NOC Codes Explained: How to Find Your Occupation Code for Express Entry

Your NOC code is a five-digit number that defines your occupation in the eyes of Canadian immigration. It determines whether you're eligible for Express Entry, which draws you qualify for, how many CRS points your work experience is worth, and which Provincial Nominee Program streams you can access. Getting this number wrong — or picking the wrong one when your job title doesn't match perfectly — can derail your entire application.

This guide explains how the NOC system works, how to find your code, and how to use it strategically for immigration.

The bottom line

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is Canada's official system for categorizing every job in the economy. Immigration programs use NOC codes to determine eligibility — if your work experience doesn't fall under a qualifying NOC TEER level, you can't apply for certain programs regardless of your CRS score. The 2021 NOC system uses five-digit codes organized by TEER levels (0 through 5), where TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3 qualify as "skilled" for Express Entry purposes. You need to match your actual job duties — not just your job title — to the right NOC code. Use our NOC Finder tool to search, or read on to understand the full system.

What is the NOC?

The National Occupation Classification is a standardized system maintained by Statistics Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It classifies every occupation in Canada into a five-digit code based on the type of work performed and the skill level required.

The current version is NOC 2021 Version 1.0, which replaced the older NOC 2016 system in November 2022. If you're reading older immigration forums or guides that reference four-digit NOC codes or skill levels A, B, C, D — that's the old system. IRCC now uses the new five-digit codes and TEER levels exclusively.

How NOC codes are structured

Each five-digit NOC code encodes specific information:

• First digit: Broad occupational category (0-9)
• Second digit: TEER level (the training, education, experience, and responsibilities required)
• Third to fifth digits: Specific occupation within the category

For example, NOC 21211 breaks down as:

• 2 — Natural and applied sciences
• 1 — TEER 1 (university degree typically required)
• 211 — Specific occupation: Data scientists

TEER levels explained

TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities. It replaced the old Skill Level system (A, B, C, D) in 2022. There are six TEER levels:

The critical line: TEER 0-3 vs. TEER 4-5

For immigration purposes, the divide between TEER 3 and TEER 4 is one of the most consequential distinctions in the entire system:

• TEER 0, 1, 2, 3: Considered "skilled" occupations. Eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and most PNP streams. Work experience in these TEER levels earns CRS points.
• TEER 4, 5: Considered "low-skilled" for immigration purposes. Not eligible for FSW or CEC. Work experience in these levels does not count toward Express Entry — even if you've worked the job for 10 years in Canada.

This is why your NOC code matters so much. Two people doing similar-sounding jobs can have completely different immigration prospects based on their NOC classification.

Why your NOC code matters for immigration

Your NOC code affects virtually every aspect of your immigration journey:

Express Entry eligibility

Both the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) require work experience in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations. If your work experience is classified under TEER 4 or 5, you cannot qualify through these programs.

For FSW specifically, you need at least one continuous year of full-time work experience in a single NOC code at TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 within the last 10 years.

For CEC, you need at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience in a single NOC code at TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 within the last three years.

CRS score calculation

Your work experience under specific NOC codes directly affects your CRS score:

Canadian work experience (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3):

Foreign work experience (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3):

Work experience in TEER 4 or 5 gets you zero CRS points — no matter how many years.

Category-based draws

Since 2023, IRCC has been running category-based Express Entry draws targeting specific occupations. Your NOC code determines whether you qualify for these lower-CRS-cutoff draws:

• Healthcare: NOC codes in nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical technology, and other health occupations
• STEM: Software engineering, data science, electrical engineering, and related fields
• Trades: Electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, heavy equipment operators
• Transport: Truck drivers, aircraft pilots, rail operators
• Agriculture and agri-food: Farm workers, food processing, agricultural technicians

Category-based draws often have CRS cut-offs 50 to 100 points lower than general draws. If your NOC falls in a targeted category, this is a major advantage.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Every province's PNP has its own list of eligible or in-demand occupations, defined by NOC codes. For example:

• Ontario's OINP has streams targeting specific NOC codes in tech and healthcare
• British Columbia's BC PNP uses NOC codes to determine which occupations qualify for accelerated processing
• Saskatchewan's SINP maintains an in-demand occupation list organized by NOC code
• Alberta's AAIP targets specific NOC codes for its Alberta Opportunity Stream

Your NOC code determines which provincial streams are available to you. Check our PNP guide for province-specific details.

LMIA and work permits

Employers applying for an LMIA for your work permit must specify the NOC code for the position. The prevailing wage for that NOC in that region determines the minimum salary the employer must offer.

How to find your NOC code

Step 1: Use our NOC Finder

The fastest way is our NOC Finder tool. Enter your job title and it will show you matching NOC codes with descriptions, TEER levels, and main duties.

You can also browse the full NOC directory to explore occupations by category.

Step 2: Match your duties, not your title

This is the most important rule: your NOC code is determined by what you actually do, not what your business card says.

Job titles vary wildly across companies and countries. One company's "Marketing Manager" might be another company's "Marketing Coordinator." What matters to IRCC is the list of duties you perform daily and whether they match the lead statement and main duties in the NOC description.

Here's how to verify your match:

1. Find your potential NOC code using our NOC Finder
2. Read the lead statement — this is the one-paragraph description of the occupation
3. Read the main duties — this is the list of tasks people in this occupation typically perform
4. Honestly assess whether you perform a substantial number of the listed duties
5. If your duties are split across two NOC codes, pick the one where the majority of your time is spent

Step 3: Document your duties carefully

When you apply for Express Entry, you'll need a reference letter from your employer that describes your specific duties. This letter must align with the NOC code you've claimed. The reference letter should include:

• Your job title
• Your specific duties (written to align with the NOC description, using similar language)
• The dates of your employment (start and end)
• Hours worked per week
• Annual salary plus benefits
• Company letterhead and a supervisor's signature

What if your job title doesn't match exactly?

This is extremely common, especially for people with foreign work experience. Canadian NOC descriptions are based on the Canadian labour market, and your job title and duties in another country may not map neatly.

Scenario 1: Your title is different but duties match

A "Digital Marketing Specialist" in India and a "Marketing Coordinator" in Canada might have identical duties. The title doesn't matter — if your duties match NOC 11202 (Professional occupations in advertising, marketing, and public relations), that's your code.

Scenario 2: Your duties span multiple NOC codes

If you're a software developer who also manages a team, you might fit both NOC 21232 (Software developers and programmers) and NOC 20012 (Computer and information systems managers). Pick the one that represents the majority of your work time — usually 60% or more of your duties.

Scenario 3: Your job doesn't exist in the NOC system

Some highly specialized or emerging roles don't have a perfect NOC match. In this case, find the closest match by duties performed. A "Growth Hacker" might map to a marketing, data analysis, or software development NOC depending on what they actually do day-to-day.

Scenario 4: Your duties changed over time

If your role evolved — say you started as a developer and became a team lead — you may claim different NOC codes for different periods. Just make sure each period has at least one continuous year of the same duties if you're counting it toward Express Entry.

Common NOC codes for immigration applicants

These are some of the most frequently used NOC codes in Express Entry applications:

NOC and the old system: what changed

If you're reading older forum posts or guides, you'll see references to NOC Skill Levels A, B, C, D and four-digit codes. Here's how the old system maps to the new one:

The biggest practical change: old Skill Level B has been split into TEER 2 and TEER 3. Both are still eligible for Express Entry, but some PNP streams differentiate between them.

IRCC completed the transition to the new system in 2022. All current applications use the five-digit NOC 2021 codes.

Next steps

1. Find your NOC code — use our NOC Finder to search by job title or keywords
2. Browse all occupations — explore the full NOC directory by category and TEER level
3. Calculate your CRS score — once you know your NOC, use our CRS calculator to see your estimated score
4. Check recent draws — see the latest Express Entry draw results including category-based rounds that may target your occupation
5. Explore provincial options — review Provincial Nominee Programs to find streams that target your NOC code
6. Read the category-based draws guide — understand how category draws work and whether your occupation qualifies for lower CRS cut-offs