How to Find Your NOC Code and TEER Category for Express Entry

Your NOC code is a five-digit number that describes your job in Canada’s National Occupational Classification. It sounds like a small detail, but IRCC uses it for a lot: whether your work counts for Express Entry, which category draws you can be picked in, and from November 3, 2026, whether your job earns high-wage points. Picking the wrong one is one of the most common reasons applications get refused.

First, what is TEER?

Each NOC code belongs to a TEER category, which stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities. You can read the TEER straight from the code: it’s the second digit. Software engineers and designers are 21231, so they’re TEER 1.

TEER	What the job usually needs	Example	Counts for Express Entry?
0	Management	00012 Senior managers in financial, communications and other business services	Yes
1	A university degree	31301 Registered nurses	Yes
2	A college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2+ years, or a supervisory role	72200 Electricians	Yes
3	A college diploma, a shorter apprenticeship, or 6+ months of training	63200 Cooks	Yes
4	A high school diploma or a few weeks of training	64100 Retail salespersons	No
5	A short demonstration, no formal education	65201 Food counter attendants and kitchen helpers	No

Only TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 count as skilled work for Express Entry.

How to find your code

1. Go to the official NOC website (noc.gc.ca) and check that the version says NOC 2021.
2. Search your job title, or a word from your daily work like “payroll” or “network”.
3. Open a few results and read the lead statement and the list of main duties.
4. Choose the code where the lead statement sounds like your job and you do most of the main duties.
5. Look at the employment requirements as well. A licence requirement doesn’t stop you using Express Entry, but you’ll need it to work in that job in Canada.
6. Write down the code and the TEER, and use them consistently for that job.

Your duties matter more than your title

Two people with the title “project coordinator” can end up in completely different NOC codes. Someone who mostly schedules meetings and tracks tasks may fit an administrative code. Someone who plans budgets and runs a team may fit a management or professional code. IRCC compares your reference letter with the NOC duties, so the title on your business card doesn’t decide it.

A few practical tips:

• Ask your employer to describe what you actually did, in their own words. Copying the NOC duties word for word looks suspicious.
• If your role changed with the same employer, each period can have its own NOC code.
• Use the same code for the same job everywhere: in your profile, your application and your letters.

Why it matters even more in 2026

Category-based draws invite people with 12 months of experience in specific NOC codes, so the right code can put you in a draw with a much lower cut-off. We explain how in category-based draws explained.

From November 3, 2026, high-wage points depend only on your NOC code. You can search all 186 high-wage codes on our calculator page. The Federal Skilled Trades Program and many provincial streams also work from specific NOC lists.

Quick answers

Which NOC codes are eligible for Express Entry?

Any NOC 2021 code in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. The Skilled Trades Program and the category draws use shorter lists.

Can I change my NOC after creating my profile?

Yes, you can update it any time before you’re invited. After an invitation, whatever you claimed has to be supported by your documents.

What if my job seems to fit two codes?

Go with the one whose lead statement and main duties match most of what you did. If it’s really unclear, it’s worth paying a licensed consultant or lawyer to look at your duties.

Related: how to create your Express Entry profile.