers, transport workers, French speakers and trades.
What this means for healthcare and social services candidates
If you received an ITA in draw #398:
- You now have 60 days to submit a complete PR application through your Express Entry account.
- Make sure your work experience letters clearly show:
- Your NOC code matches one of the listed unit groups.
- Your job duties align with the lead statement and essential/main duties of that NOC.
- Your work was authorized and fits within the last three years.
If you did not receive an ITA but your NOC is on the list:
- Check your CRS—you likely need to target at least the high‑400s (around 467+) for similar future rounds.
- Consider improving language scores, education credentials or gaining more Canadian experience to raise CRS.
- Keep your profile updated: category‑based healthcare & social services draws are expected to continue through 2026 as Canada addresses long‑term shortages in hospitals, clinics, community agencies and social service organizations.
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