NOC TEER Categories Explain Canada’s Skilled Work Rules

NOC TEER categories help determine how Canada classifies jobs for immigration and whether work experience may qualify under a particular program.

Canada currently uses the National Occupational Classification 2021 system, commonly called NOC 2021, to identify occupations according to their training, education, experience and responsibilities.

The NOC TEER framework applies across many immigration pathways, but each program has its own eligibility rules.

The correct NOC classification is important because applicants must select the occupation that most closely matches the work they actually performed. Job titles alone do not determine the correct NOC.

What NOC TEER Means

TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities.

The classification describes the requirements normally associated with an occupation. It does not simply rank an individual applicant’s education or experience.

NOC 2021 has six TEER categories, numbered from TEER 0 to TEER 5. The second digit of a five-digit NOC code identifies the TEER category, while the first digit identifies the broad occupational category.

For example, a code beginning with 11 is in TEER 1, while a code beginning with 63 is in TEER 3.

TEER category	General classification	Examples
TEER 0	Management occupations	Financial managers and marketing managers
TEER 1	Occupations usually requiring a university degree	Financial advisors and software engineers
TEER 2	Occupations usually requiring a college diploma, apprenticeship training of two or more years, or supervisory responsibilities	Network technicians and medical laboratory technologists
TEER 3	Occupations usually requiring a shorter post-secondary program, apprenticeship training of less than two years, more than six months of on-the-job training, or related experience	Bakers and dental assistants
TEER 4	Occupations usually requiring secondary school or several weeks of on-the-job training	Home child care providers and retail salespersons
TEER 5	Occupations usually requiring a short work demonstration and no formal education	Landscaping labourers and delivery service drivers

When Canada Started Using NOC 2021

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada switched to NOC 2021 on November 16, 2022. The change replaced the previous NOC 2016 skill-level structure with six TEER categories.

Older immigration documents may refer to Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A, B, C and D. Applicants must use the NOC version required by the application or program instructions.

Applicants should not automatically transfer an old NOC code to NOC 2021 because occupations may have new titles, codes or descriptions.

How To Find Your NOC TEER Category

The safest method is to search the official NOC database using the job title, relevant keywords and the duties performed.

Applicants should compare their actual employment duties with the occupation’s lead statement and most of its main duties. The selected NOC should describe the work actually performed, not simply the title on an employment contract.

After identifying the closest occupation, applicants should record the five-digit NOC code, TEER category and occupation title. They should compare the NOC description with employer reference letters, contracts, pay records and other evidence of employment.

Job titles do not decide the NOC

Two workers with similar job titles may have different NOC codes if their duties, responsibilities or employment settings differ. Conversely, different job titles may fit the same NOC if the main duties are substantially similar.

Applicants should not choose a higher TEER category merely because it appears more favourable for eligibility. A mismatch between the claimed NOC and the evidence can create concerns about whether the work experience meets program requirements.

How NOC TEER Affects Express Entry

Express Entry manages applications for the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

For the Canadian Experience Class, qualifying Canadian work experience generally must be in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. The minimum language requirement is generally CLB 7, or NCLC 7, for TEER 0 or 1 work and CLB 5, or NCLC 5, for TEER 2 or 3 work, in all four language abilities.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program generally requires qualifying work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, along with the program’s other requirements.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is limited to specified eligible skilled-trade NOC groups, principally in TEER 2 and TEER 3. Not every TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupation qualifies under that program.

Meeting the applicable NOC and TEER requirement does not automatically make an applicant eligible for Express Entry. Applicants must also satisfy rules on work duration, paid employment, language testing, education where required, admissibility and other program criteria.

Does TEER 0 Give More Express Entry Points?

TEER category alone does not determine a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System score. CRS scoring considers factors such as age, education, language ability, Canadian work experience, foreign work experience and other applicable factors.

A TEER 0 occupation is not automatically worth more CRS points than a TEER 3 occupation simply because it has a lower TEER number.

However, current CRS rules also include a labour-market-integration factor that can award points for qualifying high-wage Canadian work experience or a high-wage job offer. Those points depend on the applicable wage thresholds and qualifying rules, not on the TEER number alone.

The NOC TEER category can also affect whether a person qualifies for an Express Entry program, which language threshold applies and whether the person’s occupation is listed in a category-based selection round. Applicants must check the instructions for the relevant round.

NOC TEER And The Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program accepts job offers in TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 occupations, subject to the program’s other requirements.

The job offer must come from a designated employer in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island. A TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job offer generally must last at least one year after the applicant becomes a permanent resident. A TEER 4 job offer must generally be permanent with no set end date.

The language requirement depends on the job offer’s TEER category: generally CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0 through 3 and CLB/NCLC 4 for TEER 4.

The program also requires qualifying work experience to be in the same TEER category as the job offer or a higher-skill category. For example, a TEER 2 job offer generally accepts qualifying experience in TEER 2, 3 or 4, while a TEER 4 job offer generally requires TEER 4 experience. Exceptions apply to certain eligible international graduates and specified health-care workers.

NOC TEER And Provincial Nominee Programs

There is no single NOC TEER rule for every Provincial Nominee Program stream. Each province and territory sets its own requirements, including occupational, job-offer, work-experience and language conditions.

Some provincial streams accept a broad range of occupations, while others target specific NOC codes, sectors or TEER categories. Applicants must check the official requirements for the specific province, stream and application date.

An occupation that qualifies under one provincial stream may not qualify under another stream or in another province. Applicants using an Express Entry-linked provincial nomination must also meet the requirements of both the provincial stream and at least one eligible Express Entry program.

Common NOC TEER Mistakes

• Choosing a code from the job title alone: Duties and responsibilities must support the selected occupation.
• Using an old NOC 2016 code: Applications requiring NOC 2021 should use the current five-digit classification.
• Assuming every TEER 4 job is ineligible: TEER 4 work is generally outside the skilled-work categories of the three main Express Entry programs, but some other pathways accept TEER 4 occupations.
• Ignoring licensing: A NOC classification does not authorize someone to practise a regulated occupation in Canada.
• Confusing occupation requirements with personal credentials: The NOC describes usual occupational requirements and does not by itself confirm that an applicant meets licensing or education rules.
• Relying on an online title match: The official NOC description and the applicant’s evidence should be reviewed together.

What Applicants Should Check Before Applying

1. Find the NOC 2021 code that most closely matches the actual job duties.
2. Confirm the TEER category and review the full occupation description.
3. Check whether the immigration program accepts that TEER category or specific NOC code.
4. Compare the duties with the employer’s reference letter and other proof of employment.
5. Review language, education, work-duration, licensing and admissibility requirements separately.
6. Use the official program page that applies to the intended application route.

Bottom Line On NOC TEER

NOC TEER is a classification system, not a standalone immigration program. Its main purpose is to identify an occupation and the level of training, education, experience and responsibility normally associated with that work.

TEER 0 through TEER 3 are central to the skilled-work requirements of the main Express Entry programs, while TEER 4 can qualify under selected pathways such as the Atlantic Immigration Program.

The result depends on the applicant’s actual duties, the current NOC 2021 code and the detailed rules of the immigration program being used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fact-Checked: Reviewed against current official IRCC, Statistics Canada and Canada immigration program pages for NOC 2021, Express Entry and the Atlantic Immigration Program.

Disclaimer: This article is general information and does not replace the official program requirements or professional immigration advice.