1,000 Invitations Issued to Educators: Canada’s Express Entry Draw #344 Targets Education Professionals
- Gateway to Canada
- May 2
- 2 min read
On May 1, 2025, Canada held its latest category-based Express Entry draw, this time focusing on Education occupations. A total of 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to eligible candidates with recent experience in the education sector.
This is part of IRCC’s (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) strategy to address labor shortages in key sectors by selecting Express Entry candidates based on occupation-specific categories.
📌 Express Entry Draw #344 Highlights
Draw Date: May 1, 2025
Category: Education occupations (Version 1)
Number of ITAs: 1,000
Minimum CRS Score: 479
Tie-breaking rule: Profiles submitted before August 10, 2024, at 10:35:55 UTC
Eligible Programs: FSWP, CEC, and FSTP
With a CRS cut-off of 479, this draw offered a significant opportunity for qualified teachers and educators who may not have scored high enough in general rounds.
🧑🏫 Who Qualified?
To be considered under this draw, candidates needed at least 6 months of continuous full-time work experience (or the equivalent in part-time) within the last 3 years in one of the following occupations:
Early Childhood Educators and Assistants – NOC 42202
Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants – NOC 43100
Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers – NOC 41221
Instructors of Persons with Disabilities – NOC 42203
Secondary School Teachers – NOC 41220
Experience had to match the lead statement and include a substantial number of main duties and all essential dutiesas outlined in Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).
🎯 Why This Matters
This draw supports Canada’s goal of improving its education system and addressing workforce gaps by attracting skilled educators from abroad. If you work in one of the occupations listed above and have experience that meets the NOC standards, this could be your gateway to permanent residence in Canada.
The lower CRS requirement compared to previous general draws is an encouraging sign for many aspiring immigrants in the education field.
💡 What Should You Do Next?
If you're an educator hoping to immigrate to Canada:
✅ Create or update your Express Entry profile
✅ Highlight your eligible work experience clearly
✅ Prepare your supporting documents in advance (e.g. reference letters, job descriptions)
✅ Consider provincial nomination programs for additional CRS points
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