How to find out if your job falls under the NOC Skill Type category 0, A or B
The NOC is a classification system for jobs in the Canadian economy. It describes duties, skills, talents and work settings for occupations in Canada. In order to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), your one year post-secondary employment should fall under skill type 0, A or B.
Step 1: Visit the NOC website and find the job that you will be using for your application under the CEC.
Although the NOC has most job titles, if this is the case, you will have to search a job that is in a similar industry that you job correponds to. You can see a more detailed description of the duties for each NOC 4 digit code once you click on the code.
You can search for the NOC 4 digit code that corresponds to your job on the NOC website:
Step 2: Interpret your NOC 4 digit code that corresponds to your job title.
The first two digits of each code convey meaning with respect to the group skill type and skill level category.
For all non-management occupations, the first digit of each code identifies one of the nine skill type categories. Similarly, for all non-management occupations, the second digit of each code identifies one of four skill level categories.
This applies to all occupations except management occupations. For management occupations, the first digit is 0 and the second digit represents the skill type categories, from 1 to 9.
When the first digit is... | ...the Skill Type Category is |
1 | Business, Finance and Administrative Occupations |
2 | Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Occupations |
3 | Health Occupations |
4 | Occupations in Social Science, Education, Government Service and Religion |
5 | Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport |
6 | Sales and Service Occupations |
7 | Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related Occupations |
8 | Occupations Unique to Primary Industry |
9 | Occupations Unique to Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities |
When the second digit is... | ...the Skill Type Category is |
1 | Skill Level A (Professional Occupations) |
2 or 3 | Skill Level B (Technical, Paraprofessional and Skilled Occupations) |
4 or 5 | Skill Level C (Intermediate Occupations) |
6 | Skill Level D (Laboring and Elemental Occupations) |
Example:
If you are a bank teller, the NOC will classify you with the following code:
| 1433 - Customer Service Representatives - Financial Services |
Using the tables above, you can tell that the first digit (in this case 1) corresponds to Business, Finance and Administrative Occupations. The second digit (in this case 4) corresponds to Skill Level C. In this case, being a bank teller does not fall under Skill Level 0, A or B that is required to apply for permanent residence under the CEC.
If you are a system analyst and you provide technical support, the NOC will classify you with the following code:
2282 - User Support Technicians
Using the tables above, you can tell that the first digit (in this case 2) corresponds to Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Occupations. The second digit (in this case 2) corresponds to Skill Level B. In this case, being a system analist working at a help desk will qualify you to apply for permanent residence under the CEC.
What do Skill Levels indicate?
NOC skill level types indicate the level of education or training required to do a job properly.
Education / Training | Other | |
Skill Level A | University degree (bachelors, masters or postgraduate) | |
Skill Level B | Two to three years of post-secondary education at a community college, institute of technology or CEGEP | Occupations with supervisory responsibilities are assigned to skill level B. |