National Occupational Classification, TEER 2
NOC 32103: Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. Below are the main duties, all 35 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 32103?
NOC 32103 is the code for respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include anesthesia assistant, cardiopulmonary technologist, cardiovascular perfusion supervisor and cardiovascular perfusionist. 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, and IRCC lists it for the healthcare and social services category draw. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $41.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 32103
- TEER
- 2: College diploma or apprenticeship of 2+ years
- Broad category
- Health occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- Healthcare and social services
- Median wage
- $41.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 32103
Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. Clinical perfusionists provide technical support to patients undergoing cardiac surgery and patients requiring cardio-respiratory support. Cardiopulmonary technologists assist physicians in the technical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Respiratory therapists are employed in hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centres, sleep, private or dental clinics and respiratory home care companies. Clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists are primarily employed in hospitals. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- anesthesia assistant
- cardiopulmonary technologist
- cardiovascular perfusion supervisor
- cardiovascular perfusionist
- certified clinical perfusionist (CCP)
- chief respiratory technologist
- clinical perfusionist
- perfusionist
- registered respiratory therapist (RRT)
- respiratory therapist
- respiratory therapy chief
- respiratory therapy clinical instructor
All 35 job titles in the NOC index
anesthesia assistant, anesthesia technologist, cardiopulmonary technician, cardiopulmonary technologist, cardiopulmonary technology instructor, cardiopulmonary technology supervisor, cardiovascular perfusion clinical instructor, cardiovascular perfusion instructor, cardiovascular perfusion supervisor, cardiovascular perfusion technologist, cardiovascular perfusionist, certified clinical perfusionist (CCP), chief perfusionist, chief respiratory technologist, clinical perfusion clinical instructor, clinical perfusion supervisor, clinical perfusionist, extracorporal circulation technologist, extracorporal technician, extracorporal technologist, inhalation technologist, oxygen therapy technician, perfusion technologist, perfusionist, polysomnographic technologist, pulmonary function technologist, registered respiratory care practitioner, registered respiratory therapist (RRT), respiratory care practitioner, respiratory technician, respiratory technologist, respiratory therapist, respiratory therapy chief, respiratory therapy clinical instructor, respiratory therapy supervisor.
Also included in this group
- anesthesia technologist
- polysomnographic technologist
Main duties of NOC 32103
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Respiratory therapists
- Perform diagnostic tests, such as arterial blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary functions tests
- Operate and monitor respiratory equipment to administer treatments such as oxygen, oxygen-air mixtures, humidified air or specialty medical gases
- Operate, monitor, maintain and test a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
- Perform or assist with interventions such as airway maintenance, line insertions, inductions and intubations, and manage patients and associated equipment
- Execute anesthesia assistance services
- Perform artificial respiration and external cardiac massage
- Evaluate and monitor patients' cardiorespiratory conditions
- Provide and optimize patients' mechanical ventilation
- Assist with transport of high-risk patients
- May prepare and administer authorized medications
- Supervise and train students and other respiratory therapists
- Participate in home care programs for chronic respiratory patients and provide patient and family education
- Participate in research related to cardiac and pulmonary disorders.
- Respiratory therapists may work in specific areas of practice such as anesthesia, critical care, neonatal and pediatrics, cardiopulmonary diagnostics, respiratory home and community care, research and private health industry.
Clinical perfusionists
- Assemble, maintain and operate extracorporeal circulation equipment, intra-aortic balloon pumps and other heart assist devices to support or temporarily replace patients' cardiopulmonary functions during open-heart surgery
- Administer blood products, drugs and other substances through heart-lung machines and other devices as directed by cardiac surgeons and anaesthetists to maintain adequate flow of oxygenated blood to all organs of the body
- Monitor vital signs to support and maintain patients' physiological functions and metabolic needs during cardiopulmonary surgery
- Participate in routine maintenance, calibration and inspection of all perfusion related equipment
- Supervise and train student clinical perfusionists and other clinical perfusionists.
Cardiopulmonary technologists
- Perform diagnostic tests, such as pulmonary function and asthma stress, or assist physicians with cardiac and cardiopulmonary stress tests and bronchoscopies
- Determine patients' blood characteristics such as activated clotting time and oxygen saturation
- Operate, monitor, maintain, calibrate and test diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
- Monitor patients and advise physician of any changes in patients' condition
- Prepare medications and administer inhaler and other treatments under supervision of cardiologist
- Provide information and care for patients during tests
- Assist with the preparation of cardiac catheterization room, prepare specialized catheters and assist cardiologists during catheterization
- Perform analysis, programming and monitoring of implanted devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators during surgery
- Supervise and train students and other cardiopulmonary technologists
- Provide technical support for research.
Employment requirements
- Respiratory therapists require the completion of a three-year college or university degree program in respiratory therapy, both including clinical training.
- Licensing is required for respiratory therapists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
- A national certification for respiratory therapists is available for therapists working in Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- In Quebec, a certificate is required for respiratory therapists to prescribe smoking cessation medication.
- Clinical perfusionists require the completion of a respiratory therapy or registered nursing program with a minimum of one year of work experience as a respiratory therapist or registered nurse and completion of a college or university program in clinical perfusion, including clinical training.
- Certification with the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion is required for clinical perfusionists.
- Cardiopulmonary technologists require a two-year college diploma in an allied health discipline such as respiratory therapy, nursing diploma, or a university degree in a related science and completion of a college post-diploma program in cardiovascular technology and additional training in pulmonary technology through courses or supervised on-the-job clinical training.
- Registration with the Canadian Association of Cardio-pulmonary Technologists (CACPT) may be required.
Additional information
- Supervisory and instructor positions in this unit group require experience in their respective fields as a respiratory therapist, clinical perfusionist or cardiopulmonary technologist.
Is NOC 32103 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 32103 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Healthcare and social services occupations (category draw) | On the eligible 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 32103 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 | $30.16 | $41.00 | $51.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $30.96 | $40.29 | $53.67 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.22 | $40.22 | $45.42 |
| New Brunswick | $31.00 | $37.10 | $48.46 |
| Quebec | $30.00 | $39.40 | $50.39 |
| Ontario | $27.39 | $44.66 | $53.81 |
| Manitoba | $26.00 | $44.00 | $51.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $21.00 | $43.00 | $49.00 |
| Alberta | $41.63 | $48.00 | $56.00 |
| British Columbia | $32.00 | $39.00 | $47.00 |
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 32103 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 32103 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.
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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 anesthesia assistant?
NOC 32103, Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 32103?
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 32103 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 32103 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 32103 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $41.00 an hour, with most wages between $30.16 and $51.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 32103 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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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.