NOC Code Finder: Find Your NOC 2021 Code and TEER
Type a job title or code to find its NOC 2021 unit group, TEER level and whether IRCC lists it as a high-wage occupation from November 3, 2026.
IRCC rules checked Oct 21, 2026not yet reviewed by a licensed consultant (RCIC)
Search all 516 NOC 2021 unit groups and 27,925 example job titles from Statistics Canada.
The second digit of a NOC code is its TEER — the training, education, experience and responsibilities the job usually needs:
- TEER 0ManagementSkilled work for FSW and CEC
- TEER 1University degreeSkilled work for FSW and CEC
- TEER 2College diploma, 2+ year apprenticeship, or supervisorySkilled work for FSW and CEC
- TEER 3Shorter college or apprenticeship, or 6+ months of trainingSkilled work for FSW and CEC
- TEER 4High school, or several weeks of trainingNot skilled work for Express Entry
- TEER 5Short work demonstration, no formal educationNot skilled work for Express Entry
Unofficial helper. Data: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0 (Open Government Licence – Canada), retrieved Oct 21, 2026; high-wage tiers: IRCC. ESDC and IRCC decide which NOC fits your duties.
Download all 516 codes (CSV)Browse all 516 NOC 2021 unit groups
Grouped by broad category — the first digit of the code. The second digit is the TEER. Coloured dots mark IRCC’s high-wage tiers; pick a row to see its details.
0Legislative and senior management occupations
6 codes · 6 high-wage
1Business, finance and administration occupations
60 codes · 18 high-wage
2Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
66 codes · 45 high-wage
3Health occupations
43 codes · 22 high-wage
4Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
52 codes · 32 high-wage
5Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport
37 codes · 10 high-wage
6Sales and service occupations
61 codes · 4 high-wage
7Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
94 codes · 34 high-wage
8Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
29 codes · 7 high-wage
9Occupations in manufacturing and utilities
68 codes · 8 high-wage
A NOC code is the five-digit code Canada’s National Occupational Classification gives each occupation. Its second digit is the TEER; TEER 0–3 counts as skilled work for Express Entry. From November 3, 2026, 12 months of Canadian work in one of IRCC’s 186 high-wage NOCs adds 20–70 CRS points; a job offer, 50–100. Your duties decide the code.
What is a NOC code?
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is Canada’s standard list of occupations, maintained by Statistics Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). NOC 2021 Version 1.0 has 516 unit groups. Each has a five-digit code, a title, a lead statement, example job titles and main duties. IRCC uses these codes to decide whether your work counts for Express Entry.
| Digits | Level | How many | In 21231 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Broad category (occupational field) | 10 | 2 · natural and applied sciences |
| 2nd | TEER category | 6 | 1 · usually a university degree |
| 1st–2nd | Major group | 45 | 21 |
| 1st–3rd | Sub-major group | 89 | 212 |
| 1st–4th | Minor group | 162 | 2123 |
| All 5 | Unit group (your NOC code) | 516 | 21231 |
NOC 2021 vs NOC 2016: what changed, and what is TEER?
IRCC switched from NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 on November 16, 2022. Four-digit codes became five-digit codes, and the old skill type 0 and skill levels A, B, C and D gave way to six TEER categories — training, education, experience and responsibilities. Many occupations kept their scope under a new code; some were split or merged.
| TEER | The occupation usually needs | Examples (IRCC) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Management occupations | Financial managers; advertising, marketing and public relations managers |
| 1 | A university degree | Software engineers; financial advisors |
| 2 | A college diploma, apprenticeship training of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role | Computer network and web technicians; medical laboratory technologists |
| 3 | A college diploma, apprenticeship training of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training | Bakers; dental assistants |
| 4 | A high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training | Home child care providers; retail salespersons |
| 5 | A short work demonstration and no formal education | Landscaping labourers; delivery service drivers |
Still have a 4-digit code on an old work permit, LMIA or reference letter? Type it into the finder: it maps 500 NOC 2016 codes to NOC 2021 with Statistics Canada’s concordance. Where one old code split into several, compare the duties.
How do I pick the right NOC code?
Start from your duties, not your job title
Employers use titles loosely. IRCC asks whether you performed the actions in the NOC’s lead statement and most of its main duties.
Search, then shortlist two or three codes
Search your title and a few words from your main tasks. Similar titles often sit in neighbouring codes — 21231 (software engineers and designers), 21232 (software developers and programmers) and 21234 (web developers and programmers).
Read the full description on ESDC
Open each candidate on ESDC’s NOC site (opens in a new tab) — every result above links to it — and compare the lead statement, main duties and employment requirements with your reference letters.
Keep it consistent
Your Express Entry profile, reference letters and application should describe the same work. If your duties don’t match the NOC you claim, IRCC can find the experience doesn’t qualify.
An unofficial helper
The finder matches words, not duties. ESDC publishes the official descriptions and IRCC decides whether your experience fits a NOC. For a borderline case, ask a licensed consultant (RCIC) or a lawyer.
Which TEER levels count for Express Entry?
| Program | Work that counts | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) | TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, in your primary occupation, in Canada or abroad | 1 year continuous (1,560 hours) in the last 10 years |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 in Canada; can be more than one job or NOC | 1 year (1,560 hours) in the 3 years before you apply |
| Federal Skilled Trades (FST) | Major groups 72 (except 726), 73, 82, 83, 92 and 93 (except 932), minor group 6320, unit group 62200 | 2 years (3,120 hours) in one trade in the last 5 years |
TEER 4 and 5 work doesn’t make you eligible for these programs, and only TEER 0–3 work earns CRS points for Canadian work experience. The finder flags TEER 0–3 codes and the skilled trades that FST accepts.
Is my NOC a high-wage occupation under the November 3, 2026 rules?
From November 3, 2026, 12 months of Canadian work in one of IRCC’s 186 high-wage NOCs adds +20, +40 or +70 CRS points by tier, and a job offer in one is worth 50, 70 or 100. The tier follows the occupation’s median wage across Canada, not your salary. Every result above shows its tier.
| Tier (median wage vs the Canadian average) | Occupations | 12+ months of Canadian work | Job offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0× or more | 31 | +70 | 100 |
| 1.5× to 2.0× | 89 | +40 | 70 |
| 1.3× to 1.5× | 66 | +20 | 50 |
The work points sit on top of your usual work-length points; IRCC then keeps the higher of that work path and your job-offer points. The list uses 2023-2025 wage data, and if it changes after you’re invited, the tier on your invitation date applies. Filter all 186 codes on the high-wage occupations page, or try your profile in the CRS calculator.
Common NOC code mistakes
- Choosing by job title. “Business analyst” appears under 21221 (business systems specialists), 11201 (business management consulting) and 41401 (economists) — the work decides.
- Using an old NOC 2016 code. IRCC uses NOC 2021 only; a 4-digit code is out of date.
- Mixing up manager, supervisor and worker codes. Managers are TEER 0; most supervisors are TEER 2. Claim the level you actually worked at.
- Assuming high pay makes a job “high-wage”. IRCC’s tiers use the occupation’s national median wage, not your salary.
- Counting TEER 4–5 work. It doesn’t count as skilled work for FSW, CEC or FST, or for CRS work points.
- Reference letters that don’t match. List duties that cover the lead statement and most of the main duties of the NOC you claim.
Download all 516 codes with TEER, broad category and high-wage tier (CSV). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Questions people ask
How do I find my NOC code?
What does TEER mean in NOC 2021?
Can I still use my NOC 2016 code?
What if my job fits two NOC codes?
Does TEER 4 or 5 work count for Express Entry?
Is this an official NOC tool?
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Unofficial practice and estimates — not affiliated with Paragon or IRCC, and not legal advice. Read the disclaimer