Have you applied for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or want to relocate to Canada for a rewarding career in 2022? If yes, then this piece of information is extremely important. 

Canada’s government has updated its National Occupational Classification (NOC) system starting from November 16th 2022. The new NOC system 2021 will change how Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) evaluate work experience for people applying for Express Entry. According to the IRCC memo, 16 new occupations will now fall under the eligibility criteria to apply under Express Entry, and three will become ineligible.   

What is National Occupational Classification (NOC)?

Since 1992, IRCC has been using the NOC system to categorize occupations for people looking to immigrate to Canada. The NOC system determines the level of skill and education required to get an occupation or career in Canada. It also evaluates the employment of skilled workers under Express Entry and other immigration programs to give them work permits and residency. 

Every ten years, NOC goes under revision to check the framework of occupation groups that are working and those that aren’t. They have NOC codes for the occupation to differentiate between skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled. To immigrate to Canada under Express Entry, you must fall under the skilled job category. 

What Changes in the New NOC?

From November 16th 2022, the new NOC will come into force, and the eligibility criteria for Express Entry will be decided accordingly. The occupation is grouped into – Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories. The skill type and skill level structures were around 4-digits in the 2016 NOC. Now it will be replaced with a 6-category system. Moreover, 4-digit NOC and occupation will become 5-digits. There will be new eligibility criteria for all the existing programs. 

Here is how occupations will now be categorized. If you are looking to apply for Express Entry and want professional guidance, Bilimoria & Associate will be happy to help!

NOC 2016 (Skill Type/Levels)	NOC 2021 (TEER Category)	Occupation Type
Skill Type 0	TEER 0	Management occupations
Skill Type A	TEER 1	Occupations that need a university degree.
Skill Type B	TEER 2	Occupations that need a college diploma, apprenticeship training, or supervisory occupations / more than six months of on-the-job training.
Skill Type B	TEER 3	Occupations that need a college diploma, apprenticeship training, or supervisory occupations / more than six months of on-the-job training.
Skill Type C	TEER 4	Occupations that need a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training.
Skill Type D	TEER 5	Occupations that need short-term work demonstration and no formal education.

Learn more about the occupation types under TEER and the new NOC codes for FSWP here.

Essential Instructions for Express Entry Applicants

For Submitted Profiles: According to IRCC, if you have submitted your profile and are yet to receive the Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will have to update your profile after November 16th 2022. 

For New Profiles: If you plan to submit your profile after November 16th 2022, you must figure out your occupation code on the NOC 2021 list and submit it accordingly.  

For Profile with ITA: If you submitted your profile and have received your ITA before November 16th 2022, nothing changes for you. You do not have to find out new codes or apply again.  

For Future Applications: Though the new NOC sounds really promising, we would still have to wait and analyze how it will affect the programs such as FSW, the Canadian labor market, and job seekers. 

List of Occupations Added to the New NOC:

• Payroll administrators
• Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
• Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
• Sheriffs and bailiffs.
• Correctional service officers
• By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
• Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
• Residential and commercial installers and servicers
• Pest controllers and fumigators
• Other repairers and servicers
• Transport truck drivers
• Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
• Heavy equipment operators
• Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors

List of Occupations Eliminated in the New NOC:

• Other performers
• Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness
• Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners.

New Eligibility Criteria for Express Entry

• You must get a (Canadian Language Benchmark) CLB 7 score in English or French skills.
• Your work experience should match one of the categories mentioned under NOC TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER3.
• You should have continued one year of work experience within the last year.
• You do not need a job offer, but it might help you gain FSW points during selection.
• You must have a secondary education, but post-secondary education might get you more FSW points during selection. 
• Your selection factors for FSWP will follow the updated Skill Type/Level Chart from NOC 2021. 

Apply for Federal Skilled Worker Program with Bilimoria & Associate 

The new NOC system is significant for permanent residence and temporary work permit programs. It will help Canada to pull out better applications and fill the gap in Canada’s labor market. The Canadian government is said to roll out new information in the coming weeks. We will keep you updated with all the essential information. Meanwhile, if you are looking to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Bilimoria & Associate can help you with the entire process. 

Bilimoria & Associate is a leading immigration visa service provider in Chennai and has seamlessly helped thousands of people migrate to different countries. Whether you are looking to build your future in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, the UK, or Portugal, we will guide you and do the needful in fulfilling your dream to live and work in these countries. Meanwhile, if you have any queries related to immigration, the visa process or the latest updates, you can call our office on +91 44 2823 9229 / +91 44 2822 7127 / +91 444 350 8191 (or) mail us at neville@bilimoriaassociate.com.