- National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) – Canada NOC List
Find Your NOC
You may have seen the term “NOC” on this site. It is short for the National Occupational Classification (NOC) – Canada NOC List.
The NOC is a system used by the Government of Canada to classify jobs (occupations). Jobs are grouped based on the type of work a person does and the types of job duties.
Many of Canada’s immigration programs use it to decide if a job, or type of work experience, is valid for that program’s criteria. For instance, if a person wants to apply as a skilled worker they should check the Canada NOC list to see which jobs are considered “skilled” (NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B). Find your job title, find your NOC code and skill level or type.
There are some codes used only in specific immigration cases. If you can’t find the NOC for your case in the table below or on the NOC website, check these alternate codes.
The job information is broken down into a number of groups. For immigration purposes, the main groups are:
Skill Type 0 (zero) – management jobs.
examples: restaurant managers, mine managers, shore captains (fishing)
Skill Level A — professional jobs. People usually need a degree from a university for these jobs.
examples: doctors, dentists, architects
Skill Level B — technical jobs and skilled trades. People usually need a college diploma or to train as an apprentice to do these jobs.
examples: chefs, electricians, plumbers
Skill Level C — intermediate jobs. These jobs usually need high school and/or job-specific training.
examples: long-haul truck drivers, butchers, food and beverage servers
Skill Level D — labour jobs. On-the-job training is usually given.
examples: cleaning staff, oil field workers, fruit pickers
If you want to come to Canada as a skilled immigrant (Express Entry)
Your job, and the work you have done in the past, must be skill type 0, or level A or B to use Express Entry. The Canada Express Entry system manages applications for permanent residence if you want be considered:
- as a Federal Skilled Worker,
- under the Federal Skilled Trades Program,
- or under the Canadian Experience Class.
If you want to come to Canada as a skilled immigrant (Atlantic Immigration Pilot)
Your work experience must be skill type/level 0, A, B, or C.
If your job is skill level C or D
- you may be able to come to Canada as a provincial nominee (all skill types/levels) ,
- you may be able to come to Canada through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (skill type/level 0, A, B, or C), or
- you may be able to work here for up to two years.
People who come to work on a temporary basis are not permanent residents. However, some go on to immigrate here on a permanent basis.
- Find your job title, Find your NOC code and skill type in Canada NOC List
Use this table to find the National Occupational Classification (NOC) information that best matches your jobs:
Enter your job title in the “Filter items” field. As you type in the words, the table will adjust to display the NOC related to the words you entered.- Click on the NOC title (to visit the NOC site) and make sure the main duties listed match what you did at your job (if they do not, you will need to find a different job title with duties that match yours).
- Write down the numeric code shown on the left column (example: 7253).
- Write down the NOC title shown on the center column (example: Gas fitters).
- Write down the skill level or type shown on the right column (example: B).