Healthcare

In demand

NOC 41300

TEER 1

Social Worker in Canada

Social workers fall under the healthcare & social services occupation category for Express Entry. Registration is provincial and separate from an immigration application.

Average salary

CAD 68,000

/year

Typical CRS cutoff

~470

points

Skills assessment

26 weeks

Licensing

Required

Regulated provincially — in Ontario, register with OCSWSSW (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers) as an international applicant.

Full guide for this profession

A longer read on this occupation's route into Canada: the category rule, the cutoffs recent rounds actually cleared, and how licensing runs alongside immigration.

Social Workers Immigrating to Canada: Express Entry Eligibility, Honestly Explained

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to work as a social worker in Canada?

Yes, in most provinces. In Ontario, international applicants register with OCSWSSW; immigration status and professional registration are handled separately, so start the registration process early.

Is social worker on the Express Entry healthcare category list?

Yes. Selection requires at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or the part-time equivalent) in that occupation within the past 3 years — it does not have to be continuous. Recent category rounds have drawn at CRS cutoffs around 467-475.

Where this comes from

Official

Government of Canada — NOCVerified Mar 1, 2025

Official

IRCC — Express EntryVerified Mar 1, 2025

Estimated

Average salary: labor-market estimate

What this does not include: Provincial licensing nuances and the latest in-demand lists change frequently. Always verify against the current NOC and provincial bodies.

What would change this answer: A new category-based draw round, an updated NOC version, or a province changing its in-demand list.

Healthcare

In demand

NOC 41300

TEER 1

Social Worker in Canada

Social workers fall under the healthcare & social services occupation category for Express Entry. Registration is provincial and separate from an immigration application.

Average salary

CAD 68,000

/year

Typical CRS cutoff

~470

points

Skills assessment

26 weeks

Licensing

Required

Regulated provincially — in Ontario, register with OCSWSSW (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers) as an international applicant.

Full guide for this profession

A longer read on this occupation's route into Canada: the category rule, the cutoffs recent rounds actually cleared, and how licensing runs alongside immigration.

Social Workers Immigrating to Canada: Express Entry Eligibility, Honestly Explained

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to work as a social worker in Canada?

Yes, in most provinces. In Ontario, international applicants register with OCSWSSW; immigration status and professional registration are handled separately, so start the registration process early.

Is social worker on the Express Entry healthcare category list?

Where this comes from

Official

Government of Canada — NOCVerified Mar 1, 2025

Official

IRCC — Express EntryVerified Mar 1, 2025

Estimated

Average salary: labor-market estimate

What this does not include: Provincial licensing nuances and the latest in-demand lists change frequently. Always verify against the current NOC and provincial bodies.

What would change this answer: A new category-based draw round, an updated NOC version, or a province changing its in-demand list.