IRCC has switched to NOC 2021 system on November 16, 2022, find out how it impacts your Canadian immigration application(s)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) transitioned to the NOC 2021 version of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system on November 16, 2022. The coming change was announced in July 2022.
This change of classification of job classification will have an impact on all Canadian immigration programs, including express entry.
For example, while NOC 2016 required that an Express Entry candidate has work experience classified under NOC skill types 0, A or B, the shift to NOC 2021 will bring with it a shift to the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) system.
| NOC 2016 | NOC 2021 |
|---|---|
| Skill Type 0 | TEER 0 |
| Skill Level A | TEER 1 |
| Skill Level B | TEER 2 |
| Skill Level B | TEER 3 |
| Skill Level C | TEER 4 |
| Skill Level D | TEER 5 |
The newly updated NOC 2021 eligibility criteria is as follows:
| Eligibility Criteria | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Skills | CLB 7 for TEER 0 and TEER 1 occupations; CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations | CLB 7 | CLB 5 for speaking and listening; CLB 4 for reading and writing |
| Work Experience | Canadian work experience in an occupation listed in one or more of these NOC TEER Categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3. | Work experience in an occupation listed in one of these NOC TEER Categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3. | Work experience in a skilled trade under key groups of TEER 2 or TEER 3. |
| Amount of work experience | One year in Canada in the last three years (either combination of full-time or part-time work). | One year continuous within the last 10 years | Two years within the last five years |
| Job Offer | Not required | Not required but you can get selection criteria (FSW) points for having a valid job offer. | A valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority. |
| Education | Not required | Secondary education is required. You can get more selection criteria (FSW) points for your post-secondary education | Not required |
| Skill Level D | TEER 5 | TEER 0 | TEER 0 |
Eligibility changes with the new NOC 2021 system
With the transition to NOC 2021 on November 16, 2022, 16 occupations are eligible for Express Entry, while three occupations are ineligible. The three ineligible occupations may remain eligible for other programs’ eligibility criteria, such as some of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
16 eligible occupations as of November 16, 2022, are:
- Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
- Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
- By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
- Correctional service officers
- Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
- Heavy equipment operators
- Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- Other repairers and servicers
- Payroll administrators
- Pest controllers and fumigators
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- Sheriffs and bailiffs
- Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- Transport truck drivers
The ineligible occupations as of November 16, 2022, are:
- Other performers
- Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness
- Tailors, dressmakers, furriers, and milliners
How does this impact you
Each individual application has a different impact on the Express Entry system.
Firstly, those who have not yet submitted an Express Entry profile, but plan to do so on or after November 16, 2022, have to find and submit their job occupation’s NOC code in line with the NOC 2021 when filling out their Express Entry profile.
Express Entry Candidates who already have created and submitted an Express Entry profile but have not received an Invitation to Apply (ITA), will need to update their submitted Express Entry profile on or after November 16, 2022. Candidates are required to visit the NOC 2021 list and update their profile with their TEER category and five-digit occupation code according to the NOC 2021 system.
Lastly, anyone who already got their ITA prior to November 16, 2022, must submit their complete application using NOC 2016 system, which was in effect when they received the ITA.
