CRS score of 479, 1,000 teaching occupations invited Job-driven immigration in full swing
3 May 2025
On May 1, 2025, Citizenship and Immigration Canada held its first selection of the year for education occupations through the Express Entry system, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to a total of 1,000 applicants for permanent residence. This was the first of the category-based selections for education, which included early childhood education teachers, elementary and secondary school teachers, special education instructors, and school assistants. The CRS cut-off score was set at 479, which was significantly lower than the 549 score for the general Express Entry selection held on April 10 of the same year. Rather than simply noting the low score, the invitation can be seen as an important shift in the direction of the program, as it makes immigration through Express Entry a more realistic pathway for workers in these fields.
Category-based selection, which was announced in 2023 and will be fully implemented in 2024, covers the French language, healthcare, technology, construction, agriculture, and education sectors. It provides a separate selection pathway for candidates registered within the Express Entry system who are employed in a particular occupation or have relevant experience and qualifications, enabling them to fill positions in high-priority occupations, even if their scores are relatively low. This sets a different standard of competition compared to general selection, and is very much in line with the objectives of the program, which is to tailor immigration based on occupation or skills.
The education sector, including early childhood and special education, is facing a chronic labor shortage, and the occupations targeted in this call are all classified as high-demand by provincial school boards in Canada. However, within the Express Entry system, applicants for education positions have historically found it difficult to clear the relatively high threshold. There have been a number of barriers to entry, including limitations on the recognition of foreign degrees and experience, language proficiency standards, and evidence of work experience, which have created a gap between actual workforce needs and the immigration system. This invitation is the first attempt to close that gap, and is significant because it is not a one-time action, but the beginning of a strategic selection process that will be rolled out periodically in the future.
While the Express Entry system is still centered around CRS scores, the introduction of category-based selection has begun to create a structured opportunity for selection based on occupation. This means that even candidates with the same score can have different chances of being invited based on which occupation they are in. Therefore, beyond simply raising their scores, applicants need to be strategic about understanding whether their occupation is eligible for a category, and how to organize their resume, language preparation, and job description requirements accordingly.
The Education Category invitation is a prime example of how this strategic preparation can lead to real results. The 479 point threshold, in particular, demonstrates that it is possible to apply for permanent residency with a relatively competitive score if your job is in a priority occupation, a shift from the previous Express Entry structure that favored high scorers. The significance of this is that the criteria for selection can be driven by social need rather than simply competitive scores.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has indicated that it will continue to utilize category-based selection in the future, allowing for flexibility in the frequency of selection and number of invitations to match sectoral workforce needs. In fact, we've already seen a number of category invitations in sectors such as healthcare and technology in the second half of 2024, and education in 2025, so if you're preparing to immigrate, it's now a much more practical strategy to align your work experience, education, and language skills with policy priority occupations, rather than simply focusing on improving your score.
Ultimately, this invitation is an important indicator that Express Entry is moving beyond a points-based competition to a structure that serves policy purposes, and it has important implications not only for those in the teaching profession, but also for those in fields that may be eligible for category invitations in the future. Immigration is a system of opportunity for those who are prepared, and category-based selection is making that preparation more explicit. Rather than simply waiting, having a clear strategy around your occupation and putting in place the relevant requirements will be the most effective way to prepare for future Express Entry.
On May 1, 2025, Citizenship and Immigration Canada held its first selection of the year for education occupations through the Express Entry system, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to a total of 1,000 applicants for permanent residence. This was the first of the category-based selections for education, which included early childhood education teachers, elementary and secondary school teachers, special education instructors, and school assistants. The CRS cut-off score was set at 479, which was significantly lower than the 549 score for the general Express Entry selection held on April 10 of the same year. Rather than simply noting the low score, the invitation can be seen as an important shift in the direction of the program, as it makes immigration through Express Entry a more realistic pathway for workers in these fields.
Category-based selection, which was announced in 2023 and will be fully implemented in 2024, covers the French language, healthcare, technology, construction, agriculture, and education sectors. It provides a separate selection pathway for candidates registered within the Express Entry system who are employed in a particular occupation or have relevant experience and qualifications, enabling them to fill positions in high-priority occupations, even if their scores are relatively low. This sets a different standard of competition compared to general selection, and is very much in line with the objectives of the program, which is to tailor immigration based on occupation or skills.
The education sector, including early childhood and special education, is facing a chronic labor shortage, and the occupations targeted in this call are all classified as high-demand by provincial school boards in Canada. However, within the Express Entry system, applicants for education positions have historically found it difficult to clear the relatively high threshold. There have been a number of barriers to entry, including limitations on the recognition of foreign degrees and experience, language proficiency standards, and evidence of work experience, which have created a gap between actual workforce needs and the immigration system. This invitation is the first attempt to close that gap, and is significant because it is not a one-time action, but the beginning of a strategic selection process that will be rolled out periodically in the future.
While the Express Entry system is still centered around CRS scores, the introduction of category-based selection has begun to create a structured opportunity for selection based on occupation. This means that even candidates with the same score can have different chances of being invited based on which occupation they are in. Therefore, beyond simply raising their scores, applicants need to be strategic about understanding whether their occupation is eligible for a category, and how to organize their resume, language preparation, and job description requirements accordingly.
The Education Category invitation is a prime example of how this strategic preparation can lead to real results. The 479 point threshold, in particular, demonstrates that it is possible to apply for permanent residency with a relatively competitive score if your job is in a priority occupation, a shift from the previous Express Entry structure that favored high scorers. The significance of this is that the criteria for selection can be driven by social need rather than simply competitive scores.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has indicated that it will continue to utilize category-based selection in the future, allowing for flexibility in the frequency of selection and number of invitations to match sectoral workforce needs. In fact, we've already seen a number of category invitations in sectors such as healthcare and technology in the second half of 2024, and education in 2025, so if you're preparing to immigrate, it's now a much more practical strategy to align your work experience, education, and language skills with policy priority occupations, rather than simply focusing on improving your score.
Ultimately, this invitation is an important indicator that Express Entry is moving beyond a points-based competition to a structure that serves policy purposes, and it has important implications not only for those in the teaching profession, but also for those in fields that may be eligible for category invitations in the future. Immigration is a system of opportunity for those who are prepared, and category-based selection is making that preparation more explicit. Rather than simply waiting, having a clear strategy around your occupation and putting in place the relevant requirements will be the most effective way to prepare for future Express Entry.