National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

• 4 - Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
• 41 - Professional occupations in law and social, community and government services
• 415 - Social and community service professionals

4154 - Professional occupations in religion

Ministers of religion 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. Ministers of religion 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 (4217)

• Main duties

  Ministers of religion 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, 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

  • Educational requirements vary, depending on the religion, and range from the completion of a college or other program in religious studies to a master's of divinity degree.
  • 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.