Canada’s immigration department is switching to the 2021 version of the National Occupation Code system on November 16, 2022, under Federal Skilled Worker Program. However New codes have been updated on the respective websites.

Eligibility for some of Canada’s immigration programs including Express Entry will change because of the New NOC. and the applicants who are still eligible will need to update their Express Entry file.

Before 16 November, you need work experience that falls under NOC skill types 0, A, or B, which align with the NOC 2016. After the switch on November 16, IRCC will look to the new Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) system to determine work experience eligibility.

The following table shows how NOC 2016 skill types compare to TEER categories.

Work experience in an occupation listed in one of these NOC TEER Categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3  Will be eligible to submit an application under Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Updated NOC 2021 eligibility criteria for Express Entry

Which occupations will be affected?

The following occupations will become eligible under Express Entry starting November 16:

• Payroll administrators;
• Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants;
• Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates;
• Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants;
• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants;
• Sheriffs and bailiffs;
• Correctional service officers;
• By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers;
• Estheticians, electrologists, and related occupations;
• Residential and commercial installers and servicers;
• Pest controllers and fumigators;
• Other repairers and servicers;
• Transport truck drivers;
• Bus drivers, subway operators, and other transit operators;
• Heavy equipment operators; and
• Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors.

The three occupations that will become ineligible include:

• other performers;
• program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness; and
• tailors, dressmakers, furriers, and milliners.

These three occupations will remain eligible for programs with broader occupational eligibility criteria, such as some streams of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Canada Updated Occupation List NOC 2021