Canada continues to face a strong demand for healthcare professionals, particularly physicians. As a result, doctors are well-positioned candidates for immigration through the Express Entry system, provided they meet specific eligibility criteria. Among these, work experience is one of the most critical factors.

This blog explains how work experience is assessed for doctors under Express Entry, including eligible occupations, minimum requirements, accepted experience types, and common challenges physicians face.

Understanding Express Entry for Doctors

Express Entry is Canada’s points-based immigration system used to manage applications for three federal economic programs:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) (generally not applicable to doctors)

Most internationally trained doctors apply through FSWP or CEC.

Eligible Doctor Occupations (NOC Codes)

Doctors must fall under eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes. Common physician-related NOCs include:

• NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine

• NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery

• NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians

Doctors must select the NOC that best matches their actual job duties, not just their job title.

Minimum Work Experience Requirements

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Doctors applying under FSWP must meet the following minimum work experience requirements:

• At least 1 year of continuous, full-time work

• Or 1,560 hours total (part-time equivalent is allowed)

• Work must be:

  • Paid

  • In a skilled occupation (TEER 0 or 1)

  • Gained within the last 10 years

• Experience must be in one primary NOC

📌 For doctors, internships or residencies may count only if they were paid and involved professional-level duties.

2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

For doctors already working in Canada:

• 1 year of skilled Canadian work experience

• Gained within the last 3 years

• Must be:

  • Paid

  • Full-time or equivalent part-time

  • Legally authorized (valid work permit)

⚠️ Self-employment generally does not count under CEC, which is important for physicians working as independent contractors.

What Type of Doctor Experience Is Accepted?

Accepted Experience

• Hospital employment

• Clinic-based practice (if structured as employment)

• Government or public healthcare institutions

• Paid residency or fellowship (case-dependent)

• Clinical practice with official documentation

Experience That May Be Refused

• Unpaid internships

• Observerships

• Volunteer medical work

• Self-employed private practice (for CEC; limited acceptance under FSWP)

• Informal or undocumented work

Self-Employment and Private Practice Issues

Many doctors work as independent practitioners, which can create complications:

• FSWP: Self-employment may be accepted if:

  • You provide detailed proof (income records, tax filings, contracts, patient logs)

  • Duties clearly match the claimed NOC

• CEC: Self-employment is not accepted

👉 This is one of the most common reasons physician applications are refused.

Proof of Work Experience for Doctors

Doctors must submit strong, verifiable documentation, including:

• Reference letters on official letterhead

• Job title and exact employment dates

• Number of hours worked per week

• Salary and benefits

• Detailed description of medical duties

• Employer contact information

Additional supporting documents may include:

• Pay slips

• Tax returns

• Employment contracts

• Medical registration certificates

Impact on CRS Score

Work experience affects a doctor’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in several ways:

• Years of foreign work experience

• Combination of work experience + education

• Canadian work experience (highly valuable)

• Skill transferability factors

Doctors with 3+ years of experience, strong language scores, and Canadian exposure often score very competitively.

Licensing vs Immigration: Important Distinction

✔ Medical licensing is NOT required to enter the Express Entry pool
✘ But licensing IS required to practice medicine in Canada

Immigration approval does not guarantee immediate ability to work as a doctor. Licensing is handled separately by:

• Medical Council of Canada (MCC)

• Provincial medical regulatory authorities

Common Mistakes Doctors Make

• Choosing the wrong NOC

• Submitting vague reference letters

• Assuming unpaid residency counts

• Claiming self-employment under CEC

• Not proving continuity of experience

Avoiding these mistakes can significantly improve approval chances.

Final Thoughts

Canada actively welcomes skilled doctors, but meeting Express Entry work experience requirements requires careful planning and documentation. Physicians must ensure their experience is:

• Properly classified

• Fully documented

• Aligned with Express Entry rules

Given the complexity—especially for self-employed doctors—professional guidance is often beneficial.