Express Entry Education Category (2026): Teachers and Early Childhood Educators

Schools and child care centers across Canada are short of staff, especially in French-language schools, rural areas, and early childhood education. The education category is one of the category-based draws in Express Entry. In an education draw, IRCC invites only candidates with recent experience in a listed education occupation, ranked by their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

IRCC reviews the category list each year. As of September 2026, its category-based selection page lists education as a 2026 category, alongside the new categories added this year.

IRCC's category-based selection page lists these National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:

University and college teaching is not in this category. Professors and lecturers with Canadian experience may fit the researchers category.

You are included in education draws if you:

1. Have an active Express Entry profile and are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program.
2. Have at least 12 months of full-time work experience, or an equal amount of part-time, in one listed occupation.
3. Gained that experience within the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad. It does not need to be continuous.

Language minimums depend on the program. For the Canadian Experience Class, teachers (TEER 1) need CLB 7 and early childhood educators or assistants (TEER 2 or 3) need CLB 5. The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires CLB 7 for everyone.

Not to be invited. But teaching in a public school requires a certificate from the province's teacher regulator, and early childhood educators usually need to register with a provincial body. Each province sets its own rules for assessing foreign teacher training, and the process can take months.

Start certification early and check the rules in the province where you plan to live. See the province hubs, such as Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick. French-speaking teachers are in particular demand outside Quebec; see the French category too.

IRCC decides when to hold education draws and how many invitations to issue. A category being on the list does not guarantee frequent draws. Follow results on our Express Entry draws tracker and the 2026 categories status page. Estimate your score with the CRS calculator.

After an Invitation to Apply, you have 60 days to submit your application. See from ITA to COPR. Prepare:

• Reference letters from each school or child care employer, with your title, dates, hours per week, salary, and duties matching your NOC code.
• Your teaching license or registration from your home country, if you have one.
• An Educational Credential Assessment for foreign degrees. See ECA credential assessment.
• Valid language results, police certificates, and a medical exam.

Working with children means extra scrutiny of police records. If you have any criminal history, talk to a lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC) first.

• Provincial programs sometimes target teachers and early childhood educators. For example, New Brunswick's NB Experience stream now covers education, among other sectors. See PNP.
• Atlantic Immigration Program and Rural Community Immigration Pilot accept job offers from designated employers.
• Francophone Community Immigration Pilot for French-speaking educators with a job offer in a participating community.

Entering the Express Entry pool is free. After an invitation, you pay IRCC's fees.

As of September 2026 (fees rose on April 30, 2026), IRCC charges these fees for economic programs such as Express Entry and the PNP, in Canadian dollars:

Biometrics cost $85 per person, or $170 for a family applying together. Check the IRCC fee list before paying, because fees change. Budget as well for language tests, an Educational Credential Assessment if you studied abroad, police certificates, and medical exams.

IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications in about 6 months after you submit a complete application. Real times vary. Check the IRCC processing times tool or our processing times page.

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 22 can be included in your application and become permanent residents with you. Each must pass medical and security checks.