Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will today switch to the 2021 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, a change that has been in the works since the July 27 announcement. This move will trigger eligibility changes for some of Canada’s 100+ immigration programs, including Express Entry. Find out if you qualify for Canadian Immigration For example, while the current NOC system (NOC 2016) requires an Express Entry applicant to have work experience classified under NOC skill types 0, A or B, IRCC’s shift to NOC 2021 will bring with it a shift to Training, Education, Experience and the system of responsibilities (TEER). This is how the skill type categories of the current NOC system match the TEER categories of the NOC 2021 system. NOC 2016NOC 2021 Skill Type 0TEER 0 ATEER Skill Level 1 BTEER Skill Level 2 BTEER Skill Level 3 CTEER Skill Level 4 DTEER Skill Level 5
Updated NOC 2021 Eligibility Criteria for Express Entry
Eligibility Criteria Canadian Experience CategoryFederal Skilled Worker ProgramFederal Skilled Trades Program Knowledge of English or French CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations. CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupationsCLB 7CLB 5 for speaking and listening. CLB 4 to read and write Type/Level of Work Experience Canadian work experience in an occupation listed in one or more of these NOC TEER categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2 or TEER 3. Work experience in an occupation listed in one of these NOC TEER categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2 or TEER 3. Work experience in a skilled occupation under TEER 2 or TEER 3 core groups.* Amount of work experience One year in Canada in the last three years (either a combination of full-time or part-time).One consecutive year within the last 10 years (a combination of part-time, full-time or more than one job in your main occupation). Two years within the last five years (either a mix of full-time or part-time work) Job offer Not required. It is not required, but you can get FSW points to have a valid job offer. A valid full-time job offer for a total period of at least one year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled occupation issued by a Canadian province, territory or federal authority. Education Not required. Secondary education required. You can get more FSW points for your post-secondary education. Not required. * Major groups of TEER 2 and 3 eligible for the FSTP include: Major Group 72, technical trade and transport officers and controllers, excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transport officers and controllers. Major Group 73, general trades. Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production. Large group 83, occupations in natural resources and related production. Major Group 92, processing, construction and utility supervisors, and utility operators and inspectors. Major Group 93, Central Control and Process Operators and Aircraft Assembly Assemblers and Inspectors, excluding Sub-Major Group 932, Aircraft Assembly Operations and Aircraft Assembly Inspectors. Small group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers, and; Unit Group 62200, chef. Note: CLB refers to Canadian Language Benchmark
Key note on selection factor points for FSWP
Points awarded for selectors as part of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) will now follow the updated skill type/level chart introduced with the 2021 NOC system. Example: If an applicant would have received 10 points for regular employment at Skill Type/Level 0, A or B, they will still receive those points for regular employment at TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
Express Entry occupational eligibility changes coming with NOC 2021 transition
With the transition to NOC 2021, 16 occupations will become newly eligible for Express Entry, while three occupations will be ineligible. The three newly ineligible occupations will remain eligible for programs with broader occupational eligibility criteria, such as certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams. 16 newly eligible occupations:
Payroll administrators Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants Nursing assistants, proxies and patient service associates Pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants Primary and secondary teacher assistants Sheriffs and bailiffs Correctional Service Officers Law enforcement and other regulatory officials Estheticians, electricians and related professions Residential and commercial installers and servicers Pest controllers and fumigators Other repairers and servicers Transport truck drivers Bus drivers, subway operators and other transport operators Heavy equipment operators Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
Three recent ineligible occupations:
Other performers Program managers and trainers in recreation, sport and fitness Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and millers
The transition to NOC 2021 will have implications for CRS
As with the changes described above with the FSWP, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) grades awarded for regular employment will now follow the updated Type/Skill Level chart introduced with the 2021 NOC system. Example: if a candidate would have received 50 points for regular employment in Skill Type/Level 0, A or B, they will still receive those points if their NOC is at TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
Next steps based on your personal situation
Depending on where an individual applicant is in the Express Entry journey, IRCC requires different actions under the NOC 2021 transition. First, those who have not yet submitted an Express Entry profile but intend to do so after today’s change will need to find and submit their occupation code under NOC 2021 when completing the profile. Meanwhile, candidates who have submitted a profile but have not received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) have different instructions from IRCC. In this case, candidates should update their submitted Express Entry profile any time after the changes are implemented tomorrow. This will require the individual to search the 2021 NOC list on the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) website and update their profile with their TEER category and five-digit occupation code. Finally, anyone who got their ITA before November 16 must submit their Express Entry application using the NOC 2016 (using the NOC code provided at the time of receipt). Find out if you qualify for Canadian Immigration © CIC News All rights reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
