National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
3130 - Nursing and allied health professionals
This minor group comprises nursing and allied health professionals, including nursing coordinators and supervisors; registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses; nurse practitioners; and physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals. They are employed by hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, nursing and community agencies, doctors' offices, companies, and private homes; or they may be self-employed.
31300 - Nursing coordinators and supervisors
Nursing coordinators and supervisors coordinate and supervise the activities of registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, licensed practical nurses and other nursing personnel in the provision of patient care. They are employed in health care institutions such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, and in nursing agencies.
Illustrative example(s)
- nursing care coordinator
- nursing services coordinator
- nursing supervisor
- patient care coordinator - nursing
- psychiatric nursing supervisor
- public health nursing supervisor
Exclusion(s)
- Managers in health care (See 30010 Managers in health care)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Supervise registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and other nursing personnel
- Evaluate patients' needs and ensure that required nursing care is delivered
- Set up and coordinate nursing services in conjunction with other health services
- Ensure quality nursing care is provided and appropriate administrative procedures are followed
- Assist in the establishment of unit policies and procedures
- Administer nursing unit budget and ensure that supplies and equipment are available
- Assist in the selection, evaluation and professional development of nursing personnel
- Collaborate on research projects related to nursing and medical care and multidisciplinary services
- May provide direct patient care.
Employment requirements
- Completion of a university, college or other approved registered nursing, or registered psychiatric nursing, program is required.
- Courses in management studies or a degree, diploma or certificate in management or administration may be required.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for registered nurses in all provinces and territories and for registered psychiatric nurses in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon.
- Clinical experience as a registered nurse, or as a registered psychiatric nurse, is required.
Additional information
- Progression to management positions, such as director of nursing, is possible with experience.
31301 - Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, community agencies, companies, private homes and public and private organizations or they may be self-employed.
Illustrative example(s)
- clinical nurse
- community health nurse
- critical care nurse
- emergency care nurse
- intensive care nurse
- nurse researcher
- nursing consultant
- occupational health nurse
- private duty nurse
- public health nurse
- registered nurse (R.N.)
- registered psychiatric nurse (R.P.N.)
Inclusion(s)
- infection control officer
Exclusion(s)
- Nurse practitioners (See 31302 Nurse practitioners)
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors (See 31300 Nursing coordinators and supervisors)
- Nursing services manager - medical services (See 30010 Managers in health care)
- Registered practical nurse (R.P.N.) (See 32101 Licensed practical nurses)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
General duty registered nurses
- Assess patients to identify appropriate nursing interventions
- Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
- Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by a physician or according to established policies and protocols
- Monitor, assess, address, document and report symptoms and changes in patients' conditions
- Operate or monitor medical apparatus or equipment
- Assist in surgery and other medical procedures
- May supervise licensed practical nurses and other nursing staff
- May develop and implement discharge planning process on admission of patients
- May teach and counsel patients and their families on health-related issues in collaboration with other health care providers.
Registered nurses may specialize in areas such as surgery, obstetrics care, psychiatric care, critical care, pediatrics, geriatrics, community health, occupational health, emergency care, rehabilitation or oncology.
Occupational health nurses
- Develop and implement employee health education programs and provide registered nursing care in private businesses and industry.
Community health nurses
- Provide health education and registered nursing care in public health units and through home visits, manage complex home care cases, participate in community needs assessment and program development, conduct disease screening and deliver immunization programs.
Registered psychiatric nurses
- Provide nursing care, supportive counselling and life skills programming to patients in psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, long-term care facilities and community-based settings.
Nursing researchers and consultants
- Engaged in research activities related to nursing, as self-employed or as employed by hospitals, public and private organizations and governments.
- Provide consultative services to institutes, associations and health care organizations regarding issues and concerns relevant to the nursing profession and nursing practice.
Clinical nurses
- Provide leadership, advice and counsel on the provision of research-based care for specific patient groups within the care of particular health care organizations.
Employment requirements
Registered nurses
- Completion of a university, college or other approved registered nursing program is required.
- Additional academic training or experience is required to specialize in a specific area of nursing.
- A master's or doctoral degree in nursing is usually required for clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurses, nursing consultants and nursing researchers.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories.
Registered psychiatric nurses
- Completion of a university or college registered psychiatric nursing program is required.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon.
Additional information
- Nurses trained exclusively as registered psychiatric nurses (RPN) are regulated in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. In all other provinces and territories, registered nurses (RN) may work as psychiatric nurses without separate registration.
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses may progress to supervisory and managerial positions with experience.
31302 - Nurse practitioners
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education, advanced knowledge and nursing experience, and a specialty of practice. They provide a range of health services to patients and deliver preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Nurse practitioners work in conjunction with physicians and collaboratively with other nursing colleagues and health-care providers, or they may work independently. They are employed in community health centres, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centres. Nurse practitioners may specialize in primary healthcare or acute care.
Illustrative example(s)
- extended class registered nurse
- nurse practitioner
- pediatric nurse practitioner
Exclusion(s)
- General practitioners and family physicians (See 31102 General practitioners and family physicians)
- Managers in health care (See 30010 Managers in health care)
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (See 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)
- Physicians assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (See 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals)
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (See 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses)
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (See 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine)
- Specialists in surgery (See 31101 Specialists in surgery)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Examine patients and take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
- Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
- Inoculate and vaccinate patients
- Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
- Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team such as family physicians, therapists and nutritionists to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
- Perform a patient advocacy role
- Prescribe and administer medications
- May coordinate or manage primary patient care.
Employment requirements
- Nurse practitioners usually require a master's degree in nursing; or completion of a nursing program with additional advanced or extended primary health care nursing education; and several years of practice as a registered nurse.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for nurse practitioners in all provinces and territories.
Additional information
- There is little to no mobility between nurse practitioner specializations without further training.
31303 - Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
Physician assistants and midwives provide primary health care and treatment in conjunction with physicians and in collaboration with other health professionals. Physician assistants provide a range of health services to patients delivering preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Midwives provide full-course care to women and their babies during the pre- and post-natal period. This unit group also includes professionals such as genetic counsellors, orthoptists and pathologists' assistants, who work in collaboration with primary health occupations. Genetic counsellors assess individual or family risk of genetic conditions, and provide information to individuals, families and healthcare providers to promote informed choice. Orthoptists diagnose and treat binocular disorders. Pathologists' assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens, or perform autopsies under a pathologist's supervision. Physician assistants usually work under physicians in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Midwives are employed in hospitals, clinics, birthing centres or in private practice. Genetic counsellors usually work in private practice, hospitals, clinics and research institutes. Orthoptists work under an ophthalmologist, particularly in private practices or clinics. Pathologists' assistants are usually employed in hospitals and universities.
Illustrative example(s)
- genetic counsellor
- midwife
- orthoptist
- pathology assistant
- physician assistant
Exclusion(s)
- General practitioners and family physicians (See 31102 General practitioners and family physicians)
- Managers in health care (See 30010 Managers in health care)
- Nurse practitioners (See 31302 Nurse practitioners)
- Other practitioners of natural healing (See 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing)
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (See 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (See 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses)
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (See 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine)
- Specialists in surgery (See 31101 Specialists in surgery)
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (See 32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Physician assistants
- Conduct patient interviews, physical assessments and take medical histories
- Perform or order diagnostic tests and interpret results
- In consultation with a supervising physician, formulate and implement treatment plans and monitor patients' progress
- Perform and assist in minor surgery
- Provide health maintenance education
- May participate in research activities
- May prescribe from a limited list of medications.
Midwives
- Provide primary, full-course, care to women and their babies during pregnancy, such as physical examinations, screening and diagnostic tests to monitor the health of mother and baby and make referrals to medical specialists as required
- Manage labour and spontaneous normal deliveries
- Care for, assess and monitor the health of newborns and refer infants to appropriate medical services as required
- Provide advice and guidance regarding care for newborns and young infants.
Genetic counsellors
- Provide information and support to families affected by or at risk of a genetic disorder
- Gather and analyze family history and inheritance patterns, calculate risks of recurrence, and provide information about genetic testing and related procedures
- Develop, implement or coordinate action plans and refer individuals and families to other health professionals
- Design and conduct genetics training programs for other healthcare professionals or the general public
- May conduct research in the field of medical genetics and genetic counselling.
Orthoptists
- Work alongside ophthalmologists to diagnose and treat eye disorders by performing specialized eye tests to measure and assess defective binocular vision or abnormal eye movement in patients
- Prescribe treatment such as eye exercises or patching regimens.
Pathologists' assistants
- Prepare for autopsies by obtaining patients' medical records and arranging for radiographic examinations
- Prepare, assist with or perform autopsies and surgical specimen examinations under pathologists' supervision
- Assist with preparation of provisional autopsy report
- Dissect, examine, weigh, photograph and X-ray organs and specimens, collect tissue samples for chemical analysis and record findings
- Discard specimens according to established safety procedures
- Clean and maintain instruments, equipment and supplies
- Develop and maintain processes for laboratory quality control
- May prepare bodies for release to funeral homes following completion of autopsies
- May supervise and train junior resident pathologists and morgue attendants.
Employment requirements
Physician assistants
- Physician assistants require completion of a university degree in a physician assistant program.
- Physician assistants require registration with a regulatory body in Manitoba and New Brunswick.
Midwives
- Midwives require completion of an undergraduate university degree program in midwifery or its equivalent and a period of supervised practical training.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for midwives in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Genetic counsellors
- Genetic counsellors usually require a master's degree in genetic counselling and the certification with the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC).
Orthoptists
- A bachelor's degree and completion of a two-year accredited training program in orthoptics are required.
- Certification with the Canadian Orthoptic Council is required.
- Continuing education is required for recertification with the Canadian Orthoptic Council.
Pathologists' assistants
- Pathologists' assistants usually require completion of a master's degree in a pathologists' assistant program.
- Certification by the Canadian Certification Council of Pathologists' Assistants, the American Society for Clinical Pathology - Board of Certification, or Pathologists' Assistant Certification Examination is usually required by employers.
- Membership in the national association, Canadian Association of Pathologists, is voluntary, but may be required by some employers.
Additional information
- There is no mobility between these occupations without further training.
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