Every job in Canada has a code in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). IRCC has used NOC 2021 since November 16, 2022. Each code belongs to a TEER category (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities).
The 6 TEER categories
| TEER | Type of occupation | IRCC examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Management occupations | Financial managers; advertising and marketing managers |
| 1 | Usually requires a university degree | Financial advisors; software engineers |
| 2 | Usually requires a college diploma, apprenticeship of 2+ years, or supervisory occupations | Computer network and web technicians; medical laboratory technologists |
| 3 | Usually requires a college diploma, apprenticeship under 2 years, or 6+ months of on-the-job training | Bakers; dental assistants |
| 4 | Usually requires a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training | Home child care providers; retail salespersons |
| 5 | Usually a short work demonstration and no formal education | Landscaping labourers; delivery drivers |
Why TEER matters for C16
- Since June 15, 2023, C16 accepts job offers in every TEER category, except primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and 5.
- IRCC officers check that the job in the offer matches the NOC description and that you meet the occupation's employment requirements.
- When you move to permanent residence later, many programs assess experience by TEER (for example the FCIP and Express Entry).
How to find your NOC code
- Go to ESDC's NOC site (noc.esdc.gc.ca) and choose NOC 2021.
- Search by job title or by code.
- Read the "main duties". The right code is the one whose main duties match what you actually do, not the one with the closest-sounding title.
- Note the 5-digit code, the title and the TEER category.
Note If IRCC's lookup table conflicts with ESDC's NOC site, IRCC says to treat the NOC site as correct. ESDC has completed the research phase for NOC 2026; when IRCC moves to the new version, codes may change.
Occupations excluded from C16
Finding a job yourself through Job Bank
Canadian-style résumés and reference letters