Find the NOC code for your primary occupation and the corresponding stream

As part of the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), your primary occupation is the one you wish to work at in Quebec and that you are likely able to work at. It determines the part of the program for which you may receive an invitation to apply for permanent selection.

Your primary occupation is listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), which is Canada’s national system for describing and classifying all occupations in the labour market. In total, it list 516 occupations, each of which is identified by a five-digit NOC code.

To find the five-digit NOC code that corresponds to your primary occupation and the corresponding stream, you must follow these four steps:

Step 1

Go to the official NOC site and select the "NOC 2021 Version 1.0" version.

Step 2

Choose your search method to find your primary occupation.

Search by job title or NOC code

• Click on "Search by job title" or "Search by NOC code", if you found one on another search engine (if you found more than one, repeat the process each time);
• Enter a job title (singular, not plural) or an NOC code;
• Proceed to step 3.

Advanced Search

• Click on “Advanced search”;
• Click on “Search by structure”;
• Select the “broad occupational category” (1st digit of the NOC code) and the “FEER” (2nd digit of the NOC code).
• Proceed to step 3.

Step 3

Choose your primary occupation.

• Among the proposed occupations resulting from any of the search methods, identify those that appear to be related to your primary occupation based on the occupation titles.  
• Carefully read the information on each of the occupations generated by your search, including the main functions section.
• If more than one occupation corresponds to your primary occupation, choose the one for which you perform or have performed the majority of the main functions.
• Now that you have found the NOC code that corresponds to your primary occupation, make a note of it, return to this page and proceed to step 4.  

Step 4

Find the stream that applies to your primary occupation.

Enter the NOC code for your primary occupation in the search tool. ^{Read the content of the note 1}

If Stream 3: Regulated professions apply to your primary occupation, check the regulations that apply and the steps you need to take to have your skills recognized by the regulatory authority overseeing your profession in Quebec at the Qualifications Québec website. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the regulatory framework that applies to your profession.