National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

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7 - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

This broad category comprises middle management occupations in trades, transportation and equipment, as well as occupations such as technical trades and transportation officers and controllers; general trades; mail and message distribution, other transport equipment operators and related maintenance workers; and helpers and labourers and other transport drivers, operators and labourers.

72 - Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers

This major group comprises technical trades and transportation officers and controllers. These occupations come with Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER) identified as TEER 2. Occupations classified in TEER 2, as those included in this group with a 2 as the second digit of their code, typically require completion of a post-secondary education program of two to three years at community college, institute of technology or CÉGEP; or completion of an apprenticeship training program of two to five years; or supervisory or significant safety responsibilities; or the accumulation of several years of experience in a related occupation found in TEER 3, when applicable (TEER 3 includes occupations with a 3 as a second digit in their code).

722 - Technical electrical trades

This sub-major group comprises technical electrical trades, including electricians (except industrial and power system); industrial electricians; power system electricians; electrical power line and cable workers; telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers; and telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians.

7220 - Technical electrical trades and electrical power line and telecommunications workers

This minor group comprises technical electrical trades, including electricians (except industrial and power system); industrial electricians; power system electricians; electrical power line and cable workers; telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers; and telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians. They are employed by electrical contractors; maintenance departments of buildings, factories, plants, mines, shipyards and other industrial establishments; electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies and public utility commissions; cable and satellite television companies; and by telephone and other telecommunications services establishments; or they may be self-employed.

72200 - Electricians (except industrial and power system)

Electricians (except industrial and power system) lay out, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot and repair electrical wiring, fixtures, control devices and related equipment in buildings and other structures. They are employed by electrical contractors and maintenance departments of buildings and other establishments, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • apprentice electrician
    • construction electrician
    • construction electrician apprentice
    • domestic and rural electrician
    • electrician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Electrical mechanics (See 72422 Electrical mechanics)
    • Electricians supervisor (See 72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations)
    • Industrial electricians (See 72201 Industrial electricians)
    • Power system electricians (See 72202 Power system electricians)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Read and interpret drawings, circuit diagrams and electrical code specifications to determine wiring layouts for new or existing installations
    • Pull wire through conduits and through holes in walls and floors
    • Install brackets and hangers to support electrical equipment
    • Install, replace and repair lighting fixtures and electrical control and distribution equipment, such as switches, relays and circuit breaker panels
    • Splice, join and connect wire to fixtures and components to form circuits
    • Test continuity of circuits using test equipment to ensure compatibility and safety of system, following installation, replacement or repair
    • Troubleshoot and isolate faults in electrical and electronic systems and remove and replace faulty components
    • Connect electrical power to audio and visual communication equipment, signalling devices and heating and cooling systems
    • Conduct preventive maintenance programs and keep maintenance records.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program is usually required.
    • Trade certification for construction electricians is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
    • Trade certification for electricians (domestic and rural) is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario.
    • Trade certification for electrical control (machine) builders is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.
    • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified construction electricians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Additional information

    • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
72201 - Industrial electricians

Industrial electricians install, maintain, test, troubleshoot and repair industrial electrical equipment and associated electrical and electronic controls. They are employed by electrical contractors and maintenance departments of factories, plants, mines, shipyards and other industrial establishments. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • industrial electrician
    • industrial electrician apprentice
    • marine electrician
    • mill electrician
    • mine electrician
    • plant electrician
    • plant maintenance electrician
    • shipyard electrician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Construction electrician (See 72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system))
    • Industrial electricians supervisor (See 72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations)
    • Power system electricians (See 72202 Power system electricians)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Read and interpret drawings, blueprints, schematics and electrical code specifications to determine layout of industrial electrical equipment installations
    • Install, examine, replace or repair electrical wiring, receptacles, switch boxes, conduits, feeders, fibre-optic and coaxial cable assemblies, lighting fixtures and other electrical components
    • Test electrical and electronic equipment and components for continuity, current, voltage and resistance
    • Maintain, repair, install and test switchgear, transformers, switchboard meters, regulators and reactors
    • Maintain, repair, test and install electrical motors, generators, alternators, industrial storage batteries and hydraulic and pneumatic electrical control systems
    • Troubleshoot, maintain and repair industrial, electrical and electronic control systems and other related devices
    • Conduct preventive maintenance programs and keep maintenance records
    • May install, maintain and calibrate industrial instrumentation and related devices.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of a four- or five-year industrial electrician apprenticeship program
      or
      A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in industrial electrical equipment is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
    • Trade certification for industrial electricians is compulsory in Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Manitoba and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, British Columbia and the Yukon.
    • Additional construction electrician certification may be required for industrial electricians when the employers are not owners of the industrial electrical equipment.
    • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified industrial electricians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Additional information

    • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
72202 - Power system electricians

Power system electricians install, maintain, test and repair electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system equipment and apparatus. They are employed by electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • apprentice power system electrician
    • power electrician
    • power station electrician
    • power system electrician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Electrical mechanics (See 72422 Electrical mechanics)
    • Electrical power line and cable workers (See 72203 Electrical power line and cable workers)
    • Electricians (except industrial and power system) (See 72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system))
    • Industrial electricians (See 72201 Industrial electricians)
    • Power system electrician foreman/woman (See 72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations)
    • Power systems electricians supervisor (See 72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Install and maintain electrical power distribution equipment such as transformers, generators, voltage regulators, switches, circuit breakers, capacitors, inductors, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems
    • Install and maintain electrical equipment and apparatus in generating stations or powerhouses
    • Inspect and test installed electrical equipment and apparatus to locate electrical faults and check their operation, using volt meters, ammeters and other electrical test instruments and equipment
    • Repair or replace faulty electrical equipment and apparatus
    • Complete test and maintenance reports.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program for power system electricians
      or
      A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in electrical technology is usually required.
    • Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Manitoba, Alberta, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
72203 - Electrical power line and cable workers

Electrical power line and cable workers construct, maintain and repair overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems. They are employed by electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies, electrical contractors and public utility commissions. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • apprentice lineman/woman - electric power systems
    • cable installer - electrical power
    • cable splicer - electrical power
    • construction lineman/woman - electrical power line
    • power line patroller
    • power lineman/woman
    • powerline technician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Line and cable workers supervisor (See 72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations)
    • Power system electricians (See 72202 Power system electricians)
    • Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers (See 72204 Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems including overhead and underground power lines and cables, insulators, conductors, lightning arrestors, switches, transformers and other associated equipment
    • Erect and maintain steel, wood or concrete poles, towers and guy wires
    • Splice, solder and insulate conductors and related wiring to connect power distribution and transmission networks using splicing tools, related electrical equipment and tools
    • Inspect and test overhead and underground power lines and cables and auxiliary equipment using electrical test equipment
    • Climb ladders or operate hydraulic buckets when working aloft on poles and towers, or work in confined spaces such as trenches and tunnels to install power lines and cables and associated equipment
    • Install and maintain street lighting systems
    • Communicate with other workers to coordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of a provincial three- or four-year lineman/woman apprenticeship program
      or
      a combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in electrical technology is usually required for electrical power line and cable workers.
    • Trade certification for powerline technicians is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
    • Trade certification for powerline technicians (construction) is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador.
    • Trade certification for distribution construction linemen/women is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick.
    • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified powerline technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Additional information

    • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
72204 - Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers

Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers install, repair and maintain telecommunication lines and cables, cable television transmission and distribution systems and associated hardware. They are employed by cable television, telephone and other telecommunications service companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • apprentice lineman/woman - telecommunications
    • cable television installation technician
    • cable television maintenance technician
    • communication technician - construction
    • construction technician - cable television
    • telecommunication cable repairer
    • telecommunications line installer
    • telecommunications lineman/woman
    • telephone line technician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations (See 72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations)
    • Electrical power line and cable workers (See 72203 Electrical power line and cable workers)
    • Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians (See 72205 Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Install, remove, maintain and repair aerial and underground telephone, coaxial and fibre optic cable television, and other telecommunication transmission and distribution lines, cables and associated hardware
    • Splice and repair various types and sizes of telephone and other telecommunication cables including single line, coaxial and fibre optic
    • Repair or replace faulty cables, power supplies, amplifiers and other associated transmission and distribution equipment
    • Inspect, monitor, test and adjust telecommunication transmission lines and cables and distribution systems
    • Analyze and record test results
    • Climb and work aloft on poles, ladders or other support structures or work in confined spaces such as trenches, tunnels and crawl spaces
    • Communicate with other workers to coordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments
    • Assist in the erection and removal of telecommunication poles, towers and associated support structures
    • May operate excavation machinery and other heavy equipment.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is required.
    • For telecommunication line and cable installers and repairers, completion of a four-year telecommunications line and cable apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years work experience in the trade and some industry- related or other specialized courses or completion of a two-year college program in electronics is usually required.
    • For cable television maintenance technicians, completion of a college program in electronics or a combination of college, correspondence or industry courses related to electronics and electrical systems and on-the-job training or completion of a four-year cable television technician apprenticeship program is required.
    • Trade certification for network cabling specialists is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
72205 - Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians

Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians install, test, maintain and repair cable and satellite television, internet signal and associate equipment, telephones, telephone switching equipment and other telecommunications equipment related to transmission and processing of voice, video signals and other data over a variety of media including fibre optics, microwave, radio and satellite. They are employed by cable and satellite television, telephone and other telecommunications transmission service companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • apprentice communication electrician - switching
    • cable television service technician
    • cablevision servicer
    • cellular telephone technician
    • direct broadcast satellite (DBS) technician - cable television
    • exchange tester - telecommunications
    • mobile radio installer - telecommunications
    • private branch exchange (PBX) installer - telecommunications
    • switch network installer and repairer - telecommunications
    • switch network installer and repairwoman - telecommunications
    • telecommunications equipment technician
    • telephone communication technician
    • telephone installer
    • telephone line and station installer

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations (See 72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations)
    • Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment) (See 22311 Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment))
    • Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers (See 72204 Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Telephone installers and repairers

    • Install, arrange, remove and maintain telephone equipment, wiring and associated hardware
    • Test installed telephone systems to locate transmission faults
    • Repair or replace defective and damaged telephones, wire and associated equipment.

    Switch network installers and repairers

    • Install electromechanical, analog and digital trunking systems, circuits and equipment in telecommunications central offices and switching centres
    • Inspect and test trunking systems, circuits and equipment
    • Analyze test results and adjust, change or repair switching system, network, associated equipment and software.

    Telecommunications service testers

    • Operate computerized testing systems to conduct service tests on customer lines and equipment
    • Determine the nature, cause and location of service trouble
    • Dispatch appropriate repair personnel
    • Complete test reports and maintain test and service records
    • May assist repair personnel to test lines, circuits and systems, isolate and clear cable faults and verify records.

    Telecommunications equipment technicians

    • Install, remove and maintain various telecommunications equipment and related systems such as telex and facsimile machines, teletypewriters, mobile radios, cellular telephones, pagers and other telecommunications equipment
    • Configure operating systems and install software for access to the Internet
    • Inspect and test operation of telecommunications equipment
    • Diagnose and locate equipment faults, and adjust, replace or repair telecommunications equipment.

    Cable television service technicians

    • Communicate with subscribers and company personnel to determine work assignments
    • Connect, disconnect and relocate cable outlets, install splitters, converters, decoders, terminals, digital boxes and satellite equipment, and install other cable or wireless modems, routers and software to enable Internet access at subscriber's premises
    • Inspect, test and repair cable and satellite television signals and associated equipment at subscriber's premises.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is required.
    • Telephone and switch network installers and repairers require completion of an apprenticeship program ranging from three to four years or a combination of over three years work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry related courses.
    • Cable television service technicians require completion of a college program in electronics or a combination of college, correspondence or industry courses related to electronics and electrical systems and on-the-job training or completion of a four-year cable television technician apprenticeship program is required
    • Telecommunications equipment technicians usually require completion of a college electrical and electronics program and several months of on-the-job training or completion of a three- or four-year apprenticeship training program.
    • Trade certification for communication technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
    • Experience as an installer and repairer (telephone and switch network) is usually required for service testers.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to supervisory positions for cable television service technician is possible with experience.
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