Changes to NOC

Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) decides whether your work experience counts for immigration. Since November 16, 2022, IRCC has used NOC 2021, which replaced the old skill types (0, A, B, C, D) with six TEER categories and five-digit codes. Your NOC code and TEER level now shape your eligibility for Express Entry, the language score you need for the Canadian Experience Class, whether you qualify for a targeted 2026 category draw, and even whether your spouse can get an open work permit.

This guide explains how the TEER system works, what changed for applicants in 2025 and 2026, and what the upcoming NOC 2026 release means for you. You can also look up your own code with our free NOC Checker below.

Key takeaways

• IRCC still uses NOC 2021 Version 1.0 for all immigration programs as of September 2026.
• Express Entry programs accept work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 only.
• In 2026, IRCC runs 10 Express Entry categories, each tied to specific NOC codes and requiring 12 months of experience in one listed occupation.
• Statistics Canada will release NOC 2026 in December 2026, but IRCC decides separately when to adopt it.
• IRCC assesses your actual duties, not your job title. A mismatched NOC code is a common reason for refusal.

Find Your NOC Code and TEER Category

Type your job title or a five-digit code into the checker to see the matching NOC 2021 unit group, its TEER category, and whether it can qualify for Express Entry.

The checker is a starting point. Before you use a code in your profile, open the official NOC description and confirm you performed the actions in the lead statement and most of the main duties. If your duties sit between two codes, a free assessment with our team can help you choose the code IRCC is most likely to accept.

What Is the NOC 2021 TEER System?

The NOC is maintained jointly by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Statistics Canada. NOC 2021 groups every paid job in Canada into 516 occupations (called unit groups), each with a five-digit code.

Each digit in the code carries meaning:

• First digit: the broad occupational category (for example, 2 = natural and applied sciences).
• Second digit: the TEER category (0 to 5).
• Remaining digits: the specific occupation group.

For example, 21232 (Software developers and programmers) starts with 2 (natural and applied sciences), and its second digit, 1, tells you it is a TEER 1 occupation. This matters because the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the other Express Entry programs only accept experience in TEER 0 to 3.

NOC 2021 TEER Categories Explained

TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities. It describes what is usually needed to work in an occupation, not the education you personally hold.

NOC 2016 vs NOC 2021: How Skill Levels Map to TEER

Most old skill levels map directly to one TEER category. The big change was Skill Level B, which split into TEER 2 and TEER 3.

Because IRCC set the Express Entry cut-off at TEER 3, some former Skill Level C jobs became eligible. When IRCC switched to NOC 2021, 16 occupations became newly eligible for Express Entry, including payroll administrators, dental assistants, nurse aides and orderlies, pharmacy assistants, teacher assistants, sheriffs and bailiffs, correctional service officers, by-law enforcement officers, estheticians, residential and commercial installers, pest controllers, other repairers and servicers, transport truck drivers, bus and transit operators, heavy equipment operators, and aircraft assemblers.

At the same time, 3 occupations lost Express Entry eligibility: other performers; program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness; and tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners. These occupations can still qualify under some streams of the Provincial Nominee Program with broader occupation rules.

If you still have a four-digit NOC 2016 code in old documents or reference letters, update it to the matching NOC 2021 code before you create or update a profile.

NOC TEER Requirements for Express Entry Programs

Your TEER category affects both eligibility and the language score you need. Here is how each Express Entry program uses it today:

A few points applicants often miss:

• For the Canadian Experience Class, self-employment and work done while you were a full-time student do not count.
• Your experience can come from more than one NOC code, but for each one you must show the lead statement and most of the main duties.
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program only accepts specific trade groups (such as NOC major groups 72, 73, 82, 83, 92 and 93, plus cooks, butchers, bakers and chefs), so a TEER 2 office job does not qualify.

Not sure if your test results meet the level for your TEER? Our Language Converter turns IELTS, CELPIP, TEF and PTE scores into CLB levels, and our CRS Score Calculator shows where your profile would rank.

2026 Express Entry Categories by NOC Code

On February 18, 2026, IRCC announced the categories it will use for targeted Express Entry draws this year. Five are new and five were renewed from 2025. The agriculture and agri-food category was not renewed.

Current Express Entry categories:

1. French-language proficiency (NCLC 7 in all four abilities)
2. Healthcare and social services occupations
3. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations
4. Trade occupations
5. Education occupations
6. Transport occupations (new)
7. Physicians with Canadian work experience (new)
8. Senior managers with Canadian work experience (new)
9. Researchers with Canadian work experience (new)
10. Skilled military recruits (new)

For every occupation-based category, you now need at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or the part-time equivalent) within the past 3 years in a single listed occupation. The old minimum was 6 months. For the physician, senior manager and researcher categories, that experience must be gained in Canada.

This is where your exact NOC code makes a real difference. A few examples from IRCC's 2026 lists:

• Transport: aircraft mechanics and inspectors (72404), air pilots and flying instructors (72600), avionics technicians (22313), and automotive service technicians and truck and bus mechanics (72410).
• Senior managers: only the four senior management unit groups (00012 to 00015) count.
• Researchers: university professors and lecturers (41200) and post-secondary teaching and research assistants (41201).
• Education: teachers (41220, 41221), early childhood educators (42202), instructors of persons with disabilities (42203) and teacher assistants (43100).

Also keep in mind that since March 25, 2025, a job offer no longer adds 50 or 200 CRS points. IRCC described this as temporary, and as of September 2026 the points have not returned. A job offer still matters for FSW selection points, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and many PNP streams. You can follow the results of each round on our Express Entry Draws page.

How Your TEER Level Affects Work Permits and PNP Streams

TEER categories are no longer just an Express Entry issue. Since January 21, 2025, family open work permits for spouses of foreign workers are limited to workers in TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or select TEER 2 and 3 occupations in sectors with shortages or linked to government priorities. The worker's permit also generally needs at least 16 months of validity left when the spouse applies, and dependent children are no longer eligible under this measure. Workers who have already applied for permanent residence through an economic program follow different, broader rules. See our Spouse Open Work Permit page for the full criteria.

Provincial programs also use TEER levels, and their rules vary widely. For example, Ontario's new Workforce Priority Stream, which replaced the old Ontario Job Offer Stream, accepts job offers across TEER 0 to 5. If your occupation is TEER 4 or 5, a provincial stream or an employer-driven pathway may be your best route, so it is worth checking each province's criteria in our Canada PNP Finder.

NOC 2026: What Changes Are Coming in December 2026

Statistics Canada and ESDC plan to release NOC 2026 Version 1.0 in December 2026. Normally, structural changes happen on a 10-year cycle, but this time both agencies agreed to make some real changes early to keep up with the labour market.

According to Statistics Canada's NOC 2026 revision report:

• 165 unit groups are affected in total.
• 18 unit groups have structural changes, such as new groups, split-offs and transfers between groups.
• 147 unit groups have content-only updates, such as new job titles, revised main duties and clearer employment requirements.

Some examples of the content updates include clearer guidance for data analysts under 21211 (Data scientists), updated duties for 11100 (Financial auditors and accountants) to reflect the CPA designation, and revised credential requirements for 31202 (Physiotherapists). A full correspondence table from NOC 2021 to NOC 2026 is also due in December 2026.

What this means for you right now: nothing changes in your application until IRCC says so. Statistics Canada publishes the classification, but IRCC decides which NOC version its programs use and when. With NOC 2021, the classification came out in 2021 and IRCC only switched on November 16, 2022. Until IRCC announces a transition date, keep using NOC 2021 codes in your Express Entry profile, PNP application and reference letters.

Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026 to 2028 and Skilled Workers

The broader immigration targets also explain why your NOC code matters more than before. Under the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan:

• Canada plans to admit 380,000 permanent residents per year from 2026 to 2028.
• In 2026, 109,000 spaces go to Federal High Skilled programs (mainly Express Entry) and 91,500 to Provincial Nominee Programs.
• Temporary resident arrivals drop to 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027 and 2028, with a goal of bringing the temporary population below 5% of Canada's population by the end of 2027.

With fewer overall spaces and more targeted draws, choosing the right NOC code can decide whether you fall into a category that is being invited.

Common NOC Code Mistakes That Lead to Refusals

Most NOC problems come from the same few errors:

• Choosing a code by job title. IRCC compares your duties with the NOC description. A "Project Coordinator" title can fall under several codes depending on what you actually do.
• Reference letters that do not match the code. Your employer letters must describe duties that match the lead statement and most of the main duties of the NOC you claimed.
• Picking a code only to qualify for a category. If your duties do not match a category occupation, a claim can be refused and, in serious cases, raise misrepresentation concerns.
• Using an old NOC 2016 code. Four-digit codes are no longer accepted in Express Entry profiles.
• Ignoring TEER changes between jobs. If you changed roles, each period of work may fall under a different code and TEER level.

You can double-check any code using IRCC's official Find your NOC tool. If you are unsure, book a consultation before you submit your profile. Fixing a NOC issue before an invitation is far easier than responding to a refusal.