NOC code finder: find your NOC 2021 code and TEER
Type your job title and this free NOC code finder searches all 516 unit groups of the National Occupational Classification, including Statistics Canada's own example titles, and returns the five-digit code, its TEER category and whether it counts as skilled work for Express Entry. It is the first number every Canadian immigration application asks for.
Try the title on your reference letter, for example “registered nurse”, “truck driver”, “software developer” or “line cook”. All 516 unit groups of NOC 2021 are searched.
Data: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0. The finder suggests the closest unit groups; the code you claim must match the duties in your reference letter, not just the title. That is what IRCC checks.
Key takeaways
The NOC code finder searches all 516 NOC 2021 unit groups by job title, example title, keyword or code. The code is chosen by duties, not title, and the TEER digit decides which immigration programs the job qualifies for.
- The five-digit NOC 2021 code identifies your unit group; the second digit is your TEER.
- TEER 0 to 3 qualify for Express Entry (FSW and CEC); TEER 4 and 5 qualify for many PNP streams instead.
- IRCC assesses the duties in your reference letter, not the job title on it.
- Choosing a higher code than your duties support is a leading cause of refusal, and can be treated as misrepresentation.
- Category-based draws and Alberta's tech and health pathways are defined by lists of specific codes, so the exact code matters more than ever in 2026.
What is a NOC code, and why does every application ask for it?
The National Occupational Classification is Canada's national system for describing occupations. Every job in the country sits in one of 516 unit groups, each with a five-digit code, a lead statement, a list of main duties and a set of example titles. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and every provincial nominee program use the same codes, which is why the number follows you from a Labour Market Impact Assessment to an Express Entry profile to a provincial nomination.
The current version is NOC 2021, in force with IRCC since 16 November 2022. It replaced the four-digit NOC 2016 codes and the old skill levels 0, A, B, C and D with five-digit codes and six TEER categories. If a website, an old job offer or a forum post still quotes a four-digit code, it is out of date, and IRCC will not accept it.
How to use the NOC code finder
- 01
Search the generic title of your job
Use the everyday name of the role, for example "registered nurse" or "truck driver", not your employer's internal title. The finder also matches Statistics Canada's example titles, so "line cook" or "HGV driver" work too.
- 02
Open the details on the closest matches
Read the lead statement and the example titles. If your duties are in the description and your title is in the examples, you have your code.
- 03
Check the TEER against the program you want
TEER 0 to 3 for Express Entry. TEER 4 and 5 for streams like the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Category-based draws and Alberta's tech and health pathways use named codes; check those lists.
- 04
Match your reference letter to the main duties
This is the step people skip. The letter IRCC receives must describe duties that map to the lead statement and main duties of the code you claim.
- 05
Use the same code everywhere
Profile, work history, provincial EOI and job offer should agree. If they cannot, add a short letter of explanation.
NOC codes people search for most
These are the unit groups that come up most often in the work we do, with their TEER and the programs that usually apply. Search the finder for the full definition and example titles.
| Occupation | NOC 2021 | TEER | Typical routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 | 1 | Express Entry (STEM category), Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway, BC PNP Tech |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | 1 | Express Entry (healthcare category), Dedicated Health Care Pathway, BC Health Authority |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | 3 | Express Entry (healthcare category), AAIP, caregiver pilots |
| Transport truck drivers | 73300 | 3 | Express Entry (transport category), Alberta Opportunity Stream, SINP |
| Cooks | 63200 | 3 | Alberta Opportunity Stream, Tourism & Hospitality Stream, LMIA work permits |
| Chefs | 62200 | 2 | Express Entry (CEC), AAIP, RCIP communities |
| Food and beverage servers | 65200 | 5 | PNP streams only; not Express Entry |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 | 2 | Express Entry (trades category, FST), AAIP |
| Carpenters | 72310 | 2 | Express Entry (trades category, FST), AAIP |
| Construction managers | 70010 | 0 | Express Entry (FSW, CEC), AAIP |
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 | 1 | Express Entry (education category), PNPs |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 | 2 | Express Entry (education category), AAIP, BC PNP |
| Administrative assistants | 13110 | 3 | Express Entry (CEC), Alberta Opportunity Stream |
| Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers | 64100 | 4 | PNP streams only; not Express Entry |
| Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations | 44101 | 4 | Home Care Worker pilots, PNPs |
TEER categories: what the second digit means
TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities. It is the second digit of your code and it is the single thing most immigration programs look at first.
| TEER | Usual requirement | Express Entry? | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Management occupations | Yes | Construction managers (70010), restaurant managers (60030) |
| 1 | University degree | Yes | Software developers (21232), registered nurses (31301) |
| 2 | College diploma, apprenticeship of two or more years, or supervisory roles | Yes | Electricians (72200), chefs (62200) |
| 3 | College diploma, apprenticeship under two years, or more than six months of training | Yes | Cooks (63200), truck drivers (73300) |
| 4 | High school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training | No | Retail salespersons (64100), home support workers (44101) |
| 5 | Short work demonstration, no formal education | No | Food and beverage servers (65200), landscaping labourers (85121) |
The title is not the test
Why the exact code matters more in 2026
Until 2023, the NOC mainly decided whether your experience was skilled. Since category-based drawsbegan, it also decides whether you are in a targeted round at all. IRCC's 2026 categories, healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, transport, agriculture and agri-food, education and French-language proficiency, are each defined by a list of specific unit groups. Being in 31301 rather than 33102 changes which rounds you are eligible for and, in practice, the cut-off you face. Alberta's Accelerated Tech Pathway and Dedicated Health Care Pathway work the same way, and the Alberta Worker EOI scores your work experience by TEER.
The code also drives the wage test on an LMIA, because the median wage ESDC compares your offer against is set per unit group and province. An employer who codes a role as TEER 3 to clear the low-wage cap when the duties are TEER 1 creates a mismatch that can sink both the LMIA and the later PR application.
Common mistakes we see with NOC codes
- Using a four-digit NOC 2016 code. IRCC has used NOC 2021 since November 2022; the old codes are not accepted.
- Claiming the manager code for a team lead. TEER 0 needs genuine management duties: hiring, budgets, planning, not just seniority.
- Copying the job offer code without checking it. Offers and LMIAs sometimes carry the code that suited the employer's wage or advertising position.
- Reference letters that list titles, not duties. A letter that says “employed as Senior Analyst” with no duties gives the officer nothing to match.
- One code for two different jobs. If you were promoted, claim each period under the code that fits it.
- Assuming TEER 4 or 5 means no route. It means no Express Entry. The Alberta Opportunity Stream, the Tourism & Hospitality Stream and several other PNP streams accept these jobs.
What to do once you have your code
Run your profile through the free CRS calculator to see where you sit against recent Express Entry draw cut-offs, or the AAIP calculator if Alberta is the plan. If your code sits in a targeted category, read how category-based draws work, because the cut-off you need may be far lower than the general one. And before you submit anything, make sure your employment reference letter describes the duties the code requires.
Compliance note. Wild Mountain Immigration is a licensed RCIC practice (CICC R706497). This finder is an informational tool built on Statistics Canada's published classification. It does not decide your eligibility and no result guarantees an outcome; only IRCC decides an application. When a code is genuinely arguable, that is exactly the situation to talk to us about.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my NOC code?
Type your job title or a keyword into the finder above and it searches every unit group of NOC 2021, including Statistics Canada's example job titles, and returns the five-digit code and TEER. Then open the details and check that the lead statement and example titles describe what you actually do. IRCC assesses your duties, not your title, so the right code is the one whose main duties match your reference letter. If two codes look close, read both descriptions on the official NOC site before choosing.
What is the difference between a NOC code and a TEER?
The NOC code is the five-digit number that identifies your unit group, for example 31301 for registered nurses. TEER is the second digit of that code, from 0 to 5, and stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities. It replaced the old skill levels A, B, C and D in November 2022. TEER 0 to 3 count as skilled work for Express Entry; TEER 4 and 5 do not, although many provincial streams accept them.
Which NOC codes qualify for Express Entry?
Any occupation in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Federal Skilled Trades Program is narrower and uses specific TEER 2 and 3 trade groups. Category-based draws go further and target named unit groups, for example healthcare, STEM, trades, transport and agriculture occupations. TEER 4 and 5 jobs do not qualify for Express Entry, but they can qualify for provincial nominee streams such as the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
Can I choose a higher NOC code to get more points?
No. The code you enter must match the duties you actually performed, and IRCC verifies this against your employment reference letter. Claiming a TEER 1 code for a job whose duties match TEER 3 is one of the most common reasons an Express Entry application is refused, and if an officer decides it was deliberate it can be treated as misrepresentation with a five-year ban. Pick the code whose main duties fit, then make sure your reference letter describes those duties.
What if my job fits two NOC codes?
Compare the lead statements and the main duties of both unit groups and choose the one that covers the majority of your day-to-day work, especially the duties your reference letter lists. If you performed two distinct jobs for the same employer, say a cook who was promoted to chef, you can claim both codes for the respective periods, as long as the letter breaks the duties down by period. Do not blend two codes into one claim.
Is the NOC code on my job offer or LMIA the one I use for Express Entry?
Usually, but check it. Employers and LMIA applications sometimes use the code that suited the wage or the advertising rules rather than the one that best matches the duties. Your Express Entry profile must reflect the duties you performed. If the LMIA or job offer code differs from the code you claim, be ready to explain why, ideally in a short letter of explanation.
Where does this data come from?
The finder uses Statistics Canada's National Occupational Classification 2021 Version 1.0, the classification structure and elements files, which list every unit group with its definition and illustrative example titles. It was loaded in August 2026. The official search on the NOC website remains the final reference, and IRCC applies the version of the NOC in force on the day you submit.
Do I need the NOC code for a provincial nomination or an AAIP application?
Yes. Provincial programs, including the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, use the same NOC 2021 codes to decide whether your job is eligible and to score your Expression of Interest. Alberta's Worker EOI points for work experience depend on your TEER, and the Accelerated Tech Pathway and Dedicated Health Care Pathway are defined by lists of specific NOC codes.
Two codes look right? Let's settle it before you file.
A licensed RCIC checks your reference letter against the NOC duties, so the code you claim is the one IRCC will accept.