National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021
Statutory definition
IRCC adopted NOC 2021 effective November 16, 2022. Work experience and education requirements for Express Entry and other immigration programs are now assessed against NOC 2021 TEER categories instead of NOC 2016 skill levels. The conversion: NOC 2016 Skill Levels 0 and A → NOC 2021 TEER 0 and 1; Skill Level B → TEER 2 and 3; Skill Level C → TEER 4; Skill Level D → TEER 5.
Explanation
The NOC 2021 change affects all immigration applications that reference occupational classifications. Applicants who submitted EOIs or applications under the old NOC codes must verify the corresponding NOC 2021 code for their occupation. The TEER system provides a more granular classification than the previous 4-level skill system, and some occupations moved between categories during the transition. The TEER category of the applicant's occupation determines which Express Entry programs they qualify for and which language benchmarks apply.