NOC TEER Codes & Express Entry: Which Occupations Qualify
What Is the NOC System?
Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) is the system IRCC uses to define every occupation in the country. Each job gets a five-digit code, and each code sits in a Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category numbered from 0 to 5.
The current version is NOC 2021. When you create an Express Entry profile, you must enter the NOC code that best matches each job in your work history. Choose the wrong code and your application can be refused — even if your actual work was skilled. Getting the NOC right is one of the highest-leverage details in your entire application.
The 6 TEER Categories, Explained Simply
Think of TEER as a skill ladder. The lower the number, the higher the typical skill level:
TEER 0 — Management
Management occupations across industries: restaurant managers, construction managers, facility managers. These roles involve planning, directing, and evaluating people and operations.
TEER 1 — University degree
Occupations that usually require a university degree: software engineers, financial analysts, registered nurses. (Some TEER 1 roles accept several years of related experience instead of the degree.)
TEER 2 — College diploma or apprenticeship
Roles needing a college diploma, two or more years of apprenticeship training, or significant supervisory experience: computer network technicians, medical laboratory technologists, legal assistants.
TEER 3 — Shorter college or on-the-job training
Occupations requiring a college diploma of under two years, or more than six months of on-the-job training: bakers, dental assistants, pharmacy technicians.
TEER 4 — High school plus training
Jobs needing a high school diploma and several weeks of on-the-job training: retail salespersons, food and beverage servers, home child care providers.
TEER 5 — Short demonstration, no formal education
Roles with short work demonstration and no formal education requirement: food counter attendants, cleaners, landscaping labourers.
Which TEER Levels Qualify for Express Entry?
Only work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations counts as “skilled” for Express Entry. TEER 4 and 5 jobs do not qualify — no matter how long you’ve done them or how well they paid.
Each program applies the rule slightly differently:
- FSW: your qualifying work experience must be in TEER 0–3, in the same NOC, within the last 10 years. Check your eligibility with our FSW points calculator.
- CEC: your Canadian work experience must be TEER 0–3, gained while you were authorized to work in Canada. Try the CEC points calculator.
- FST: you need experience in specific skilled trade groups (mostly TEER 2 and 3), plus either a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification in your trade.
How to Find Your NOC Code in 4 Steps
1. Search by job title. Go to the NOC search tool on canada.ca and type your job title. You’ll get a list of candidate codes — treat these as suggestions, not answers.
2. Read the lead statement. Each NOC entry opens with a lead statement describing the occupation as a whole. If it doesn’t describe what you actually do day to day, it’s the wrong code, no matter how similar the title looks.
3. Compare the main duties. Read the full list of main duties and employment requirements. The right code is the one where you performed most of the listed duties — not just one or two of them.
4. Pick one code per job. If you held genuinely different roles over the years, assign each its own best-matching NOC code. Never stretch one code to cover two different jobs.
Match Duties, Not Job Titles
Job titles vary wildly between companies and countries. IRCC doesn’t care about your title — it cares about your duties. A “Customer Success Ninja” who manages a team of ten might be TEER 0; a “Vice President” who only does data entry is not.
Practical tip: when you request reference letters from past employers, ask them to describe your actual duties using language close to the NOC’s main duties list. Officers compare the two side by side. A vague letter that only states your title and employment dates is a weak link in many applications — and it’s entirely fixable before you apply.
This is also where many self-employed applicants stumble. Freelance and contract work absolutely can qualify, but you’ll need client letters, contracts, and payment records that describe skilled duties in TEER 0–3 terms.
What If Your Occupation Is TEER 4 or 5?
You can’t enter the Express Entry pool with only TEER 4 or 5 experience. Your realistic options: gain at least one year of TEER 0–3 experience (in Canada or abroad), explore Provincial Nominee Program streams that accept lower-skilled occupations, or look at other federal pilots and pathways. Once your situation changes, recalculate your position with our free CRS calculator to see where you stand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use two different NOC codes in one profile?
Yes. List each job under the NOC code that best matches it. Your primary NOC — the one tied to your qualifying period of skilled work — just needs to be TEER 0–3.
Does my NOC code affect my CRS score directly?
No. CRS points come from factors like age, education, language ability, and years of skilled work — not from the specific code. But the wrong code can make your experience ineligible, which costs you everything the experience was worth.
What if my duties match two NOC codes?
Choose the one where you performed the majority of the main duties. If it’s genuinely split, pick the code that aligns with your primary occupation during the qualifying period, and make sure your reference letter supports that choice.
Do I need an ECA for my NOC code?
No — the Educational Credential Assessment is about your education, not your occupation. They’re separate requirements that both feed into your Express Entry profile.
Has the NOC system changed recently?
Yes — Canada moved from NOC 2016 (skill levels 0, A, B, C, D) to NOC 2021 (TEER 0–5). If you see old “Skill Level B” references online, that now maps roughly to TEER 2 and 3. Always use the current NOC 2021 codes in your profile.
