January 16, 2020
What Is an NOC Code? and How to Pick the Right Express Entry NOC Code
By Josh Schachnow in Express Entry
Your National Occupation Classification (NOC) code is the number your job experiences match up with under Canada’s official job classification system. Every job coincides with a specific NOC code, and it is very important to pick the right one! For example, if you are or have worked as a Banking Manager, your NOC code would be 0122.
Picking the right Express Entry NOC code can be challenging, but getting it correct is important for determining your eligibility and submitting your application.
In order to pick the right NOC code for you, follow the steps below:
List out the job title(s) you’ve held, or are currently working in, that will be the primary roles for the Express Entry NOC code you are picking. For example, “software engineer”, “accountant”, “marketing director”, etc. depending on your work experience. List all that may apply to your work experience.
Go to the government website link here and scroll down beyond the Find your NOC section to the bottom, under “Find your job title, code and skill type”.
Follow the steps they outline there, by typing in each of the titles you wrote down in Step 1 (separately) and then marking down the 3-5 most fitting titles that show up, and the corresponding NOC codes.
Note: there may only be 1-2 NOC codes that seem to fit, and that’s fine.
Go to the NOC website link here, click on “Search by NOC Code” and look up each NOC code that you wrote down in Step 3. You to find your NOC code that:
– has a lead statement/description that matches your work experience
– you match at least half of the main duties listed
– you meet any of the “requirements” listed
– you do not fall under any of the exclusion titles
Review each one carefully until you find the NOC code that matches the best. Since you know your previous roles and experiences best, it’s well worth your time to spend 10-20 minutes (or longer if needed) to find the closest match because getting your Express Entry NOC code right the first time is crucial to a successful application.
We hope this helps – if you want even more help with the Canadian immigration process, make sure to sign up to the Visto portal (for free) at this link!