Do you know how to find your NOC? The truth is most people don’t even consider it when looking for employment – immigrants and native Canadians alike. But if you find your NOC, it can be a valuable resource to help you during your job search.
According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada welcomed 184,000 new immigrants in 2020 alone. That’s a significant number when you consider that the majority of travel was halted due to COVID-19.
Immigrants are drawn to Canada for many reasons, and if you’re seeking a higher quality of life and access to job opportunities, understanding the Canadian labour market is vital. Find your NOC and use it as a helpful tool along your immigration journey.
What is a NOC?
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) tool can help you identify in-demand jobs
One important tool to research the Canadian job market is the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code. This is the government’s system to describe occupations in Canada. It is basically a classification system for each job in the marketplace with a unique identification code. The NOC can help you to identify the most in-demand sectors, understand the job market, and fast-track your job prospects.
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When you find your NOC you can use it as a powerful tool to:
- Settle into paid employment soon after arriving in Canada
- Target the most in-demand jobs when job searching
- Enhance job security and stability in Canada in the long run
How to Find Your NOC
Identifying your NOC is a simple process. You can click here to find your NOC and use your current job title in the filter items box.
Alternatively, you can find it by visiting the NOC page directly here. You can either search using a four-digit code or by using your job title in the search box.
Please note that your job duties must match the ones that you currently do, especially in cases where your occupation is called something different in Canada. When you find your occupation, write down your NOC code.
If you can’t find your NOC, you can use the NOC website to search for the closest options on the list with duties that match yours. Then note down the codes and the applicable skill level.
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Find Your NOC Category
The NOC is used to classify applicants under 10 Broad Occupational Categories (BOC) dependent on skill types. A four-digit code identifies each occupation, otherwise called a unit group. The numbers 0 – 9 represent the first of four digits in the NOC code Canada.
Using the outline below, you can identify your BOC:
0 – Management occupations
1 – Business, finance, and administration occupations
2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
3 – Health occupations
4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation, and sport
6 – Sales and service occupations
7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
8 – Natural resources, agriculture, and related production occupations
9 – Occupations in manufacturing and utilities
Learn more about how to find your NOC category here.
For example: NOC Code 00
- The first digit represents the skill type: Management occupation
- The second digit represents the management level: Senior Management.
NOC Skill Level
Individuals can move from one skill level to another and possibly target available vacancies, either through additional training or further education. Click here to find your skill level.
| Skill Level (A – D) | Skill Level (0 – 7) | Education or Training |
| A – Occupations require university education | 0 or 1 | University degree at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate level. |
| B – Occupations require college education, specialized training or apprenticeship training. | 2 or 3 | Two to three years of post-secondary education at a community college, institute of technology, or CEGEP, or Two to five years of apprenticeship training or Occupations with supervisory responsibilities and with significant health & safety responsibilities, such as firefighters, police officers, and registered nursing assistants are all skill level B. |
| C – Occupations require secondary school and/or occupation-specific training. | 4 or 5 | Some secondary school education, with up to two years of on-the-job training, training courses, or specific work experience. |
| D – On-the-job training is provided for occupations. | 6 or 7 | Short work demonstration or on-the-job training or No formal educational requirements. |
Applying for Permanent Residence through Express Entry?
If you’re applying for Express Entry, you must be ranked in the Skill Type 0, levels A or B. This applies to the following Express Entry programs:
Applicants looking at the Atlantic Immigration Pilot as a skilled immigrant will be under the Skill Type/level 0, A, B or C.
Applicants on Skill type C or D can target the Provincial Nominee Program, or other shorter-term immigration routes even though you might not become a permanent resident immediately, it provides a route for you to eventually be.
Each NOC has unique advantages. You do not have to be at the highest NOC level to successfully gain an advantage.
For example, there are provinces that only target people in certain NOC code Canada classes. The province of Nova Scotia, for instance, targets applicants based on its occupation in demand list, in 2021, one requirement was for applicants with NOC 3143 (Nurses and Patient Service Associates) and NOC 7511 (Transport Truck Drivers).
What’s Next After You Find Your NOC?
After you find your NOC, you can apply to the immigration program that you are eligible for. And using the NOC can be your biggest asset. When used correctly it can help you to work in Canada faster.
The Canadian government plans to accept 400,000 immigrants in 2021/2022, most of the opportunities will go to those applying to areas where there is a shortage. Some of the most in-demand jobs in Canada include:
Registered Nurses – NOC 3012
Information Systems Analysts – NOC 2171
Transport Truck Driver – NOC 7511
Software Engineers and Designers – NOC 2173
Retail Sales Supervisors – NOC 6211
For information, tools, free webinars, and more visit our finding a job in Canada resource page. Get the help you need to achieve your career goals in Canada!
Brand Storyteller at magicbywords.com, Business Consultant. Dolapo resides in Nigeria and will be attending Centennial College in Toronto, Ontario as a graduate student. He is currently working with SMEs to help fast-track profitability and sustainability via Inspired Innovation Labs.
