"PSW NOC code" is one of the most searched NOC questions in Canada, and the answer is not one code. Personal support workers fall under two different unit groups, and the difference decides whether your experience counts for Express Entry.
The two PSW codes
| NOC 33102 | NOC 44101 | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit group | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
| TEER | 3 | 4 |
| Typical workplace | Hospitals, long-term care homes, nursing homes, other health facilities | Clients' homes, through home care agencies or private families |
| Typical titles | Health care aide, long term care aide, nurse aide, nursing attendant, patient care aide | Home support worker, family caregiver, personal aide (home support), respite worker |
| Express Entry (FSW, CEC) | TEER qualifies | Does not qualify |
| Healthcare category draws | Listed | Not listed |
How to tell which one is yours
Look at where you work and what you do most of the time.
You are likely 33102 if you:
- work on a care team in a hospital, long-term care home or similar facility
- help patients with mobility, feeding, bathing and personal care under nurses' direction
- take vital signs, report changes in patients' condition, and help nurses with care
You are likely 44101 if you:
- visit clients in their own homes or live in with a family
- help with personal care, but also with housekeeping, meals, laundry and errands
- support seniors, people with disabilities or people recovering at home
Your reference letter has to describe duties that match the code you choose. A facility PSW who claims 44101, or a home care PSW who claims 33102, risks having that experience refused. Read both pages and compare your real duties line by line.
Other names for the same jobs
People search for these jobs under many names. Here is where each one usually lands:
- HCA (health care aide), CCA (continuing care assistant), nurse aide, nursing assistant, patient care aide, patient service associate: 33102
- Home support worker, home care worker, caregiver for seniors, residential or direct support worker in a client's home: 44101
- Nanny, babysitter or live-in caregiver for children: 44100 (home child care providers)
- Licensed or registered practical nurse (LPN, RPN): 32101, not a PSW code
Why the code matters for PR
- 33102 (TEER 3) counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, and it is on IRCC's healthcare category list, which has had its own targeted draws.
- 44101 (TEER 4) does not count for Express Entry. Home support workers usually look at the federal home care worker immigration pathways and provincial streams for health care workers. Check IRCC and your province for which programs are currently open.
Not sure yet? Paste your duties into nocfinder and see how they score against both codes.
Common questions
What is the NOC code for a PSW?
A PSW who works in a hospital, long-term care home or other health facility usually falls under NOC 33102 (TEER 3). A PSW who mainly supports clients in their own homes usually falls under NOC 44101 (TEER 4).
Is a PSW TEER 3 or 4?
It depends on the code your duties match. NOC 33102 is TEER 3 and NOC 44101 is TEER 4.
Is NOC 44101 eligible for Express Entry?
No. Express Entry needs TEER 0 to 3, and 44101 is TEER 4. Home support workers can look at the federal home care worker pathways and provincial programs instead.
Is NOC 33102 in the healthcare Express Entry category?
Yes. As of IRCC's list dated 2026-10-16, 33102 is in the healthcare and social services category.