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Teer System Canada: Understand the Shift from NOC to the TEER System

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) in Canada plays a fundamental role in the country’s immigration process. Therefore, Canada has implemented NOC 2021, and the changes will be induced in the immigration system in 2022.  Candidates for skilled workers and temporary foreign employees must demonstrate that their experience meets the NOC requirements of the program for which they are applying. The NOC is Canada’s national occupational reference that categorizes employment activities in Canada to aid in understanding the structure of the Canadian Labour Market, government programs, promoting skill development, conducting research, and helping the country manage its immigration and foreign worker programs. Canada reviews its occupational classification system once every ten years and by the end of 2022, the NOC system will be replaced by Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories. 

What will be the major changes in the shift from NOC 21 to TEER in Canada?

The present four-category “skill-level” framework of NOC has been replaced with a six-category system that describes the level of Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) needed to enter each occupation. Let’s find out what will be the changes in the shift from NOC to the TEER system.

NOC 0 – Managerial Jobs

NOC A- Professions requiring university degrees

NOC B- Occupations requiring a skilled craft or a college education

NOC C- Occupations requiring intermediate skills or job-specific training

NOC D- Occupations that are labor roles and require on-the-job training

Post changes, NOC 21’s four skill type categories (NOC A, B, C, and D) will be replaced by a TEER system with six categories (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5)

TEER 0– Occupations in management which is similar to NOC 0.

TEER 1– Occupations that require a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s, etc); or it will also include candidates with TEER 2 category experience in a given occupation.

TEER 2– Occupations where the candidate must have completed 2-3 years of postsecondary education; or completion of a 2-5 year apprenticeship training program; or occupations having supervisory or major safety responsibilities such as police officers, firefighters, etc.  Also, candidates with experience in TEER 3 occupations can move up to TEER 2.

TEER 3- Completion of a 2-year postsecondary education program; apprenticeship training that is less than 2 years; a high school diploma with more than 6 months of on-the-job training; or years of experience in TEER 4 category occupations to qualify for TEER 3.

TEER 4– Secondary school graduate; or high school diploma with several weeks of on-the-job training; or several years of experience in TEER 5 occupations. 

TEER 5– No formal education prerequisites and only a brief job demonstration.

Candidates can move to a higher category on the basis of their work experience in each category, except TEER 5 and TEER 0. Even if they do not possess prescribed educational qualifications, their extensive work experience will be treated similarly to a formal degree.

How will it affect immigrants and international workers?

NOC 2021 will have minimal impact on immigration and international workers because their work experience will continue to match the eligibility criteria for their preferred immigration or foreign worker program. However, the changes might have both pros and cons for the candidates. For example, some candidates will be eligible for further and higher programs and others may discover they are no longer eligible due to the revisions made. 

Meanwhile, skilled workers must be prepared for the changes that will come along with the NOC to TEER shift.

A professional consultant can help you gain more insights into the shift and help you choose the best program catering to your needs. 5 River Immigration experts can help you with a complete step-by-step procedure for immigrating to Canada. 

Contact us today!


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