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NOC 72603 is the Canadian National Occupational Classification code for Engineer officers, water transport. It is classified TEER 2 — College diploma, apprenticeship (2+ yrs) or supervisory, 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
Trades, transport & equipment operators
7 › 72 › 726 › 7260
Definition
Engineer officers in water transport, operate and maintain main engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment aboard ships and other self-propelled vessels, and supervise and coordinate the activities of engine room crews. They are employed by marine transportation companies and federal government departments. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
Example job titles
Overview
Under Canada's NOC 2021 system, Engineer Officers, Water Transport are classified under NOC code 72603. This TEER 2 occupation includes professionals who operate, maintain, and repair marine engines, machinery, and auxiliary equipment on board various vessels. They are primarily employed by marine transportation companies, commercial vessel operators, and federal government departments, including the Canadian Coast Guard.
To qualify for this occupation in Canada, candidates typically require completion of secondary school along with a three-to-four-year marine engineering officer cadet program. Alternatively, a combination of three years of experience as an engine room crew member and formal marine engineering training may be accepted. Crucially, licensing is mandatory in Canada; candidates must hold a valid Marine Engineer Officer certificate of competency (Class 1, 2, 3, or 4) issued by Transport Canada.
As a TEER 2 occupation, individuals under NOC 72603 are eligible for key Canadian economic immigration pathways, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program managed through the Express Entry system, as well as various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Candidates must ensure their foreign credentials and maritime certifications meet the rigorous licensing standards of Canadian regulatory authorities to transition successfully into the Canadian workforce.
Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.
Commonly confused codes
Yes — Engineer officers, water transport is TEER 2, 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.
Engineer officers, water transport is classified as TEER 2 — College diploma, apprenticeship (2+ yrs) or supervisory. Always confirm the exact employment requirements on the official NOC profile before relying on them.
Applicants most often mix up 72603 with 74201 (Water transport deck and engine room crew). If your real day-to-day duties fit one of those codes better, that mismatch is exactly what an officer flags — double-check before you submit.
Yes — Engineer officers, water transport is regulated in Québec, so practising there requires recognition from the relevant professional body, and Québec immigration programs take this into account.
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Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.