IRCC adds new programs to PGWP-eligible fields of study

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has expanded the list of study programs eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs).

Effective December 17, 2024, certain programs in early childhood education and developmental service work are now included in the PGWP-eligible fields of study. Previously, on October 4, 2024, IRCC categorized eligible programs into five broad groups aligned with Express Entry occupation-based categories:

• Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Healthcare
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• Trades
• Transport

With this update, a sixth category—Education—has been added.

PGWP-eligible programs are classified using Canada’s Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system, which organizes educational programs by field of study.

The table below outlines the newly eligible programs under the Education category, along with their corresponding CIP codes.