National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.3

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634 - Specialized occupations in personal and customer services

This minor group includes hairstylists, barbers, tailors, dressmakers, furriers, milliners, shoe repairers, shoemakers, jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers, upholsterers, funeral directors, embalmers and other specialized occupations in personal and customer services. They are employed by hair salons, barber shops, vocational schools and health care establishments; theatre, film and television establishments; dry cleaners, custom shoemaking and clothing alteration establishments; shoe, jewellery, clock and watch and furniture repair shops; garment, jewellery, clock and watch, furniture, aircraft, motor vehicle and other manufacturing companies; retail stores and outlets; and funeral homes; or they may be self-employed.

6341 - Hairstylists and barbers

Hairstylists and barbers cut and style hair and perform related services. They are employed in hairstyling or hairdressing salons, barber shops, vocational schools, health care establishments and theatre, film and television establishments.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • barber
    • barber apprentice
    • hair colour technician
    • hairdresser
    • hairdresser apprentice
    • hairstylist
    • hairstylist apprentice
    • wig stylist

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations (See 6562 Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations)
    • Hairdressing teachers (See 4021 College and other vocational instructors)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Hairstylists

    • Suggest hairstyle compatible with client's physical features or determine style from client's instructions and preferences
    • Cut, trim, taper, curl, wave, perm and style hair
    • Apply bleach, tints, dyes or rinses to colour, frost or streak hair
    • Analyze hair and scalp condition and provide basic treatment or advice on beauty care treatments for scalp and hair
    • Clean and style wigs and hair pieces
    • Apply hair extensions
    • May shampoo and rinse hair
    • May perform receptionist duties and order supplies
    • May train or supervise other hairstylists, hairstylist apprentices and helpers.

    Barbers

    • Cut and trim hair according to client's instructions or preferences
    • Shave and trim beards and moustaches
    • May shampoo hair and provide other hair treatment, such as waving, straightening and tinting and may also provide scalp conditioning massages
    • May book appointments and order supplies
    • May train and supervise other barbers and barber apprentices.
  • Employment requirements

    Hairstylists

    • Some secondary school education is required.
    • Completion of a two- or three-year hairstyling apprenticeship program or completion of a college or other program in hairstyling combined with on-the-job training is usually required.
    • Several years of experience may replace formal education and training.
    • Employers may require applicants to provide a hairstyling demonstration before being hired.
    • Trade certification for hairstylists is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
    • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified hairstylists upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

    Barbers

    • Some secondary school education is required.
    • Completion of a two-year apprenticeship or other barber program is usually required.
    • On-the-job training may be substituted for formal education.
    • Trade certification for barbers is compulsory in Ontario and available, but voluntary, in the Yukon.
    • Red Seal endorsement is also available to barbers, as qualified hairstylists, upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Additional information

    • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.

6342 - Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners

Tailors, dressmakers and furriers make, alter and repair tailored clothing, dresses, coats and other made-to-measure garments. Milliners make, alter and repair hats. This unit group also includes alterationists who fit, alter and repair garments. They are employed by clothing retailers, clothing alteration shops, dry cleaners and garment manufacturing companies or they may be self-employed.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • alterations dressmaker
    • custom furrier
    • custom tailor
    • furrier
    • garment alterationist
    • milliner
    • seamstress
    • tailor

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Couturier - haute couture (See 5243 Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Tailors

    • Make made-to-measure garments, such as suits and coats according to customers' and clothing manufacturers' specifications and fit
    • Design patterns to fit measurements
    • Mark, cut and sew fabric
    • May alter and repair garments as required.

    Dressmakers

    • Make women's garments
    • Select and modify commercial patterns to customers' and clothing manufacturers' specifications
    • Fit, mark, cut and sew fabric
    • May alter and repair garments as required.

    Furriers

    • Make, alter, restyle and repair natural fur garments and accessories.

    Milliners

    • Design, lay out, cut, sew and press fabric, leather and other materials into hats and related accessories.

    Alterationists

    • Fit, alter and repair garments according to customers' requests by hand or using sewing machines.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school may be required.
    • Tailors and dressmakers require demonstrated ability to sew, style and fit men's or women's garments and may require completion of college or other courses in tailoring or dressmaking.
    • Furriers require several years of experience in selecting pelts and making, fitting, styling and altering fur garments and accessories.
    • Milliners require demonstrated ability to sew, style and fit hats and caps.
    • Alterationists require demonstrated ability to sew, alter and repair garments.

6343 - Shoe repairers and shoemakers

Shoe repairers repair footwear and shoemakers make specialized and custom shoes and boots. They are employed in shoe repair shops or custom shoemaking establishments, or they may be self-employed.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • bootmaker
    • custom shoemaker
    • orthopedic shoemaker
    • shoe repairer
    • shoemaker

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Labourers in shoe manufacturing (See 9619 Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities)
    • Workers who cut fabric or leather to form shoe parts on a production basis (See 9445 Fabric, fur and leather cutters)
    • Workers who operate sewing machines to make shoes on a production basis (See 9446 Industrial sewing machine operators)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Shoemakers

    • Discuss type of footwear to be made and obtain measurements from customer
    • Select patterns and leather or other material and outline and cut patterns
    • Select or assemble lasts, fasten insoles to lasts and sew or glue other parts into place
    • Trim, dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes
    • Estimate custom footwear costs and receive payment from customers
    • May supervise other shoemakers and shoe repairers.

    Shoe repairers

    • Repair soles, heels and other parts of footwear using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials and equipment
    • Repair belts, luggage, purses and similar products
    • Estimate footwear repair costs and take payment.
  • Employment requirements

    • Some secondary school may be required.
    • Several months of on-the-job training is provided for shoe repairers.
    • Extensive on-the-job training is provided for shoemakers.
    • Shoemakers may require experience as shoe repairers.
  • Additional information

    • Shoe repairers may progress to shoemakers with experience.

6344 - Jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations

Jewellers and workers in related occupations fabricate, assemble, repair and appraise fine jewellery. Watch repairers and workers in related occupations repair, clean, adjust and fabricate parts for clocks and watches. They are employed by jewellery, clock and watch manufacturers and retail stores, by jewellery and watch repair shops or they may be self-employed.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • clock repairer
    • diamond cutter
    • gem cutter
    • pearl cutter
    • precious stone setter
    • watch repairer

    All examples

  • Inclusion(s)

    • clockmaker
    • gemologist
  • Exclusion(s)

    • Goldsmiths, silversmiths and jewellery artisans (See 5244 Artisans and craftspersons)
    • Jewellery and clock and watch production assemblers (See 9537 Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Jewellers and related workers

    • Fabricate and repair precious and semi-precious metal jewellery, such as rings, brooches, pendants, bracelets and lockets
    • Examine, cut, shape and polish diamonds using optical instruments, lathes and laps
    • Examine, cut, shape and polish precious and synthetic gems using optical instruments, cutting disks and laps
    • Appraise gemstones and diamonds to differentiate between stones, identify rare specimens and to detect peculiarity affecting stone values
    • Set precious and semi-precious stones in jewellery mountings, according to specifications
    • May supervise other jewellers.

    Jewellers may specialize in certain kinds of jewellery, such as gold or silver, or in particular operations, such as fabrication or repair.

    Watch repairers

    • Fabricate or fit parts to make watches and clocks
    • Examine clocks and watches, disassemble and check for defective and misaligned parts or rust
    • Replace or repair worn or broken parts
    • Test, adjust and regulate timepiece movements
    • Clean all parts using special cleaning and rinsing solutions and ultrasonic or mechanical cleaning machines to remove dirt and dried lubricants
    • May supervise other watch repairers.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of a college or other program, or apprenticeship training in watch or jewellery repair or gemology is usually required.
    • Trade certification as a gemsetter is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.
    • Experience as a jewellery, clock or watch assembler may be required.
  • Additional information

    • Mobility is possible among the various jewellery occupations in this unit group.
    • There is little mobility between the jewellery occupations and the watch repairers in this unit group.

6345 - Upholsterers

Upholsterers cover furniture, fixtures and similar items with fabric, leather or other upholstery materials. They are employed by furniture, aircraft, motor vehicle and other manufacturing companies, furniture retail outlets and repair shops or they may be self-employed.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • automobile upholsterer
    • custom upholsterer
    • furniture upholsterer
    • upholsterer
    • upholstery repairer

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Furniture and fixture assemblers and inspectors (See 9532 Furniture and fixture assemblers and inspectors)
    • Furniture finishers and refinishers (See 9534 Furniture finishers and refinishers)
    • Supervisors of upholsterers in furniture manufacturing (See 9224 Supervisors, furniture and fixtures manufacturing)
    • Upholsterer helpers (See 9619 Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Discuss upholstery fabric, colour, and style with customers and provide cost estimate for upholstering furniture or other items
    • Lay out, measure and cut upholstery materials according to sketches or design specifications
    • Replace worn-out webbing, springs and other furniture parts using hand and power tools
    • Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery materials by hand to seam cushions and join sections of covering materials
    • Install padding and underlays and fasten covering materials to furniture frames
    • Tack, glue or sew ornamental trim, braids or buttons on upholstered items
    • Lay out, cut, fabricate and install upholstery in aircrafts, motor vehicles, railway cars, boats and ships
    • May repair furniture frames and refinish wood surfaces
    • May make upholstery patterns from sketches, customer descriptions or blueprints
    • May install, fabricate, maintain and repair interior components of aircraft, such as seats, coverings, drapes, cargo nets, flooring, closets, bins and panels.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of college or other specialized courses or an apprenticeship program in furniture upholstering and repair
      or
      Several years of on-the-job training, including working as an upholsterer helper are usually required.
    • Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

6346 - Funeral directors and embalmers

Funeral directors co-ordinate and arrange all aspects of funeral services. Embalmers prepare the remains of deceased persons for public visitation and burial. Funeral directors and embalmers are employed by funeral homes.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • apprentice embalmer
    • embalmer
    • funeral director
    • mortician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Bereavement counsellors (See 4153 Family, marriage and other related counsellors)
    • Funeral home attendants (See 6742 Other service support occupations, n.e.c.)
    • Funeral service general managers (See 0015 Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c.)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Funeral directors

    • Consult with the family of the deceased regarding the nature of the funeral service, the disposition of the remains and funeral costs
    • Transfer, or arrange for the transfer of, the remains from the place of death to the funeral home
    • Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible
    • Issue death notices to newspapers
    • Oversee the preparation of the remains, plan and schedule funeral services, co-ordinate burials and cremations and complete legal documents
    • Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients
    • Manage funeral home operations including hiring and directing staff, maintaining financial records, preparing accounts and ordering merchandise
    • Supervise embalmers, funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff
    • May perform same duties as embalmers.

    Embalmers

    • Preserve, sanitize and prepare human remains for funeral services
    • Perform cosmetic and restorative work on human remains
    • Supervise funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of a one- to two-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program is usually required for funeral directors.
    • Completion of a two- to three-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program
      or
      Completion of a three-year college program is required for embalmers.
    • Funeral directors require licensure in most provinces and territories.
    • Funeral directors may be required to be licensed embalmers depending on provincial requirements.
    • Embalmers require licensure in all provinces.
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