National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

3 - Health occupations

This broad category comprises specialized middle management occupations in health care, as well as occupations concerned with providing health care services directly to patients (professional and technical occupations in health) and occupations that provide support to health services.

32 - Technical occupations in health

This major group comprises technical occupations in health and practitioners of natural healing. 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).

322 - Practitioners of natural healing

This sub-major group comprises practitioners of natural healing, including traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists, massage therapists, and other practitioners of natural healing.

3220 - Practitioners of natural healing

This minor group comprises practitioners of natural healing, including traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists, massage therapists, and other practitioners of natural healing. They work in private practice, and in the private practices of the professionals they assist; and are employed by optical retail outlets, and optical dispensing departments; clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and rehabilitation and community health centres; health clubs, spas, and private homes; government departments and agencies; and educational institutions.

32200 - Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists assess, treat and prevent diseases, conditions, disorders or imbalances of patients' using various forms of treatment including acupuncture, herbology or other holistic health approaches. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and health clubs.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • acupuncturist
  • traditional Chinese medicine practitioner

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Chiropractors (See 31201 Chiropractors)
  • Doctor of osteopathic medicine (See 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)
  • Massage therapists (See 32201 Massage therapists)
  • Midwife (See 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals)
  • Naturopathic physician (See 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)
  • Other practitioners of natural healing (See 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing)
  • Physiotherapists (See 31202 Physiotherapists)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners

  • Diagnose within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients
  • Explain procedures, risks and benefits of treatments to patients
  • Prescribe and administer treatment such as acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), scraping (Gua Sha), cupping therapy, moxibustion, acupressure, and auriculotherapy
  • May prescribe and administer Chinese manipulative therapy (Tui Na), energy control therapy (Qi Gong) and laser therapy
  • May suggest home care instructions and provide information about life therapies including energy control therapy (Qi Gong), Chinese shadow boxing (Tai Ji Quan) and Chinese food cure recipes (Shi Liao)
  • Maintain patient records
  • Prescribe and administer treatment using raw or granule herbs and other medicines or dietary supplements
  • May collaborate with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for patients.

  Acupuncturists

  • Diagnose symptoms, imbalances, physiological disorders and injuries of patients according to Chinese medicine traditions
  • Educate patients on risks and benefits of treatments
  • Develop and implement treatment plans including acupuncture acupressure, moxibustion, cupping, scraping or electrical current
  • Evaluate and document patients' progress
  • May provide dietary and lifestyle advice including information on life therapies such as energy control therapy (Qi Gong)
  • May develop treatment plans in collaboration with other health care professionals.

• Employment requirements

  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners usually require completion of a four- to five-year diploma program in traditional Chinese medicine from a private institute or completion of a program in traditional Chinese medicine from recognized medical schools abroad.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required for traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Ontario and British Columbia, which includes completion of an approved registration examination.
  • Acupuncturists usually require completion of a three- to four-year diploma program in acupuncture from a private institute or completion of some university undergraduate studies in science and training in a related health care discipline or work experience under the supervision of a registered acupuncturist.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required for acupuncturists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, which includes completion of an approved registration examination.

32201 - Massage therapists

Massage therapists assess soft tissues and joints of the body for treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders. They work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and educational institutions.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • massage therapist (MT)
  • registered massage practitioner
  • registered massage therapist (RMT)

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Medical technologists and technicians (See 3212 Medical technologists and technicians)
  • Other practitioners of natural healing (See 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing)
  • Physiotherapy assistant (See 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
  • Technical occupations in therapy and assessment (See 3210 Technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (See 32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Assess clients by conducting range of motion and muscle tests and propose treatment plans
  • Explain procedures, risks and benefits to clients
  • Administer massage techniques, treating soft tissues and joints of the body through soft tissue manipulation, relaxation techniques, hydrotherapy, trigger point therapy, joint pain and lower grade mobilizations, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs
  • Suggest home care instructions and provide information about techniques for further postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation and rehabilitative exercises
  • Maintain records of treatments given
  • May consult with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for clients.

  Massage therapists may be trained in various specialized massage techniques.

• Employment requirements

  • Massage therapists usually require completion of an 18- to 24-month or 18- to 36-month program in massage therapy from an accredited school
    and
    a period of supervised practical training.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and British Columbia.

32209 - Other practitioners of natural healing

Practitioners of natural healing provide health care to patients using various forms of treatment including herbology, reflexology or relaxation techniques to promote, maintain and restore the holistic health of patients. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, or are employed by clinics, health clubs and spas.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • aromatherapist
  • ayurvedic practitioner
  • herbalist
  • holistic nutritionist
  • holistic practitioner
  • homeopath
  • hypnotherapist
  • naturotherapist
  • osteopathic manual practitioner
  • reflexologist
  • rolfer

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Dietitians and nutritionists (See 31121 Dietitians and nutritionists)
  • Doctor of osteopathic medicine (See 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)
  • Manual arts therapist (See 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
  • Massage therapists (See 32201 Massage therapists)
  • Midwife (See 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals)
  • Naturopathic physician (See 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)
  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (See 32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  Herbalists

  • Assess patients and advise them on the use of herbs for the treatment of conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, skin disorders and stomach ailments
  • May cultivate herbs and manufacture and sell herbal compounds.

  Osteopathic manual practitioners

  • Assess, treat and manage musculoskeletal and other related disorders of the body's structure by moving, stretching, and massaging a patients' muscles and joints to correct biomechanical dysfunctions.

  Homeopaths

  • Assess illnesses and treat them by administering, in chemical or herbal form, a small dosage of a remedy made from natural substances or by suggesting lifestyle changes.

  Reflexologists

  • Assess clients' physical, mental and emotional health
  • Provide advice and feedback to support clients' wellbeing
  • Apply gentle pressure with thumb and fingers to stimulate specific reflex points or areas, usually on the clients' feet, hands, ears and/or face to relieve tension, improve circulation, and promote better health and well-being.

  Holistic nutritionists

  • Evaluate the overall health and wellness of clients and recommend nutritional and life style adjustments to address their health issues and to support health goals.

  Naturotherapists

  • Assess and treat illness and injury through the use of holistic approaches such as herbal remedies, massage, as well as counselling in nutrition and exercise.

• Employment requirements

  • Homeopaths usually require completion of a three-year diploma program in homeopathy.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required for homeopaths in Ontario.
  • Other occupations in this unit group usually require completion of training programs specific to their type of practice and some supervised practical training.