Maple News reports that while work experience is critical when applying to Canada’s Express Entry system, not all elements of it directly influence your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score—the metric used to assess and rank candidates vying for permanent residence.
Each applicant to one of the three Express Entry-managed programs—the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)—receives a CRS score based on a variety of factors, including age, education, language skills, and work experience.
Although the specific National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 code tied to your job experience doesn’t impact your CRS score by itself, it becomes relevant if you have a valid job offer in Canada. In such cases, certain NOC codes can qualify for additional points under arranged employment criteria.
Still, NOC codes remain vital to your Express Entry profile. They help Canadian immigration authorities validate your claim to skilled work experience and are especially significant in two specific scenarios: category-based Express Entry draws and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) selections.
Category-based draws, introduced in 2023, invite candidates with specific occupational backgrounds, such as healthcare, STEM, or trades, allowing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to prioritize workers with skills in high-demand sectors. In these draws, your NOC code can determine your eligibility, regardless of your CRS score in a general pool.
Similarly, PNPs often align their priorities with regional labour demands. Provinces use NOC codes to nominate candidates whose work experience matches their local economic needs, giving applicants a major advantage through an additional 600 CRS points if nominated.
The NOC system is Canada’s framework for categorizing all recognized jobs based on duties, responsibilities, and required qualifications. Every job is assigned a unique five-digit NOC code under NOC 2021, which helps employers, candidates, and officials understand the type of work experience being claimed.
So while your exact NOC code may not directly raise your CRS score, it can significantly affect your Express Entry journey by aligning you with category-based invitations and enhancing your profile for provincial nominations.
Maple News encourages Canadian immigration hopefuls to carefully select and accurately represent their NOC code when submitting their Express Entry profile to maximize their chances of success.