Finding your NOC code takes about ten minutes if you start from the right place: your duties, not your job title. Here is the method immigration consultants use.
Step 1: Write down what you actually do
List 6 to 10 tasks you do in a normal week, in plain words. Include tools, who you supervise or report to, and what you are responsible for. For example:
- Write and test code for the company's web app
- Fix bugs reported by customers
- Review other developers' code
- Plan features with the product manager
This list is also the base of your employment reference letter later (see how to write one for IRCC).
Step 2: Find candidate codes
Three quick ways:
- Search by job title in the A–Z job title index. It lists about 5,000 example titles with their codes.
- Browse by field in the NOC code list, grouped by the 10 broad categories.
- Paste your duties into nocfinder. It ranks the codes whose duties match yours and shows which duties line up.
Write down 2 or 3 candidates. For the example above, that would be 21232 software developers, 21231 software engineers and 21234 web developers.
Step 3: Compare duties line by line
Open each candidate and read the main duties. Mark every duty you really do. Your best code is the one where:
- the lead statement describes your job, and
- you perform most of the main duties, including the first ones listed.
You do not need to match 100% of the duties, and you should never copy the NOC wording into your reference letter word for word. Officers notice.
Step 4: Check the TEER and program rules
The second digit of the code is the TEER level. Express Entry needs TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. If your best-matching code is TEER 4 or 5, look at provincial programs and pilots instead of forcing a higher code.
Also check if the code is on a category-based Express Entry list, which can mean lower cut-off scores.
Common mistakes
- Picking the code with the best TEER, not the best match. Officers check duties against the code.
- Using an old NOC 2016 code. IRCC uses NOC 2021 five-digit codes.
- Copying NOC duties into your reference letter. Describe your duties in your own words.
- One code for a whole career when your role changed. Each job period can have its own code.
Quick answers for common jobs
- PSW NOC code (33102 or 44101)
- Cook NOC code (63200)
- Early childhood educator NOC code (42202)
- Administrative assistant NOC code (13110)
- IT and software NOC codes
- Retail and sales NOC codes
Common questions
Can I choose a NOC code based on my job title?
No. Titles differ between employers and countries. IRCC compares your duties with the lead statement and main duties of the code, so start from what you actually do.
What if my duties fit two NOC codes?
Choose the code that matches the lead statement and most of the main duties. If your job truly changed over time, each period of work can have its own code in your Express Entry profile.
Does my NOC code have to match my employer's job ad?
It does not have to match the ad title, but your reference letter must describe duties that match the code. If the letter and code disagree, an officer can refuse the work experience.