Other Occupational Pathways to the Province
Do note that the EOI pool isn’t the only available route for a nomination in Nova Scotia.
Are you a physician? Then you can proceed through the province’s Labour Market Priorities Physicians stream. This route is an Express Entry stream for candidates in the following NOCs:
- specialists in surgery (31101);
- specialists in laboratory and clinical medicine (31100);
- family physicians and general practitioners
This stream is separate from the general priority levels. Candidates should have a qualifying job offer exclusively given by either the IWK Health Centre or the Nova Scotia Health Authority. They must also have a profile created in the federal Express Entry system. If the worker is from northern Nova Scotia, they may also have a pathway via Pictou County’s Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) – this is an independently operating federal program by the NSNP. In 2026, the county will also prioritize 25 occupations in six sectors, including trades, education, health, and manufacturing. However, the candidates need a job offer from a qualified employer in the region.
Background on the Change
The announcement delivers on a commitment the province made in December 2025. Nova Scotia introduced a model called Expression of Interest (EOI), which signaled directing the nomination allocations for candidates only aligned with their economic needs and the labour market.
Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) uses TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) to indicate the required skill levels for an occupation. The highest role is TEER 0, which is held by those in the management roles, while the lowest is TEER 5, such as the cashiers and food counter attendants.
