What Is TEER in Canada Immigration? — NOC 2021 Explained
TEER is Canada's occupation-classification system that decides your Express Entry eligibility, CRS points, and even whether your spouse qualifies for an open work permit.
The 6 TEER Categories
TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities. It replaced the old NOC skill-level system in 2021 and groups every Canadian occupation into one of six tiers:
| TEER | Typical Requirement | Example Occupations |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Management occupations | Senior managers, restaurant managers, construction managers |
| 1 | University degree (bachelor's or higher) | Engineers, registered nurses, accountants, software developers |
| 2 | 2+ year college diploma or apprenticeship, or supervisory role | Technologists, paralegals, some skilled trades supervisors |
| 3 | Less than 2-year college diploma, or 6 months–1 year apprenticeship, or significant on-the-job training | Cooks, electricians (apprentice level), administrative assistants |
| 4 | High school diploma plus some short-term training | Home support workers, retail supervisors, food counter staff |
| 5 | No formal education requirement | Labourers, cleaning staff, harvesting labourers |
Why TEER Matters for Immigration
- Express Entry eligibility — the Federal Skilled Worker Program generally requires TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 experience. TEER 4 and 5 do not qualify on their own.
- Job offer proof-of-funds exemption — a valid job offer only exempts you from settlement funds if it's a full-time, non-seasonal, 1+ year role in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Spousal Open Work Permit eligibility — since January 2025, spouses of foreign workers only qualify for an open work permit if the principal worker's job is TEER 0 or 1, or a select TEER 2/3 occupation on IRCC's list.
- Category-based Express Entry draws — the Healthcare, STEM, Trades, and other category draws are built around specific TEER-classified NOC codes.
How to Find Your TEER Level
Search your job title in the official NOC 2021 classification tool on Statistics Canada or IRCC's website. Your TEER isn't determined by your job title alone — it's based on your actual duties and the typical training/education path for that occupation. A "Manager" title with mostly TEER 3-level duties may still be classified differently than expected, so always verify against the official NOC description rather than assuming from the title.
TEER 0 vs TEER 1 — A Common Point of Confusion
TEER 0 covers management occupations across all sectors, regardless of whether the manager has a university degree. TEER 1 covers professional occupations that specifically require a university degree (bachelor's or higher), such as engineers or registered nurses. A restaurant manager (TEER 0) and a mechanical engineer (TEER 1) both count as "high-skill" for Express Entry purposes, but through different TEER categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What replaced the old NOC skill-level system?
TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) replaced the previous Skill Level system (Skill Type 0 plus Skill Levels A/B/C/D) starting with NOC 2021. TEER 0-5 map roughly onto the old categories but with more precision around education and training requirements.
Does my job title determine my TEER level?
No. TEER is based on the actual duties you perform and the typical training or education path for that occupation, not the title on your business card. Always verify your specific NOC code and TEER level against the official classification.
Can a TEER 4 or 5 worker immigrate to Canada through Express Entry?
Not through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, which generally requires TEER 0-3 experience. Some Provincial Nominee Program streams and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot occasionally have pathways for TEER 4/5 occupations in specific labour-shortage areas.