New TEER System Implements Next Week – All You Need To Know

On November 16, next week, IRCC will implement the new National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021, the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) system. With this implementation, several changes are coming to the Express Entry system. 

These changes will impact Express Entry eligibility. For example, 16 NOC C occupations will become eligible for Express Entry. Additionally, it will also be implemented by all the provincial nominee programs (PNPs). For e.g., 12 NOC codes will become ineligible for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). 

Another change is in the eligibility criteria of the Express Entry. As with NOC 2016 system, an applicant needed to have skilled experience, such as in NOC 0, A or B, to qualify for Express Entry. Next week, with the implementation of NOC 2021, the eligibility criteria for Express Entry will change. 

In this article, you can learn about the upcoming changes in the Express Entry system with the implementation of the new NOC c or the TEER system.  

What is the new NOC 2021 and the TEER system?

Canada uses NOC, National Occupation Classification, as a national standard for identifying occupations. After every ten years, the Canadian federal government updates NOC to reflect the country’s labour and economic market changes. 

The old 4-digit “Skill Level” structure will be replaced by the NOC 2021. To illustrate the level of Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) required for a given occupation, new NOC categories are introduced. These new categories include a brand-new five-digit hierarchical structure. 

Understanding NOC 2021 categorisation and the TEER system

Overview of the new TEER categories 

TEER 0: This category includes legislative and senior management occupations with significant experience and knowledge and handles responsibility for directing, resource planning and management. 

TEER 1: This category typically calls for a college/ university degree or prior experience and knowledge in the subject matter from a similar job listed under TEER 2.

TEER 2: This includes occupations with major safety or supervisory duties and typically need two to three years of post-secondary education or at least two years of apprenticeship training.

TEER 3: This includes occupations requiring fewer than two years of post-secondary education, on-the-job training, training courses, or work experience of more than six months.

TEER 4:  Occupations requiring either a high school diploma or no formal education are under TEER 4 category. Applicants with several years of experience in this category may qualify for TEER 3. 

TEER 5: This category is for occupations without formal education requirements. 

Express Entry eligibility requirements with the new TEER system 

To continue participating in Express Entry, you must update your profile with the new TEER system if you haven’t received an invitation to apply (ITA) by November 16, 2022.

Additionally, if you were issued an ITA before November 16, 2022, you must continue to use the NOC 2016 system exclusively.

For the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program, IRCC has provided updated NOC 2021 eligibility criteria for Express Entry. To understand eligibility after November 16, see the tables below.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Occupations that will become eligible & ineligible under the TEER system

With the implementation of the new TEER system, certain occupations will become eligible under the Express Entry system. Sixteen occupations previously under NOC C will upgrade to TEER 3 next week, making them eligible under Express Entry. 

However, changes in the NOC will also make 12 occupations ineligible, as some have been moved from NOC C to NOC D, falling under the TEER 5 level. In addition, it will impact applicants under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) that accepts NOC C and above skill levels. 

Below is the list of occupations that will become eligible and ineligible. 

16 occupations that will become eligible under Express Entry 

1. Payroll Administrators
2. Dental Assistants and dental laboratory assistants
3. Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
4. Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
5. Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
6. Sheriffs and bailiffs
7. Correctional service officers
8. By-lay enforcement and other regulatory officers
9. Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
10. Residential and commercial installers and servicers
11. Pest controllers and fumigators
12. Other repairers and servicers
13. Transport truck drivers
14. Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
15. Heavy equipment operators
16. Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors

12 occupations that will become ineligible For Atlantic Immigrant Program (AIP) 

1. Pet groomers and animal care workers
2. Other support occupations in personal services
3. Longshore workers
4. Material handlers
5. Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
6. Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors
7. Boat and cable ferry operators and related occupations
8. Livestock labourers
9. Nursery and greenhouse labourers
10. Trappers and hunters
11. Food and beverage servers
12. Labourers in textile processing and cutting