What this category means
The category focuses on teachers, early-childhood educators, disability instructors and school assistants.
Category eligibility comes after Express Entry eligibility
You must first qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program and have a valid Express Entry profile. A category does not replace those program rules.
Who may qualify
- Be eligible for at least one of the three federal programs managed by Express Entry.
- Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool when IRCC holds the round.
- Meet every requirement in the ministerial instructions for that specific round.
- Within the 3 years before the round, have at least 12 months of full-time work experience—or an equal amount of part-time experience—in one listed occupation. The experience does not need to be continuous and may be gained in canada or abroad.
Eligible occupations
IRCC uses the 2021 NOC codes below. Match the lead statement and actual main duties—not only a similar job title.
| Official occupation title | 2021 NOC | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 | 1 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 41221 | 1 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 | 2 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | 2 |
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 | 3 |
Current rules compared with the 2025 round
The five occupation codes remain the same, but the current work-experience threshold is different from the instructions used for round #367.
| Factor | Current 2026 category page | Round #367 · September 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Work experience | At least 12 months within the past 3 years | At least 6 continuous months within the relevant 3-year period |
| Continuity | The 12 months do not need to be continuous | The qualifying 6 months had to be continuous |
| Occupation list | 5 education occupations | The same 5 occupation codes |
| Location of work | Canada or abroad | Canada or abroad |
The live category page and the ministerial instructions for a future round control. A candidate should not use the older six-month rule simply because the occupation list is unchanged.
Historical education round: September 17, 2025
Round #367 was the first-version education-occupations round. Its cut-off is historical and does not create a standing score for future education rounds.
Date and time
September 17, 2025 · 15:36:53 UTC
Invitations
2,500
Lowest CRS
462
Tie-breaking rule
July 9, 2025 · 04:24:19 UTC
Education occupations (Version 1) · round #367
Candidates eligible under FSWP, CEC or FSTP could be invited through this category round.
A category invitation does not grant a provincial teaching licence or early-childhood-education registration. Professional authorization and immigration selection are separate questions.
Open official round #367How category-based selection works
- 01
Qualify for Express Entry
Meet the minimum rules of CEC, FSWP or FSTP and create an accurate profile.
- 02
IRCC identifies eligible profiles
IRCC checks the profile information against the requirements of the announced category.
- 03
Candidates are ranked by CRS
Eligible category candidates are still ranked against one another using their CRS scores.
- 04
Highest-ranking candidates may be invited
The number invited, cut-off, tie-breaker and exact category rules are set for the individual round.
- 05
Submit the permanent-residence application
An invited candidate must prove both program and category eligibility with documents and remain admissible to Canada.
Documents to prepare
- Employer letters confirming position, dates, hours, pay and detailed duties
- Supporting pay, tax, contract or employment records where appropriate
- Evidence that the claimed duties match the listed NOC
- Certified translations for documents not in English or French
- All documents required by the underlying Express Entry program
Important limits
- Meeting a category requirement does not add separate CRS points and does not guarantee that IRCC will hold a round for that category.
- The category occupation list, work-experience period and round instructions can change. The live IRCC page and the instructions for the exact round control.
- An invitation does not remove the need to prove the underlying Express Entry program, the CRS score claimed, category eligibility and admissibility.
- A job title alone is not enough for an occupation category. The evidence must support the correct NOC lead statement and main duties.
Frequently asked questions
Does a degree in education make me eligible?
Not by itself. The category is based on at least 12 months of qualifying experience in one listed NOC. Education may affect Express Entry eligibility, CRS and professional licensing separately.
Can foreign teaching experience count?
Yes. Current category experience may be gained in Canada or abroad if it is within the relevant three-year period and matches one listed occupation.
Do I need an Ontario teaching certificate to qualify for the category?
Not for category membership itself. However, working as a regulated teacher in Ontario normally involves separate provincial certification, and the evidence must still support the claimed NOC.
Can I combine teacher and teacher-assistant experience?
No. The qualifying 12 months must be in a single listed occupation. Non-continuous periods may be combined only when they relate to that same NOC.
Does part-time experience count?
Yes, an equal amount of part-time experience may count. Hours, dates, pay and duties should be clearly documented.
Are college or university instructors on this list?
No. The current five-NOC education category does not include university professors, college instructors or post-secondary research assistants.
Does category eligibility add CRS points?
No. Eligible education candidates are still ranked by their existing CRS score when IRCC holds a category-based round.
Is CRS 462 the expected score for the next round?
No. It was the lowest CRS in round #367 only. Future cut-offs depend on the pool, the instructions and the number of invitations.
Official government sources
General information only. This page was reviewed on the date shown, but IRCC may change categories or instructions without notice. Verify the live government source before relying on any requirement.