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Canada's Express Entry STEM Category Revamped for 21st Century Skills

Say goodbye to 19 STEM occupations in Canada's Express Entry. Welcome six new roles and a focus on 21st-century skills. Your eligibility may have just changed.

In the image we can see a stem.
In the image we can see a stem.

Canada's Express Entry STEM Category Revamped for 21st Century Skills

Canada's Express Entry system has seen significant changes in its STEM category. Nineteen occupations have been removed, and six new ones added, with the updated category focusing on 21st-century skills and inclusivity. This shift aims to strengthen MINT (STEM) education and address underrepresentation in tech sectors.

The updated STEM category, introduced two months ago, emphasizes the 4Cs: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. It aims to develop interdisciplinary programs, exhibitions, workshops, and teacher training that integrate these skills into STEM teaching. This change has led to many foreign nationals no longer qualifying for the category, while others have recently become eligible.

The new STEM category includes 11 occupations. Newly added roles are Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Geological Engineers, Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Mechanical Engineers, and Insurance Agents and Brokers. To qualify, candidates must have at least six months of full-time continuous work experience in a category-eligible occupation within the past three years.

Category-based draws, like the updated STEM category, have lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores. This increases the chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence, even if a candidate's CRS score is not high enough for general or CEC draws. Checking eligibility for all category-based draws can maximize the chances of obtaining an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

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