National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.0

4 - Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

Occupations in this category are concerned with law, teaching, counselling, conducting social science research, developing government policy, and administering government and other programs. Occupations providing religious services and leadership are included in this category. These occupations usually require completion of a related post-secondary program. Individuals who work as paralegals, social service workers or educators and instructors who are not part of the elementary, secondary or post-secondary school system are usually required to complete additional formal education to progress to professional occupations.

41 - Professional occupations in law and social, community and government services

This major group comprises professional occupations in law and social, community and government services. It includes judges, lawyers, Quebec notaries, psychologists, social workers and counsellors; as well as policy researchers, consultants and program officers in a variety of fields; and certain other professional occupations in the social sciences.

415 - Social and community service professionals

This minor group includes psychologists, social workers, counsellors, probation and parole officers and those in professional occupations in religion. They work in private practice; and are employed by mental health, health care and rehabilitation facilities; correctional facilities, community service, social service, and child welfare organizations; schools, school boards, and universities; counselling centres, group homes, family therapy centres; churches, synagogues, temples and other places of worship; employee assistance programs, human resource departments, and employment service organizations; consulting, and other companies; Aboriginal band councils, and federal and provincial governments; and government and private research agencies.

4154 - Professional occupations in religion

Professionals in this unit group conduct religious services, administer the rites of a religious faith or denomination, provide spiritual and moral guidance and perform other functions associated with the practice of a religion. They perform these duties in churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship. They may also work in other institutions such as schools, hospitals and prisons.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • archbishop
  • bishop
  • cardinal
  • chaplain
  • evangelist
  • granthi
  • imam
  • minister
  • moderator - religion
  • pastor
  • priest
  • rabbi

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Other religious occupations (See 4217 Other religious occupations)

• Main duties

  Professionals in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Conduct regular religious services
  • Administer rites of faiths such as marriages and funerals
  • Pray and promote spirituality by delivering sermons and other talks
  • Provide spiritual and moral guidance to members of a religious faith
  • Supervise, plan and administer programs of religious education
  • May participate in humanitarian endeavours and delivery of social services and welfare activities
  • May share in the administrative and financial operation of a religious community
  • May provide consultation services to government and other organizations.

• Employment requirements

  • Completion of college, university or other program in religious studies is usually required. Some occupations in this unit group may require a master's of divinity or theology.
  • A period of study with a senior minister is usually required.

• Additional information

  • Progression to senior positions included in this unit group, within a religious order, is possible with experience.