National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.1

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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.

313 - Pharmacists, dietitians and nutritionists

This minor group includes pharmacists, dietitians and nutritionists. They are employed by retail and hospital pharmacies, home health-care agencies, extended care facilities, and community health centres; pharmaceutical companies; educational institutions, sports organizations, and government departments and agencies; in the pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries; or they may be self-employed.

3131 - Pharmacists

Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists compound and dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals and provide consultative services to both clients and health care providers. They are employed in retail pharmacies and health center pharmacies, or they may be self-employed. Industrial pharmacists participate in the research, development, promotion and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. They are employed in pharmaceutical companies and government departments and agencies.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • clinical pharmacist
    • community pharmacist
    • hospital pharmacist
    • industrial pharmacist
    • pharmacist
    • retail pharmacist

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Chemists (See 2112 Chemists)
    • Chiefs of pharmacy and pharmacy directors (See 0311 Managers in health care)
    • Pharmaceutical sales representatives (See 6221 Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade)
    • Pharmacologists (See 2121 Biologists and related scientists)
    • Pharmacy aides (See 3414 Other assisting occupations in support of health services)
    • Pharmacy and drugstore managers (See 0621 Retail and wholesale trade managers)
    • Pharmacy technicians (See 3219 Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health))
  • Main duties

    Pharmacists perform some or all of the following duties:

    Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists

    • Check prescriptions for proper dosage
    • Compound prescribed pharmaceutical products by calculating, measuring and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity
    • Dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drug interactions and dosage
    • Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs
    • Ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biologicals and other drugs and pharmaceuticals
    • Order and maintain stock of pharmaceutical supplies
    • Advise customers on selection and use of non-prescription medication
    • Renew existing prescriptions in limited circumstances
    • May adapt the formulation, regimen, duration or route of administration of medication
    • May supervise and co-ordinate the activities of other pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and other staff.

    Industrial pharmacists

    • Participate in research for the development of new drugs
    • Formulate new drug products developed by medical researchers
    • Test new drug products for stability and to determine absorption and elimination patterns
    • Co-ordinate clinical investigations of new drugs
    • Control the quality of drug products during production to ensure that they meet standards of potency, purity, uniformity, stability and safety
    • Develop information materials concerning the uses, properties and risks of particular drugs
    • Evaluate labelling, packaging and advertising of drug products
    • Promote pharmaceutical products to health professionals.
  • Employment requirements

    • A university degree in pharmacy and a period of supervised practical training are required.
    • Licensure is required in all provinces and territories for community and hospital pharmacists.
3132 - Dietitians and nutritionists

Dietitians and nutritionists plan, implement and oversee nutrition and food service programs. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, home health-care agencies and extended care facilities, community health centres, the food and beverage industry, educational institutions, and government and sports organizations, or they may work as private consultants.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • administrative dietitian
    • clinical dietitian
    • community nutritionist
    • consultant dietitian
    • dietitian
    • dietitian-nutritionist
    • nutrition specialist
    • nutritionist
    • public health dietitian
    • public health nutritionist
    • registered dietitian (RD)
    • research dietitian

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Dietary technicians (See 3219 Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health))
    • Directors of dietetics (See 0311 Managers in health care)
    • Food service supervisors (See 6311 Food service supervisors)
    • Home economists (See 4164 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers)
  • Main duties

    Dietitians and nutritionists perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Develop, administer and supervise nutrition and food preparation and service programs in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, company cafeterias or similar settings
    • Provide nutrition guidance, label interpretation and consultation services to health professionals, individuals, dietetic interns, community groups, government and the media
    • Evaluate nutritional status of individuals and aid in the prevention and/or treatment of inadequate nutrition
    • Plan, evaluate and conduct nutrition education programs and develop educational materials for various audiences
    • Practice on an individual basis or as a member of an interdisciplinary team to determine nutritional needs of patients and to plan, implement and evaluate normal and therapeutic menus to maintain and enhance general health
    • Analyze current scientific nutritional studies, conduct research and evaluate program effectiveness to improve the nutritional value, taste, appearance and preparation of food
    • Work within industry in the development, testing and evaluation, and marketing of food and nutrition products or as a company representative supplying product related information to health professionals
    • Confer with other health professionals, community groups, government and the media to provide consultation and advice in areas of nutrition interpretation, intervention and policy
    • Supervise training of dietetic interns.

    Dietitians and nutritionists may specialize in areas such as administrative dietetics, clinical dietetics, community dietetics, public health nutrition or research dietetics.

  • Employment requirements

    • Dietitians require a bachelor's or master's degree in dietetics, nutrition or a related field such as food and nutritional science or biochemistry
      and
      A period of supervised practical training.
    • Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces for dietitians.
    • Membership in the national association, Dietitians of Canada, may be required for dietitians to practise.
    • Nutritionists usually require similar education and training as dietitians.
    • Registration with a regulatory body is required for nutritionists in Nova Scotia, (as a registered dietitian-nutritionist) in New Brunswick, Quebec and Alberta.
    • Membership with the national association, Dietitians of Canada, and/or a provincial regulatory body is available for nutritionists who have the same education and practical training as dietitians.
  • Additional information

    • Dietitians and nutritionists may progress to management positions through additional experience.
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