NOC 31200: Psychologists

What is NOC 31200?

NOC 31200 is the code for psychologists in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include clinical psychologist, psychological associate, psychologist and research psychologist. It is a TEER 1 occupation (usually a university degree), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, and IRCC lists it for the healthcare and social services category draw. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $52.88 an hour.

NOC code

31200

TEER

1: University degree

Broad category

Health occupations

Express Entry

Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)

Category draws

Healthcare and social services

Median wage

$52.88 an hour

Job titles under NOC 31200

Psychologists assess and diagnose behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders, counsel clients, provide therapy, conduct research and apply theory relating to behaviour and mental processes. Psychologists help clients work toward the maintenance and enhancement of psychological, physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal functioning. They work in private practice or in clinics, correctional facilities, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centres, community service organizations, businesses, schools and universities, and in government and private research agencies.

Main job titles

• clinical psychologist
• psychological associate
• psychologist
• research psychologist

All 12 job titles in the NOC index

chartered psychologist, child psychologist, clinical psychologist, educational psychologist, neuropsychologist, provisional psychologist, psychological associate, psychologist, registered psychologist, research psychologist, school psychologist, sports psychologist.

Main duties of NOC 31200

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Examine and assess behaviour, diagnose behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders, counsel clients and provide therapy
• Help clients manage physical illness and disorders
• Counsel individuals and groups to achieve more effective personal, social and vocational development and adjustment, and offer mediation services
• Use standard psychological tests for assessment
• Plan intervention programs and conduct program evaluation
• Apply psychological theory and principles regarding behaviour and mental processes such as learning, language development, memory and perception to develop treatment programs
• Formulate hypotheses and experimental designs, review literature, conduct studies and publish research papers, educational texts and articles
• Deliver presentations at conferences, workshops or symposia
• Provide consultation services to government and other organizations.
• Conduct applied psychology and/or experimental research.
• Sub-specialties include behavioural psychology, child psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, industrial psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology or sports psychology.

Employment requirements

• A doctoral degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychologist" in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
• A master's degree in psychology is required for the designation "Psychologist" in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• A master's degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychological Associate" in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
• A period of supervised practical experience is required in most jurisdictions.
• Successful completion of the written Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is required in most provinces.
• Oral examinations and board interviews are required in some provinces.
• Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• Written ethics and jurisprudence exams may be required in some jurisdictions.
• Psychologists can become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.

Additional information

• Psychological associates may be granted permission by provincial regulatory authorities to perform duties normally restricted to psychologists, specifically diagnosing psychological disorders and communicating diagnoses to clients.

Is NOC 31200 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 1 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.

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 31200 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.

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.

Similar NOC codes to compare

If your work leans toward one of these, read its duties too. The closest match is the one whose lead statement and main duties describe most of what you did.

Classified somewhere else

• Psychiatrist: 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
• Psychology assistant (except university): 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
• Psychology professor - university: 41200 University professors and lecturers
• Psychology research assistant (except university): 12113 Statistical officers and related research support occupations
• Psychometrist: 41409 Other professional occupations in social science
• Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies: 41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies

Same minor group (3120 Therapy and assessment professionals)

• 31201 Chiropractors, TEER 1
• 31202 Physiotherapists, TEER 1
• 31203 Occupational therapists, TEER 1
• 31204 Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment, TEER 1
• 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating, TEER 1

Match my duties with AI

Using NOC 31200 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 31200 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 clinical psychologist?

NOC 31200, Psychologists, a TEER 1 occupation in NOC 2021.

What TEER is NOC 31200?

TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.

Is NOC 31200 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes. As a TEER 1 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 31200 in an Express Entry category-based draw?

Yes. IRCC’s 2026 list puts it in the healthcare and social services category. You need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same part-time) in it within the past 3 years.

How much does NOC 31200 pay in Canada?

The Job Bank median across Canada is $52.88 an hour, with most wages between $37.65 and $77.43. Pay varies by province: see the table above.

Where is the official description?

On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 31200 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.

Build my resume free

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.