National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.0

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.0
Introduction
Hierarchical structure

3 - Health occupations

Occupations in this category are concerned with providing health care services directly to patients and occupations that provide technical support to medical staff. To progress from medical and dental technical occupations to professional occupations, completion of additional formal education is required. Progression to supervisory positions requires experience in the occupations supervised. Support occupations in health are usually supplied from short training programs specific to the support area.

31 - Professional occupations in health (except nursing)

This major group comprises professional occupations in health, except those involved in nursing. It includes physicians, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, dietitians and nutritionists; and other diagnosing, treating, therapy and assessment professionals.

311 - Physicians, dentists and veterinarians

This minor group includes physicians, dentists and veterinarians. They work in private practice; and are employed by hospitals, clinics, and public health facilities; animal clinics, and farms; laboratories, universities, and government; and in industry.

3111 - Specialist physicians

This unit group includes specialist physicians in clinical medicine, in laboratory medicine and in surgery. Specialists in clinical medicine diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders and act as consultants to other physicians. Specialists in laboratory medicine study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans. Specialists in surgery perform and supervise surgical procedures. Specialists in clinical medicine usually work in private practice or in a hospital while those in laboratory medicine and in surgery usually work in hospitals. Residents in training to become specialist physicians are included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • anatomical pathologist
    • anesthetist
    • cardiac surgeon
    • cardiologist
    • clinical immunologist-allergist
    • dermatologist
    • diagnostic radiologist
    • emergency physician
    • endocrinologist
    • gastroenterologist
    • general pathologist
    • general surgeon
    • geriatrician
    • hematologist
    • hematopathologist
    • medical biochemist - physician
    • medical microbiologist
    • nephrologist
    • neurologist
    • neuropathologist
    • neurosurgeon
    • obstetrician-gynecologist
    • oncologist
    • ophthalmologist
    • orthopedic surgeon
    • orthopedist
    • otorhinolaryngologist
    • pediatric surgeon
    • pediatrician
    • physiatrist
    • plastic surgeon
    • pneumologist
    • psychiatrist
    • radiation oncologist
    • respirologist
    • rheumatologist
    • thoracic surgeon
    • urologist
    • vascular surgeon

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Allied primary health practitioners (See 3124 Allied primary health practitioners)
    • Chiropractors (See 3122 Chiropractors)
    • Dental surgeons (See 3113 Dentists)
    • General practitioners and family physicians (See 3112 General practitioners and family physicians)
    • Immunologists (See 2121 Biologists and related scientists)
    • Managers in health care (See 0311 Managers in health care)
    • Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (See 3125 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)

  • Main duties

    Specialist physicians perform some or all of the following duties:

    Specialists in clinical medicine

    • Diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders
    • Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
    • Prescribe medication and treatment and refer patients for surgery
    • Act as consultants to other physicians
    • May conduct medical research.

    Specialists in laboratory medicine

    • Study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans and the structural and functional changes caused by diseases
    • Conduct microscopic and chemical analyses of laboratory samples and specimens
    • Supervise laboratory activities
    • Act as consultants to other physicians.

    Specialists in surgery

    • Assess patients' diseases or disorders to determine appropriate surgical procedures
    • Perform and supervise surgical procedures to correct physical abnormalities and deficiencies and repair injuries
    • Act as consultants to other physicians.

  • Employment requirements

    Specialist physicians

    • A bachelor's degree
      or
      In Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
    • Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required.
    • Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
      and
      Licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.

    Specialists in clinical medicine

    • Four to five years of specialty residency training are required.
    • Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.

    Specialists in laboratory medicine

    • Four to five years of specialty residency training are required.

    Specialists in surgery

    • Five to six years of specialty residency training are required.
    • Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.

  • Additional information

    • Progression to management positions, such as director of laboratory medicine or chief of surgery, is possible with experience.
3112 - General practitioners and family physicians

General practitioners and family physicians diagnose and treat the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients. They provide primary contact and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Residents in training to be general practitioners and family physicians are included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • family physician
    • general practice resident
    • general practitioner (GP)
    • medical doctor

    All examples

  • Inclusion(s)

    • community preventive medicine physician
    • medical missionary

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Allied primary health practitioners (See 3124 Allied primary health practitioners)
    • Chiropractors (See 3122 Chiropractors)
    • Managers in health care (See 0311 Managers in health care)
    • Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (See 3125 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)
    • Specialist physicians (See 3111 Specialist physicians)

  • Main duties

    General practitioners and family physicians perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Examine patients and take their histories, order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures and consult with other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
    • Prescribe and administer medications and treatments
    • Perform and assist in routine surgery
    • Provide emergency care
    • Provide acute care management
    • Vaccinate patients to prevent and treat diseases
    • Deliver babies and provide pre-natal and post-natal care
    • Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
    • Provide counselling and support to patients and their families on a wide range of health and lifestyle issues
    • Perform patient advocacy role
    • Co-ordinate or manage primary patient care
    • Provide continuous care to patients
    • Supervise home care services
    • Report births, deaths, and contagious and other diseases to governmental authorities.

  • Employment requirements

    • A bachelor's degree
      or
      In Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
    • Graduation from an approved medical school
      and
      Two to three years of family medicine residency training are required.
    • Completion of the qualifying examinations of the Medical Council of Canada or the Collège des médecins du Québec
      and
      Licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.

  • Additional information

    • General practitioners and family physicians may become specialist physicians with additional training.
3113 - Dentists

Dentists diagnose, treat, prevent and control disorders of the teeth and mouth. They work in private practice or may be employed in hospitals, clinics, public health facilities or universities.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • dentist
    • endodontist
    • oral and maxillofacial surgeon
    • oral pathologist
    • oral radiologist
    • orthodontist
    • pediatric dentist
    • periodontist
    • prosthodontist
    • public health dentist

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Dental assistants (See 3411 Dental assistants)
    • Dental hygienists and dental therapists (See 3222 Dental hygienists and dental therapists)
    • Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants (See 3223 Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants)
    • Denturists (See 3221 Denturists)

  • Main duties

    Dentists perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Examine patients' teeth, gums and surrounding tissue to diagnose disease, injury and decay and plan appropriate treatment
    • Restore, extract and replace diseased and decayed teeth
    • Perform oral surgery, periodontal surgery and other treatments
    • Clean teeth and instruct patients on oral hygiene
    • Design bridgework, fit dentures and provide appliances to correct abnormal positioning of the teeth and jaws, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for use by denturists and dental technicians
    • Supervise dental hygienists, dental assistants and other staff.

    Dentists may specialize in such areas as oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral pathology, oral radiology or public health dentistry.

  • Employment requirements

    • One to four years of pre-dentistry university studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program in sciences
      and
      A university degree from a recognized dental program are required.
    • Licensing by a provincial or territorial regulatory body is required.
    • Dentists in general practice can move into a specialized practice through advanced training.
    • Licensing for specializations is required.

  • Additional information

    • Certification by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada entitles dentists or graduates of approved dental programs to practise dentistry in any province in Canada provided requirements set out by the provincial and territorial licensing authorities are met.
3114 - Veterinarians

Veterinarians prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing and general care of animals. Veterinarians work in private practice or may be employed by animal clinics, farms, laboratories, government or industry.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • farm veterinarian
    • small animal veterinary specialist
    • veterinarian
    • veterinary inspector
    • veterinary pathologist
    • veterinary physiologist
    • veterinary surgeon
    • zoo veterinarian

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (See 3213 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians)
    • Biologists and related scientists (See 2121 Biologists and related scientists)

  • Main duties

    Veterinarians perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Diagnose diseases or abnormal conditions in individual animals, herds and flocks through physical examinations or laboratory tests
    • Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds or performing surgery
    • Vaccinate animals to prevent and treat diseases
    • Perform routine, emergency and post-mortem examinations
    • Advise clients on feeding, housing, behaviour, breeding, hygiene and general care of animals
    • Provide a range of veterinary services including obstetrics, dentistry and euthanasia
    • May supervise animal health technologists and animal care workers
    • May be responsible for overall operation of animal hospital, clinic or mobile service to farms
    • May conduct veterinary research related to areas such as animal nutrition, health care products development and disease prevention and control
    • May enforce government regulations in disease control and food production including animal or animal-based food inspection.

  • Employment requirements

    • Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science
      and
      A four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine
      and
      Completion of national certification examinations are required.
    • A provincial licence to practice is required.
    • Entry into research positions may require post-graduate study.

  • Additional information

    • The duties of veterinarians performing research may be similar to those of some biologists.
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