A NOC code is the five-digit number Canada uses to classify a job. NOC stands for National Occupational Classification. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Statistics Canada maintain it, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses it to decide which work experience counts for immigration programs.
If you apply for Express Entry, a provincial nominee program, a work permit or an LMIA, you will be asked for a NOC code. Picking the right one matters more than most people expect.
How a NOC code is built
Every NOC 2021 code has five digits, and each digit narrows the job down. Take NOC 21232, software developers and programmers:
| Digits | Level | Meaning for 21232 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Broad occupational category | Natural and applied sciences |
| 1 | TEER | TEER 1, usually a university degree |
| 21 | Major group | Category 2 at TEER 1 |
| 212 | Sub-major group | A narrower field within major group 21 |
| 2123 | Minor group | A cluster of closely related computer occupations |
| 21232 | Unit group | Software developers and programmers |
The unit group is the code you put on your application. The second digit is the TEER level, which is what most immigration programs look at.
The 10 broad occupational categories
The first digit tells you the field:
- 0: Legislative and senior management occupations
- 1: Business, finance and administration
- 2: Natural and applied sciences
- 3: Health
- 4: Education, law and social, community and government services
- 5: Art, culture, recreation and sport
- 6: Sales and service
- 7: Trades, transport and equipment operators
- 8: Natural resources, agriculture and related production
- 9: Manufacturing and utilities
You can browse every code by category in the NOC code list.
NOC 2016 vs NOC 2021
NOC 2021 replaced NOC 2016 for immigration on November 16, 2022. The main changes:
- Codes went from four digits to five (for example, NOC 2016 code 6322 for cooks became NOC 63200).
- The four skill levels (0, A, B, C, D) became six TEER categories (0 to 5). Skill level B was split into TEER 2 and TEER 3. See the NOC B jobs list for what that means.
- Some occupations moved between groups, so an old code does not always map to a single new code.
What a NOC entry contains
Each unit group on the official ESDC site has a lead statement, main duties, example job titles, employment requirements and exclusions. When IRCC checks your application, it compares the duties in your reference letters with the lead statement and main duties of the code you chose. The job title alone does not decide your code.
On nocfinder, every code page shows the main duties, example titles, TEER level and the federal programs that TEER qualifies for, for example NOC 33102 or NOC 13110.
Where you need a NOC code
- Express Entry profiles, for each job in your work history
- Provincial nominee programs, many of which target specific codes
- Category-based Express Entry draws, which list eligible codes (see the category lists)
- LMIA applications and job offers from Canadian employers
- Work permit applications, including family open work permits
Next step: how to find your NOC code.
Common questions
What does NOC stand for in Canada?
NOC stands for National Occupational Classification. It is Canada's national system for describing occupations, run by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) with Statistics Canada.
Is the NOC code the same as a job code?
Yes, people often call it a job code or occupation code. It is a five-digit number such as 21232 for software developers and programmers.
Which NOC version does IRCC use?
IRCC switched to NOC 2021 on November 16, 2022. Applications now use five-digit NOC 2021 codes and TEER levels instead of the four-digit NOC 2016 codes and skill levels.