The Canadian government uses a system called the National Occupational Classification (NOC) to categorise different types of employment according to the duties involved, the level of education and training needed, and the type of job performed. It is an essential step in the immigration process to Canada for a number of reasons:
Why Do You Need an NOC Code
- The IRCC uses NOC codes to assess your work experience.
- With a NOC code, you become eligible to apply through various economic immigration streams.
- For the convenience of the immigration process, NOC Codes are categorised into TEER categories (0 to 5).
- An NOC code also helps employers determine if you are suitable for a job offer, which can increase your CRS score.
NOTE: Immigration applicants must select the correct NOC code based on their job experience and submit supporting paperwork to support their selection. An application may be rejected or returned if the NOC code selected is incorrect.
TEER Categories in NOC Code:
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, which is employed in the immigration procedure to Canada, includes TEER categories to find experience, training, and responsibility needed for a given job.
While Lower TEER categories place a greater emphasis on experience and training gained on the job, higher TEER categories typically call for more formal education.
TEER Categories and Corresponding NOC
Canada’s immigration system uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) to categorize and evaluate job roles based on duties and skill levels. From 2021, the system introduced TEER categories (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) to better align occupations with the current labour market.
TEER 0 - Management Occupations
These roles involve planning, decision-making, and managing resources and people. They typically require extensive experience or a university degree.
TEER 1 - Occupations Requiring a University Degree
These roles typically need a bachelor’s degree or higher (e.g., master's, Ph.D.).
TEER 2 - College Diploma or Apprenticeship Training
Occupations in this category usually require a college diploma, apprenticeship training, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training.
TEER 3 - Post-Secondary Training or Less Than 2 Years of College
Jobs requiring less than 2 years of post-secondary education, or more than 6 months of work training.
TEER 4 - High School Diploma or Several Weeks of Training
These roles typically require a high school diploma or brief job-specific training.
TEER 5 - Short-Term Training or No Formal Education
Jobs in this category require on-the-job training and no formal education.
Regulated vs. Non-Regulated NOC Codes in Canada
When moving to Canada for work or immigration, it's important to know whether your NOC (National Occupation Classification) code falls under a regulated or non-regulated occupation. This can affect how quickly you can start working in your field.
Regulated Occupations
These require provincial or territorial licensing or certification before you can legally work in Canada. Typically, these involve public safety, health, or specialized technical skills.
Examples:
- NOC 31102 - General Practitioners and Family Physicians
- NOC 21301 - Mechanical Engineers
- NOC 32101 - Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- NOC 33100 - Dental Assistant
- NOC 42201 - Early Childhood Educators
- NOC 31301 - Registered Nurses
- NOC 11100 -Financial Accountants
- NOC 32121 -Medical Radiation Technologist
To work in these roles, you'll need to go through a regulatory body, which may involve exams, credential recognition, and supervised practice.
Non-Regulated Occupations
These do not require a license from a regulatory body, although you may still need relevant education or experience.
Examples:
- NOC 21231 - Software Engineers and Designers
- NOC 60030 - Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- NOC 73100 - Residential and Commercial Installers and Servicers
- NOC 13110 - Administrative Assistants
- NOC 94111 - Plastic Processing Machine Operators
- NOC 44101 - Personal Support Worker
These roles generally allow you to start working faster and are often easier for newcomers to access, especially through immigration streams like Express Entry or PNP.
Impact of NOC Code on CRS Score
Applicants applying through express entry must be aware of the impact of NOC Code in the express entry ranking system.Candidates hoping to increase their chances of being invited to apply (ITA) for PR visa must comprehend how different NOC codes might affect CRS scores.
- Applicants who receive a valid job offer in senior management (NOC 00) will be awarded 200 bonus points.
- Candidates with valid job offer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 receive 50 additional points.
- Candidates with work experience in occupations linked to specific NOC codes may be more attractive to PNPs.
High Demand NOC Code Canada
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes for the high demand occupations in Canada are as follows:
Occupation |
NOC Code |
Ontario |
British Columbia |
Alberta |
Manitoba |
Saskatchewan |
Nova Scotia |
Transport truck drivers |
73300 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Welders and related machine operators |
73401 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
31301 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Software engineers and designers |
21231 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Business analysts and consultants |
11202 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Financial auditors and accountants |
11101 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Social workers |
41300 |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators |
72024 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Restaurant and food service managers |
6301 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Customer service representatives |
62023 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Project management professionals |
12201 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Retail sales supervisors |
62101 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Administrative assistants |
13110 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Early childhood educators |
42202 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Construction managers |
70010 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
72401 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
NOTE:The NOC 2021 system, which classifies occupations according to their employment activities and responsibilities, includes these codes.
Can I Update NOC code in Express Entry Profile?
Yes, Take these actions to update your Express Entry profile's National Occupational Classification (NOC) code:
Before You Start,assemble required information including your work history, job title and responsibilities etc.
- Open your IRCC account and log in.
- Go to "View the applications you submitted" and click on "Check full application status."
- To access the "Express Entry profile status" page, click "View your profile".
- Find the section regarding prior work experience.
- In the job experience section, click the "Update form" button.
- For every work experience entry, update the NOC codes in accordance with the new NOC 2021 classification.
- After carefully checking the changed data, select "Save and exit."
- To submit your revised profile, click "Continue".
Important Considerations:
- You might have to make a new one if your profile was not discovered to be eligible.
- If asked, be ready to give any necessary documentation of your employment experience.
- For future reference, keep copies of all the paperwork pertaining to your employment experience.
- Get advice from an immigration expert, if you're not sure which NOC code is appropriate.
Conclusion:
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) code is an essential part of the immigration process to Canada since it classifies jobs according to their duties, experience, education, and training. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)uses NOC codes to assess applicants' employment history and ensure that it satisfies the skill requirements for different immigration streams.