What is TEER?

TEER (Training, Education, Experience, Responsibility) is the six-level categorization system used in the NOC 2021 to classify every Canadian occupation by the typical training, education, experience, and responsibility level required. TEER replaced the previous "Skill Level" classification when NOC 2021 took effect in November 2022.

The TEER of an occupation determines eligibility for many immigration pathways, including Express Entry programs and LMIA-supported work permits.

The six TEER categories

TEER	Type	Examples
0	Management occupations	CEOs, senior managers, financial managers, IT managers
1	Occupations usually requiring a university degree	Software engineers, physicians, accountants, lawyers, scientists
2	Occupations usually requiring a college diploma, apprenticeship 2+ years, or supervisory roles	Construction estimators, executive assistants, financial officers, dental hygienists, computer network technicians
3	Occupations usually requiring a college diploma, apprenticeship under 2 years, or 6+ months on-the-job training	Bakers, dental assistants, transport truck drivers (NOC 73300), heavy equipment operators
4	Occupations usually requiring secondary school + several weeks of on-the-job training	Home support workers, food and beverage servers, cashiers, school bus drivers
5	Occupations usually requiring short demonstration only	Trades helpers, harvesting labourers, fast-food counter attendants

Why does TEER matter for immigration?

• Express Entry CEC: requires 12+ months of TEER 0-3 Canadian work experience.
• Express Entry FSW: requires 1+ year continuous TEER 0-3 work experience (Canadian or foreign).
• Express Entry FSTC: requires work experience in TEER 2 or 3 specific skilled-trades NOCs.
• OINP Employer Job Offer: separate streams for TEER 0-3 (Foreign Worker) and TEER 4-5 (In-Demand Skills) — selection criteria differ.
• LMIA: high-wage vs. low-wage stream determination uses the prevailing wage for the NOC's TEER level.

Common gotchas

• NOC 2016 → NOC 2021 transition. Some occupations changed TEER categories in the 2021 update. For example, certain skilled trades moved from "Skill Level B" (now TEER 2) to "Skill Level C" (now TEER 3). Work experience accrued before November 2022 should be assessed under the rules in effect at the time.
• TEER 4-5 ≠ Express Entry. Federal Express Entry programs do not accept TEER 4-5 work experience directly. TEER 4-5 workers transition to PR through PNP streams (e.g., OINP In-Demand Skills, MPNP) or LMIA-supported pathways.

See also

• NOC — the full code system that includes TEER.
• NOC Lookup tool — find the TEER for any occupation.