What is “NOC”?
And why is it important?
“NOC”
What is the “NOC” and why does Angel mention it at the 6:19 mark of our interview? (Yes, this is a shameless plug to visit my vlog! 😁)
This “NOC” number or code is one of the key elements of an Express Entry application. Candidates who apply through Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) need to know this. It is so important that getting it wrong can cause an application’s rejection.
“NOC” stands for National Occupational Classification. Canada uses this system to categorize occupations. When Jade and I filed our permanent residence applications, the Express Entry followed the 2016 version of the NOC codes. Back then, NOC codes were grouped into 0, A, B, and C levels. These levels basically referred to job position or rank (directors, managers, supervisors, associates, etc.) and education requirement (bachelor’s degree, certificates, training experience, etc.).
Changes to the use of “NOC”
However, since November 16 2022, the Express Entry system started to use the 2021 NOC codes.
An additional terminology was introduced: TEER. TEER stands for training, education, experience and responsibilities. It basically clarifies what the 2016 system’s 0, A, B, and C levels were for. With that, occupations are categorized according to what T E E R they require.
Here is the TEER table from the IRCC Website:
Why is “NOC” important?
Remember that work experience is one of the minimum requirements for Express Entry. That said, Express Entry uses two scoring systems to assign points for work experience. Candidates can qualify when they meet the required number of years of work experience for a stream. Streams also qualify applicants according to their occupations. This is where NOC specifically comes in.
For example, the FST requires applicants to have experience in these occupations:
- Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers
- excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers
- Major Group 73, general trades
- Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
- Major Group 83, occupations in natural resources and related production
- Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
- Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors, excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
- Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers
- Unit Group 62200, chefs
Under the FSW stream, the requirement is:
- work experience in either TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job categories
- in the same type of job (have the same NOC) as the job you want to use for your immigration application (called your primary occupation)
- within the last 10 years
- paid work (have been paid wages or earned commission—volunteer work or unpaid internships don’t count)
- at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week)
Basically, candidates who know their NOC can help themselves determine Express Entry eligibility, and which stream they are eligible for.
Take it to the Next Level
Candidates looking to take their application to the next level can then consider aiming for an ITA, or an Invitation to Apply (for Permanent Residence).
In my case, based on my work experience and the Federal Skilled Worker program’s selection factors, my 4 years in Marketing gave me 13 points. If I had chosen teaching as the primary occupation for my application, I would have only gotten 11 points. Meeting the rest of the FSW program’s minimum requirements, I was eligible to create my profile through the FSW stream.
Then, to qualify for an Invitation to Apply, I counted my years in Marketing and my years teaching to claim the maximum CRS points for work experience. That was about 6 years of foreign work experience. And then, I matched it with high scores on the IELTS.
At over CLB 9 and with more than 3 years work experience, I got 50 points added to my CRS Score. This helped me a lot in boosting my CRS score. Angel also applied the same logic to boost his own CRS score: work experience plus high IELTS scores.
Ultimately, when I determined which NOC would give me the most points on FSW scoring and the CRS, I built my application around it. I gathered all the documents that would support my claim for max points for work experience. It gave my application a clear focus, and with that, I received my ITA. I received an ITA within 24 hours of completing my profile, and I proceeded with my immigration journey to Canada.
It could work for you too! If you know your NOC, you can try for the Express Entry, or find provincial streams specifically for your occupation!