What is a NOC Code in Canada?

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is a nationally recognized and standardized system that assigns a code and job description to every occupation in the Canadian labor market. These codes not only outline the nature of various occupations but also have a significant impact on immigration application outcomes. Recognizing the crucial role of NOC codes as guiding factors in the Canadian immigration journey is essential.

What is a NOC Code?

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is a standardized system that assigns a code to every single occupation that exists in the Canadian labour market using the NOC matrix. This system is used to classify and categorize occupations for statistical, administrative, and research purposes.

The NOC system is maintained by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and is regularly updated to reflect changes in the Canadian labor market.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses NOC codes to evaluate every immigration applicant’s work experience. Whenever immigration applicants are asked to identify work experience, they must do so by indicating the NOC code that best fits their experience.

Some economic immigration streams are even limited to applicants with experience in occupations identified by specific NOC codes. It’s therefore incredibly important that you, as an applicant, understand how NOC codes work.

Why NOC Codes Matter in the Canadian Immigration Journey

National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes are crucial for Canadian immigration for several reasons:

1. Job Classification: NOC codes provide a standardized way to classify and categorize various occupations in the Canadian labor market. This classification helps immigration authorities understand the nature of the work performed by individuals applying for immigration.
2. Express Entry System: The Express Entry system, a key component of Canada’s immigration system, uses NOC codes to assess the eligibility of candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Candidates are awarded points based on factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency, and a job offer, with the NOC code of the offered position being a critical element.
3. LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment): Employers in Canada may need to obtain an LMIA to hire foreign workers. NOC codes play a role in this process, as the job being offered must have a corresponding NOC code, and employers must demonstrate that they have made efforts to hire Canadian citizens or permanent residents before hiring a foreign worker.
4. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Many Canadian provinces have their own immigration programs, and NOC codes are often used to assess the eligibility of candidates under these Provincial Nominee Programs. Different provinces may have specific demand for certain occupations, and the NOC code helps in aligning the candidate’s skills with the province’s needs.
5. Skilled Worker Points System: NOC codes contribute to the points system used in various Canadian immigration programs. Points are awarded based on factors like education, work experience, language proficiency, and age, and the NOC code of the applicant’s occupation is a factor in this assessment.

Remember, choosing the right NOC code is one of the most important parts of your immigration application. If you claim a NOC code that doesn’t actually match your work experience, your application may be refused or returned to you. It’s up to you to make sure that you choose the appropriate NOC code and that you have the documentation to prove it. Every NOC code has an associated job title, lead statement, and list of major duties and responsibilities.

Understanding NOC Codes

The NOC system is hierarchical, with broad occupational categories at the higher levels (e.g., management occupations) and more specific job titles at the lower levels (e.g., restaurant manager). Applicants and individuals seeking information about occupations can use the NOC code to gain insights into the skills, duties, and qualifications associated with a particular job.

For Canadian immigration purposes, your actual job title is not important in determining your NOC code. Instead, your work experience has to match the lead statement, and you should have performed most of the duties and responsibilities listed. Your work experience might therefore fall under a couple of different NOC codes, or your official job title might be associated with a NOC code that doesn’t actually match your experience.

The NOC organizes occupations by assigning them a Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category. There are six different TEER categories ranging from TEER 0 to TEER 5. The second digit of your NOC code indicates your TEER category.

NOC codes are broken down as follows:

• The first digit represents the broad occupational category;
• The second digit represents the TEER category;
• The first two digits together represent the major group;
• The first three digits represent the sub-major group;
• The first four digits represent the minor group; and finally
• The full five digits represent the unit group or the occupation itself.

NOC TEERs

High-Skilled and Low-Skilled Work

For immigration purposes, any occupation classified as TEER level 0,1,2 or 3 is considered high-skilled work. Any occupation classified as TEER level 4 or 5 is considered low-skilled work.

The easiest way to tell whether your occupation is classified is to check the NOC Matrix on the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) website.

However, NOC codes mostly follow a formula:

The first digit in a NOC code identifies the broad occupational category. There are ten Skill Types (0 to 9) that refer to broad areas of work. For example, Skill Type 2 includes all ‘Natural and applied sciences and related occupations’.

The second digit in a NOC code identifies the TEER. There are five Skill Levels, and each one is associated with the second digit of the NOC code for instance: where the second digit is 0, the TEER skill level is 0. Where the second digit is 1, the TEER skill level is 1 and so on.

Major and Minor Groups

Sometimes, immigration program guides might refer to NOC Major or Minor Groups.

Major Groups refer to the first two digits of a NOC code together. For example, Major Group 31 refers to most occupations in the health industry (Skill Type 3) that generally require university education (Skill Level A). All of these occupations will be assigned a NOC code that begins with the numbers 31. This includes dentists (3113), pharmacists (3131), and nutritionists (3132), among others.

Minor Groups refer to the first three digits or a NOC code. They group together similar occupations within each major group. For example, judges (4111) and lawyers (4112) are both in Minor Group 411. Social workers (4152) and family counsellors (4153) are both in Minor Group 415. Notice that the first two digits of each minor group refer to the major group it belongs to. In this example, Major Group 41.

Finding Your NOC Code

You can find your NOC code by searching the NOC matrix either by your industry, or by keywords such as your job title. Be sure to check that the lead statement matches your job description, and that you perform the majority of the duties and responsibilities listed under the NOC code.

Pay close attention to the NOC exclusions also. If your occupation seems to match a certain NOC code, but also matches one of the NOC codes listed as an exclusion, you may not claim that occupation. Whichever NOC code you claim, you will need to prove that it is accurate by providing reference letters from your past employers. In the event that your occupations seems to match multiple NOC codes, you must determine which one best fits your experience. Keep in mind that the visa officer reviewing your application will have in-depth knowledge of the NOC matrix. If they determine that your occupations best fits a different NOC code, they may refuse your application. Search the NOC Matrix

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