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NOC 31203 is the Canadian National Occupational Classification code for Occupational therapists. It is classified TEER 1 — Usually require a university degree, which meets the skill requirement for Express Entry. An officer decides whether you can claim this code by comparing the duties written in your reference letter against the official main duties below — not by your job title.
Classification
Health
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Definition
Occupational therapists develop individual and group programs with people affected by illness, injury, developmental disorders, emotional or psychological problems and aging to maintain, restore or increase their ability to care for themselves and to engage in work, school or leisure. They also develop and implement health promotion programs with individuals, community groups and employers. They are employed in health care facilities, in schools, and by private and social services agencies, or they may be self-employed.
Main duties
Example job titles
Express Entry category draws
NOC 31203 is in the “Healthcare & social services” group used for category-based Express Entry draws.
Overview
Occupational therapists under NOC 2021 code 31203 are highly skilled professionals classified within TEER Category 1 of Canada's National Occupational Classification system. These professionals are responsible for assessing, planning, and implementing rehabilitative programs to help individuals overcome physical, cognitive, emotional, or developmental barriers, enabling them to perform daily activities. They are employed in various settings across Canada, including hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health clinics, schools, and private practices.
To successfully immigrate and practice as an occupational therapist in Canada, applicants must meet specific educational and regulatory standards. Candidates typically require a university degree in occupational therapy and the completion of supervised fieldwork. Because occupational therapy is a regulated profession in Canada, candidates must register with the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory body. For foreign-trained professionals, this process usually begins with an academic credential assessment through the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) and passing the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE).
Under Canadian immigration programs, NOC 31203 is eligible for various pathways, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) managed through the Express Entry system. Additionally, because of nationwide healthcare labor shortages, occupational therapists are frequently targeted in category-based Express Entry draws and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.
Yes — Occupational therapists is TEER 1, and TEER 0–3 occupations meet the skill-level requirement for Express Entry programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Full eligibility also depends on your work experience, language results and other program criteria.
Occupational therapists is classified as TEER 1 — Usually require a university degree. Always confirm the exact employment requirements on the official NOC profile before relying on them.
Yes — Occupational therapists is regulated in Québec, so practising there requires recognition from the relevant professional body, and Québec immigration programs take this into account.
Yes — it's in the “Healthcare & social services” group. The latest Healthcare & social services round (June 25, 2026) invited 4000 candidates with a CRS cut-off of 475.
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Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.