PGWP Eligible Fields of Study: New Education Category

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has expanded the fields of study eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) by adding Education as its 6th category.

Considering recent caps and pauses on some Canadian immigration programs, such as the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program and the Agri-Food Pilot Program, this news offers hope for those who are in Canada and are eligible to apply for permanent residence under specific PNP programs.

New Education Category

On December 17, 2024, IRCC has added a new education category to the existing list of five eligible fields of study. This change addresses Canada’s high demand for teachers and early childhood educators. By introducing this new category, the government is not only helping to fill these critical positions but also offering international students more opportunities to work in Canada after graduation. This expansion opens up additional career paths for graduates in education-related fields and provides a potential pathway to permanent residency in Canada.

What is a PGWP?

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit that allows international graduates from designated learning institutions (DLIs) to work for most employers across various industries in Canada. The length of the permit depends on the duration of the study program, ranging from eight months to three years.

Graduates in education fields, such as teachers and early childhood educators, may be eligible to be invited to apply for permanent residency through Canada’s Express Entry (EE) system or through the Canadian experience class (CEC) program depending on your work experience in Canada. In short, the Express Entry system invites high-ranking candidates who meet specific job or language criteria to apply for permanent residency.

For the 2025 Express Entry draws, the new Education category will target potential candidates in occupations like teaching, early childhood education, and teachers for individuals with special needs. For a full list of eligible occupations under the Education category, you can visit the table located on the Government of Canada’s website, where you can search for “education” and find the related occupations along with their corresponding CIP codes.

PGWP Eligible Field of Study Categories

Before the addition of the education categories, the PGWP-eligible fields of study were:

1. Healthcare occupations
2. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) occupations
3. Trade occupations
4. Transportation occupations
5. Agriculture and agri-food occupations

With the addition of the Education category to the list above, graduates from programs that contribute to Canada’s growing demand for education professionals, can now apply to the PGWP program under this category. This gives international students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, which can potentially help them qualify for permanent residency. This new education category not only gives hope to more EE candidates but also supports Canada’s economy by addressing labour shortages in our country.

The new Education category under PGWP-eligible fields of study offers those in qualifying programs a better chance of securing work in Canada and potentially permanent residency. If you’re planning to study in Canada and graduate from one of these eligible programs, contact us today to assess your eligibility and start your application process.