🧮 Know your TEER level? Calculate your Express Entry CRS score
CRS Calculator →What Is the TEER System?
TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities. It is the framework used in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to categorize every job in Canada according to the level of education, training, and skill required to perform it.
IRCC introduced the new TEER-based NOC system in November 2022, replacing the older system that used Skill Levels 0, A, B, C, and D. The old letter/number designations are no longer used in immigration applications submitted after that date. If you see "NOC Skill Level A" in older articles or immigration forums, that corresponds roughly to the new TEER 1.
Old NOC Levels vs. New TEER Levels
| Old NOC Skill Level | New TEER Level | General Description |
|---|---|---|
| NOC Skill Level 0 (Management) | TEER 0 | Management and senior leadership occupations |
| NOC Skill Level A | TEER 1 | Professional occupations requiring university degree |
| NOC Skill Level B | TEER 2 and TEER 3 | Technical, trades, and supervisory occupations |
| NOC Skill Level C | TEER 4 | Intermediate service and clerical occupations |
| NOC Skill Level D | TEER 5 | Labour-intensive occupations requiring minimal formal training |
All 6 TEER Levels Explained
TEER 0 — Management
Management occupations. Responsible for directing people, budgets, and organizational outcomes. Usually require significant experience plus education.
- Corporate sales managers
- Restaurant and food service managers
- Construction managers
- Retail trade managers
- Senior government managers
- Financial managers
TEER 1 — University Degree Professionals
Professional occupations requiring a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree. The largest group of Express Entry applicants fall here.
- Software developers and engineers
- Civil, mechanical, electrical engineers
- Accountants and auditors
- Registered nurses
- Lawyers and notaries
- Teachers (secondary school)
TEER 2 — College Diploma / Apprenticeship (2+ years)
Technical and skilled trades occupations requiring 2+ years of post-secondary education or a completed apprenticeship program.
- Electricians (journeyperson)
- Plumbers
- Industrial instrumentation technicians
- Computer network technicians
- Paralegals
- Medical laboratory technologists
TEER 3 — Secondary School + Short-Term Training
Occupations requiring completion of secondary school and some additional on-the-job training, apprenticeship, or a short-term course.
- Cooks (not chef — that's TEER 2)
- Hairstylists and barbers
- Dental assistants
- Early childhood educators
- Retail and wholesale trade supervisors
- Home support workers
TEER 4 — Secondary School Only
Occupations requiring only secondary school completion. Not eligible for Express Entry FSW or CEC. Some PNP and AIP streams accept TEER 4.
- Retail salespersons
- Food and beverage servers
- Cashiers
- Taxi and rideshare drivers
- Security guards
- Hotel front desk agents
TEER 5 — Short Demonstration or No Formal Training
Occupations requiring only a short period of on-the-job demonstration or no formal education at all. Generally not accepted for any PR pathway.
- General farm workers
- Harvesting labourers
- Cleaning staff (industrial)
- Newspaper carriers
- Babysitters and nannies without training
- Amusement park attendants
TEER Levels and PR Eligibility
Not all TEER levels open the same doors in Canadian immigration. Here is a clear breakdown of which pathways accept experience from each TEER level:
| TEER Level | Express Entry (FSW/CEC) | Provincial Nominee Programs | Atlantic Immigration Program | Other Pathways |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEER 0 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Most streams | ✅ Yes (High-Skilled) | H&C, Agri-food, etc. |
| TEER 1 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Most streams | ✅ Yes (High-Skilled) | Most pathways |
| TEER 2 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Most streams | ✅ Yes (High-Skilled) | Most pathways |
| TEER 3 | ✅ Yes (CLB 5 min. for CEC) | ✅ Many streams | ✅ Yes (High-Skilled) | Some pilot programs |
| TEER 4 | ❌ No | ⚠️ Some streams only | ✅ Yes (Intermediate) | Agri-food pilot, some care worker streams |
| TEER 5 | ❌ No | ❌ Very few | ❌ No | Very limited |
TEER Levels and CRS Points
Your TEER level affects your CRS score in two ways: through work experience points and through skill transferability bonuses. Higher TEER levels do not automatically earn more CRS points — the distinction is between Canadian and foreign experience, and how many years you have.
| Work Experience | CRS Points (No Spouse) | CRS Points (With Spouse) |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian experience — 1 year (TEER 0/1/2/3) | 40 | 35 |
| Canadian experience — 2–3 years | 53 | 46 |
| Canadian experience — 4–5 years | 64 | 56 |
| Canadian experience — 6+ years | 80 | 70 |
| Foreign experience — 1–2 years (TEER 0/1/2/3) | 13 | 11 |
| Foreign experience — 3+ years | 25 | 21 |
Common Occupations and Their TEER Levels
Here are frequently searched occupations and their TEER classifications to help you quickly identify where you fall:
| Occupation | NOC Code (example) | TEER Level | Express Entry? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software developer | 21232 | TEER 1 | ✅ Yes |
| Registered nurse | 31301 | TEER 1 | ✅ Yes |
| Civil engineer | 21300 | TEER 1 | ✅ Yes |
| Accountant | 11100 | TEER 1 | ✅ Yes |
| Electrician (journeyperson) | 72200 | TEER 2 | ✅ Yes |
| Welder | 72106 | TEER 2 | ✅ Yes |
| Cook | 63200 | TEER 3 | ✅ Yes (CLB 5) |
| Early childhood educator | 42202 | TEER 3 | ✅ Yes (CLB 5) |
| Hairstylist | 63211 | TEER 3 | ✅ Yes (CLB 5) |
| Retail salesperson | 64100 | TEER 4 | ❌ No |
| Food and beverage server | 65200 | TEER 4 | ❌ No |
| General farm worker | 85100 | TEER 5 | ❌ No |
| Cleaning staff (industrial) | 65310 | TEER 5 | ❌ No |
How to Find Your TEER Level
Finding your TEER level is a two-step process. Many applicants make the mistake of choosing a NOC code based solely on job title — this is the wrong approach and can lead to misrepresentation concerns if IRCC reviews your employment letters.
Step 1: Go to noc.esdc.gc.ca and search by your job title or keywords from your job description.
Step 2: Open each result and compare your actual daily duties against the NOC code's "lead statement" and "main duties." The match must be substantive — not just a similar job title.
Step 3: Confirm the TEER level shown on that NOC page. If your duties span two codes, choose the one that best represents 50%+ of your work.
📚 Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions — TEER Categories Canada
What is TEER in Canadian immigration?
TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities. It is the NOC system's occupational skill-level framework, replacing the old A/B/C/D/0 levels in 2022. TEER levels run from 0 (management) to 5 (no formal training required). Your TEER level determines whether you qualify for Express Entry and how many CRS points your work experience earns.
Which TEER levels qualify for Express Entry?
Express Entry programs — FSW, CEC, and FST — require work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations. TEER 4 and TEER 5 do not qualify for Express Entry. TEER 4 may qualify for some Provincial Nominee Programs and the Atlantic Immigration Program's Intermediate stream.
What is TEER 0 in Canada?
TEER 0 covers management and senior leadership roles — anyone managing a department, business unit, or large team. All NOC codes starting with 0 are TEER 0. Examples: retail manager, construction superintendent, restaurant manager, HR director. TEER 0 experience is fully eligible for Express Entry.
What jobs are in TEER 3?
TEER 3 includes jobs requiring secondary school completion plus some on-the-job training, short-term courses, or informal apprenticeship. Common examples: cooks, hairstylists, early childhood educators, dental assistants, home support workers, retail supervisors, community service workers. TEER 3 qualifies for Express Entry under CEC with a CLB 5 language minimum.
Does TEER 4 qualify for Canadian PR?
TEER 4 does not qualify for Express Entry (FSW or CEC). However, it is accepted in the Atlantic Immigration Program's Intermediate-Skilled stream, some Provincial Nominee Programs, and certain pilot programs like the Agri-food Pilot. If you are working in a TEER 4 role, PNP and AIP are your most viable PR pathways.
How do I find my TEER level?
Go to noc.esdc.gc.ca and search by job title. Open the NOC codes that appear and compare your actual daily duties to the "lead statement" and "main duties" of each code — not just the title. The TEER level is displayed on each NOC code's page. Always match by duties, not by job title alone.
Key Takeaways
- TEER replaced the old NOC skill levels A/B/C/D/0 in November 2022
- Six TEER levels: 0 (management) through 5 (no formal training)
- Express Entry requires TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 — TEER 4 and 5 do not qualify
- TEER 4 is accepted in the Atlantic Immigration Program (Intermediate stream) and some PNPs
- Canadian work experience earns ~3x more CRS points than equivalent foreign experience regardless of TEER level
- Always match your NOC code by job duties, not just title — mismatching is a misrepresentation risk
- Find your TEER level at noc.esdc.gc.ca using the official NOC search tool