Immigration to Canada for Teachers and Education Workers

Canada does not have one immigration program for all teachers, instructors, and education workers. A suitable pathway depends on the applicant’s actual duties, NOC code, work experience, education, language test results, age, CRS score, intended province, and other factors.

In 2026, Express Entry includes an Education occupations category. It may provide an additional opportunity for certain teachers and education workers, but only the occupations on IRCC’s current list are eligible.

Occupations included in the Education category

• NOC 41220, TEER 1 — Secondary school teachers
• NOC 41221, TEER 1 — Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
• NOC 42202, TEER 2 — Early childhood educators and assistants
• NOC 42203, TEER 2 — Instructors of persons with disabilities
• NOC 43100, TEER 3 — Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants

To qualify for the category, a candidate must generally:

• have at least 12 months of full-time experience or an equivalent amount of part-time experience;
• have gained the experience within the previous three years;
• have experience in one occupation on the current list;
• have duties corresponding to the selected NOC;
• meet the instructions for the applicable invitation round;
• qualify for at least one Express Entry program.

The experience may have been obtained in Canada or abroad. It does not have to be continuous for the category, although the underlying Express Entry program may impose its own requirements.

Not every instructor is included

A teaching job title does not automatically establish the correct NOC. For example:

• university professors and lecturers, NOC 41200, are not in the current Education occupations list;
• college and other vocational instructors, NOC 41210, are not currently included;
• school principals, education administrators, private tutors, and some language instructors may have different NOC codes.

These candidates may still qualify through regular Express Entry, a provincial program, or another immigration pathway.

Does the category guarantee an invitation?

No. The Education category is not a separate permanent residence program and does not guarantee an invitation.

A candidate must qualify for an Express Entry program, enter the pool, meet the category requirements, and have a competitive CRS score for the applicable round.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

A teacher with foreign work experience may qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. In general, the experience must:

• be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• correspond to the selected NOC and most of its main duties;
• be paid;
• include at least one continuous year or 1,560 hours;
• have been obtained within the previous ten years.

The applicant must also score at least 67 out of 100 Federal Skilled Worker selection-factor points. These are different from CRS points. Foreign teaching experience may be used if it is properly documented and corresponds to the selected NOC.

Canadian Experience Class

Canadian Experience Class generally requires:

• one year or 1,560 hours of paid skilled work in Canada;
• experience obtained within the previous three years;
• employment in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• authorization to work;
• physical presence in Canada while performing the work;
• duties that correspond to the selected NOC.

Self-employment and work gained while the applicant was a full-time student generally do not count toward the minimum Canadian Experience Class requirement.

English or French language requirements

Express Entry applicants must take an IRCC-approved English or French test. Accepted tests are:

• CELPIP-General
• IELTS General Training
• PTE Core
• TEF Canada
• TCF Canada

IELTS Academic and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires at least CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. For IELTS General Training, CLB 7 corresponds to 6.0 in each ability.

Canadian Experience Class minimums are:

• NOC 41220 and 41221, TEER 1 — CLB/NCLC 7
• NOC 42202 and 42203, TEER 2 — CLB/NCLC 5
• NOC 43100, TEER 3 — CLB/NCLC 5

Language results must be less than two years old. Higher results may substantially improve the CRS score.

ECA and recognition of teaching credentials

Applicants educated outside Canada generally need an immigration-purpose Educational Credential Assessment for Federal Skilled Worker eligibility and Express Entry education points.

The ECA must be issued by an IRCC-designated organization and be less than five years old.

An ECA is not a teaching certificate and does not guarantee:

• authorization to teach;
• professional registration;
• recognition of every course or teaching practicum;
• employment;
• a particular salary.

Provincial teacher certification

Teaching in the public school system is generally regulated by the province or territory. Certification requirements may include:

• a recognized education degree;
• academic and teacher-training coursework;
• a teaching practicum;
• proof of professional standing;
• background checks;
• language requirements;
• official documents sent directly by educational institutions;
• additional courses or examinations.

Requirements vary by province and territory. Early childhood educators, education assistants, and other workers may be subject to different registration requirements. Immigration approval and authorization to work as a teacher are separate processes.

Is a job offer required?

A job offer is not required for the Education occupations category or the Canadian Experience Class.

As of March 25, 2025, Express Entry no longer awards the previous 50 or 200 CRS points for job offers. A qualifying offer may still be relevant to certain provincial programs, the Atlantic Immigration Program, community pilots, and work permits.

An offer from a school does not replace provincial certification where the occupation is regulated.

Other immigration pathways

Depending on the applicant’s profile, possible pathways may include:

• the Provincial Nominee Program;
• the Atlantic Immigration Program;
• the Rural Community Immigration Pilot;
• the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot;
• a temporary work permit;
• permanent residence after gaining qualifying Canadian experience;
• Quebec’s separate immigration system.

Provincial priorities and program requirements change. Teachers should not be promised a permanent priority stream, employment, or a particular salary.

Why professional assessment is important

Applicants may apply independently, and using a representative is not mandatory. However, a teacher must separately assess:

• Eligibility for an immigration program.
• Eligibility for the Education occupations category.
• Authorization to work as a teacher in the intended province.

CUSC can review the applicant’s NOC, work experience, language requirements, ECA, CRS score, and available federal, provincial, and regional options.

We cannot guarantee an invitation, visa, work permit, teaching certificate, employment, or permanent residence. Decisions are made by IRCC, provincial authorities, professional regulators, and employers.