NOC 21100 job description: astronomer duties and responsibilities
- Design and conduct research in experimental and theoretical physics
- Carry out analysis of research data and prepare research reports
- Participate as a member of a research or development team in the design and development of experimental, industrial or medical equipment, instrumentation and procedures.
- Design and conduct observational surveys, conduct detailed analyses and develop numerical models to extend knowledge of celestial bodies and cosmic radiation
- Develop or participate in the development of instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis.
Job titles under NOC 21100
See every job title and its code in the A–Z job title index, or all TEER 1 jobs.
Is NOC 21100 eligible for Express Entry?
By TEER, yes. TEER 1 is inside the TEER 0 to 3 range that the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Canadian Experience Class accept. You still need qualifying work experience, language test results and enough CRS points to get an invitation. Category-based draws and provincial nominee programs use their own occupation lists.
| Program | TEER check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | TEER qualifies | TEER 1 is within TEER 0 to 3 |
| Canadian Experience Class | TEER qualifies | TEER 1 is within TEER 0 to 3 |
| Federal Skilled Trades | Not a listed trade | Only certain trade groups qualify. Check IRCC |
| Spouse's open work permit | Qualifies | All TEER 1 jobs qualify. SOWP rules |
Category-based draws: NOC 21100 is not on any category-based selection list (checked 2026-10-16). Under NOC 2016, TEER 1 was skill level A ("NOC A").
Category-based Express Entry draws and provincial nominee programs use their own occupation lists. Check the current lists on IRCC's Express Entry page and provincial nominee page.
NOC 21100: common questions
What is NOC 21100?
NOC 21100 is the code for physicists and astronomers in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021). Its first digit, 2, is the broad category and its second digit, 1, is the TEER level. Immigration forms, job offers and LMIA applications use this five-digit code.
What TEER is NOC 21100?
NOC 21100 is TEER 1. Occupations that usually need a university degree. Under the older NOC 2016 system, TEER 1 lines up with skill level A.
Is NOC 21100 eligible for Express Entry and PR?
By TEER, yes. TEER 1 is inside the TEER 0 to 3 range that the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Canadian Experience Class accept. You still need qualifying work experience, language test results and enough CRS points to get an invitation. Category-based draws and provincial nominee programs use their own occupation lists.
Is NOC 21100 in a category-based Express Entry draw?
No. As of IRCC's list dated 2026-10-16, NOC 21100 is not in any category-based selection list (healthcare, STEM, trades, education, transport and others). You can still be invited in general and program-specific draws.
Is NOC 21100 eligible for a spousal open work permit (SOWP)?
Yes. All TEER 1 jobs qualify, so a worker in this job can support a spouse's open work permit, as long as their own work permit has at least 16 months left when the spouse applies (IRCC page modified 2026-06-12).
What is the NOC code for an astronomer?
Astronomer is listed under NOC 21100, physicists and astronomers. The job title alone does not decide your code: your duties should match the main duties of NOC 21100.
How do I know if NOC 21100 is my NOC code?
Compare what you actually do with the main duties listed for NOC 21100, not just your job title. IRCC expects your duties to match the lead statement and most of the main duties of the code you choose. If they fit another code better, use that one. You can paste your duties into nocfinder to see how they line up, duty by duty.
Source: ESDC NOC 2021 · IRCC program pages. Not legal advice.