National Occupational Classification, TEER 2
NOC 22212: Drafting technologists and technicians
Drafting technologists and technicians prepare engineering designs, drawings and related technical information, such as building information models (BIM), in multidisciplinary engineering teams or in support of engineers, architects or industrial designers, or they may work independently. Below are the main duties, all 80 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 22212?
NOC 22212 is the code for drafting technologists and technicians in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include architectural draftsperson, building information modelling (BIM) technologist, computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) technologist and computer-assisted drafting (CAD) technician. It is a TEER 2 occupation (usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $31.79 an hour.
- NOC code
- 22212
- TEER
- 2: College diploma or apprenticeship of 2+ years
- Broad category
- Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $31.79 an hour
Job titles under NOC 22212
Drafting technologists and technicians prepare engineering designs, drawings and related technical information, such as building information models (BIM), in multidisciplinary engineering teams or in support of engineers, architects or industrial designers, or they may work independently. They are employed by consulting and construction companies, utility, resource and manufacturing companies, all levels of government and by a wide range of other establishments.
Main job titles
- architectural draftsperson
- building information modelling (BIM) technologist
- computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) technologist
- computer-assisted drafting (CAD) technician
- design and drafting technologist
- drafting office supervisor
- drafting technician
- drafting technologist
- draftsperson
- electrical draftsperson
- electromechanical draftsperson
- electronic draftsperson
- engineering design and drafting technologist
- mechanical draftsperson
- steel detailer - drafting
- structural draftsperson
- structural steel drafter-detailer
All 80 job titles in the NOC index
aeronautical draftsperson, air conditioning systems draftsperson, architectural draftsperson, building information modelling (BIM) coordinator, building information modelling (BIM) designer, building information modelling (BIM) specialist, building information modelling (BIM) technician, building information modelling (BIM) technologist, building systems draftsperson, chief draftsperson, civil draftsperson, commercial draftsperson, computer-aided design (CAD) specialist - drafting, computer-aided design (CAD) technologist, computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) technologist, computer-aided drafting (CAD) technician, computer-assisted design and drafting (CADD) operator, computer-assisted drafting (CAD) draftsperson - printed circuit boards, computer-assisted drafting (CAD) operator, computer-assisted drafting (CAD) technician, computer-assisted electromechanical design draftsperson, design and drafting technologist, design draftsperson, design technician - drafting, design technologist - drafting, detail draftsperson, detailer, detailer - structural steel drafter, drafter, drafting checker, drafting clerk, drafting design checker, drafting group leader, drafting office supervisor, drafting supervisor, drafting technician, drafting technologist, drafting tracer, draftsman/woman, draftsperson, draftsperson - computer-assisted design, draftspersons supervisor, electrical drafting supervisor, electrical draftsperson, electrical marine draftsperson, electromechanical draftsperson, electronic draftsperson, engineering design and drafting technologist, engineering draftsperson, general draftsperson, geological draftsperson, geophysical draftsperson, heating and ventilation systems draftsperson, heating systems draftsperson, hull draftsperson - shipbuilding and repair, hydraulic machinery draftsperson, marine drafting supervisor, mechanical building draftsperson, mechanical design draftsperson, mechanical draftsperson, mine draftsperson, municipal draftsperson, optical draftsperson, petroleum exploration draftsperson, piping draftsperson, process piping draftsperson, refrigeration systems draftsperson, ship detail draftsperson, shipbuilding draftsperson, steel detailer - drafting, steel frame draftsman/woman, steel frame draftsperson, structural draftsperson, structural steel detailer, structural steel drafter-detailer, structural steel draftsperson, survey draftsperson, technical illustrator - drafting, tool checker - drafting, tool design draftsperson.
Main duties of NOC 22212
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Drafting technologists
- Develop and prepare engineering designs and drawings from preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets and other data
- Create building information models (BIM), using computer software, to provide digital representations of physical and functional aspects of buildings and other engineering projects
- Operate computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
- Develop and prepare design sketches
- Complete documentation packages and produce drawing sets
- Check and verify design drawings to conform to specifications and design data
- Write technical reports
- Prepare contracts and tender documents
- Prepare construction specifications, costs and material estimates
- Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.
Drafting technicians
- Develop and prepare engineering drawings, plans, diagrams or layouts from sketches
- Operate computer-assisted drafting equipment or a conventional drafting station.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a two- to three-year college program in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field is usually required for drafting and design technologists.
- Completion of a one- to two-year college program in drafting or completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or four to five years of related experience plus completion of college or industry courses in drafting are usually required for drafting technicians.
- Trade certification for draftspersons is available, but voluntary in Ontario.
- Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians may be required by employers.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Additional information
- Mobility is possible to civil, mechanical, electrical or other engineering design technologies through educational or work specialization.
- Senior and supervisory drafting and design technology workers require experience.
Is NOC 22212 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 2 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 22212 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | Not a listed trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 22212 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $21.50 | $31.79 | $48.38 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.00 | $36.00 | $56.73 |
| Prince Edward Island | $20.61 | $26.91 | $35.01 |
| Nova Scotia | $19.63 | $29.85 | $45.01 |
| New Brunswick | $23.32 | $30.00 | $40.11 |
| Quebec | $21.00 | $29.81 | $42.31 |
| Ontario | $20.00 | $31.25 | $48.08 |
| Manitoba | $22.00 | $30.03 | $48.56 |
| Saskatchewan | $23.47 | $35.78 | $48.98 |
| Alberta | $25.48 | $36.00 | $53.85 |
| British Columbia | $20.00 | $33.65 | $51.00 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Labour Force Survey). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 22212 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 22212 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
Turn my duties into a resume Free to start, no card.
Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for a architectural draftsperson?
NOC 22212, Drafting technologists and technicians, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 22212?
TEER 2. Usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 22212 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 22212 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 22212 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $31.79 an hour, with most wages between $21.50 and $48.38. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 22212 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
Your duties fit. Now show employers.
CVMaple turns the work you did into a Canadian resume: the right format, strong bullets and the keywords Canadian applicant tracking systems look for.
More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.