In this essential episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, Mark Holthe and Alicia Backman-Beharry return with another instalment in the Express Entry “Getting it Right” series—this time focusing on physicians and healthcare professionals. While doctors may excel in their field, navigating Canadian immigration law is a whole different beast.

Mark and Alicia explore the unique challenges medical professionals face in Express Entry applications—from the pitfalls of choosing the wrong ECA organization, to confusion around Canadian spouses, unpaid internships, and self-employed work experience. They also dig into the April 2023 policy change that allows self-employed physicians to finally claim Canadian work experience under CEC—if done correctly.

👨‍⚕️ Whether you’re a doctor working in Canada or abroad, this episode is packed with critical insights to protect your application and avoid costly mistakes.

Key Topics Discussed

🏥 Wrong ECA Organization for Physicians
Why some healthcare professionals must use the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) instead of general ECA providers.
How misidentifying your credentialing body can lead to refusals—or even misrepresentation findings.

🇨🇦 Including a Canadian Spouse in Express Entry
Clarifying whether to list a Canadian spouse as accompanying or not.
When to declare a common-law partner—and what impact this has on eligibility and settlement funds.

🩺 Internships and the CEC Trap
Why even paid internships during Canadian education don’t count for CEC if done under a co-op or intern permit.
Key tips to avoid working illegally after receiving your program completion letter.

💼 The Self-Employment Loophole for Physicians
How the April 2023 Public Policy now allows select physicians to claim Canadian work experience—despite working on a fee-for-service basis.
Who qualifies (specific NOC codes only), and why checking the self-employment box in the Express Entry profile could cost you points.

📑 Arranged Employment Confusion
Why job offers still matter under FSW—despite the removal of CRS points for job offers post-March 2025.
How to avoid false claims that could trigger misrepresentation.

🛑 Work Permit Limitations and Inadmissibility Risks
Why you need to understand the terms of your current work permit before claiming experience in your profile.
What to do if your employer categorized your NOC code incorrectly.

Key Takeaways
✅ Doctors must get their ECAs from the MCC if they fall under specific regulated NOCs.
✅ Don’t click “self-employed” for Canadian work experience if you're a fee-for-service doctor covered by the new policy.
✅ Avoid including a Canadian spouse improperly—it can skew your profile or trigger refusals.
✅ Know your work permit's NOC code and limitations—missteps here can lead to inadmissibility.
✅ Claiming job offers incorrectly can still result in misrepresentation, even without CRS points at stake.

💬 Quotes from the Episode
📢 Mark Holthe: “One wrong box checked could eliminate your chance at PR. The system isn’t built to forgive honest mistakes anymore.”
📢 Alicia Backman-Beharry: “Being a smart doctor doesn’t mean Express Entry is easy. Immigration law is a whole other specialty.”

Links and Resources

Watch this episode on YouTube

Canadian Immigration Podcast

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Disclaimer

This episode provides general information about Canadian immigration and is not intended as legal advice. For personalized assistance, consult an immigration lawyer.