NOC 32109: Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

What is NOC 32109?

NOC 32109 is the code for other technical occupations in therapy and assessment in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include audiology technician, communicative disorders assistant, hearing instrument practitioner and hearing instrument specialist. 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 $26.85 an hour.

NOC code

32109

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

$26.85 an hour

Job titles under NOC 32109

Other technical workers in therapy and assessment perform various technical therapy and assessment functions. Some may assist professionals such as audiologists, speech-language pathologists, ophthalmologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, community health centres, educational institutions, hearing aid retail stores, in the private practices of the professionals they assist, or they may be self-employed.

Main job titles

• audiology technician
• communicative disorders assistant
• hearing instrument practitioner
• hearing instrument specialist
• occupational therapy assistant
• ophthalmic technician
• ophthalmic technologist
• physical rehabilitation therapist
• physical therapist assistant (PTA)
• physiotherapy assistant
• physiotherapy technician
• rehabilitation assistant
• speech aide
• speech technician
• speech therapy assistant

All 57 job titles in the NOC index

assistive listening device technician, audiological technician, audiology technician, audiometrician, audiometrist, certified ophthalmic medical technologist, certified ophthalmic technician, communication aide - medical, communication assistant - medical, communication disorders assistant, communication disorders instructor, communicative disorders assistant, communicative disorders instructor, hearing aid assistant, hearing aid consultant, hearing aid dealer, hearing aid practitioner, hearing aid specialist, hearing aid technician, hearing assessment technician, hearing disorder technician, hearing instrument dispenser, hearing instrument practitioner, hearing instrument practitioner assistant, hearing instrument specialist, kinesitherapist, licensed hearing instrument specialist, manual arts therapist, occupational therapy assistant, occupational therapy technician, ophthalmic medical technician, ophthalmic medical technologist, ophthalmic technician, ophthalmic technician (except retail), ophthalmic technologist, physical rehabilitation technician, physical rehabilitation therapist, physical therapist assistant (PTA), physical therapy aide, physical therapy technician, physiotherapist assistant (PTA), physiotherapy aide, physiotherapy assistant, physiotherapy technician, recreation therapy assistant, rehabilitation assistant, speech aide, speech correctionist - medical, speech language assistant, speech technician, speech therapist aide, speech therapist assistant, speech therapy aide, speech therapy assistant, speech-language pathology assistant, therapist assistant, therapy assistant.

Also included in this group

• communication disorders instructor

Main duties of NOC 32109

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Hearing instrument practitioners

• Examine adult clients to assess hearing loss using diagnostic evaluation and electro acoustic testing
• Recommend and dispense or sell appropriate type of hearing instrument
• Take earmold impressions for use in the manufacture of hearing devices
• Fit, adjust and make minor modifications to hearing instruments
• Educate clients in appropriate use, care and maintenance of hearing instruments
• Communicate with audiologist or other health care professionals regarding patients' condition
• Perform follow-up examinations and readjustments.

Communicative disorders assistants and speech-language pathology assistants

• Assist speech-language pathologists and audiologists during assessment of patients
• Carry out treatment programs, document results and develop materials for use with patients, under the supervision of speech-language pathologists or audiologists
• Document patient rehabilitation progress
• Check and maintain therapeutic equipment and materials.

Ophthalmic medical technologists and technicians

• Take patients' general medical and ophthalmic history
• Conduct specialized testing such as refractometry, ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography or ocular motility testing to aid ophthalmologists in assessing patients' vision
• Instruct patient on diagnostic test and record, interpret and troubleshoot results
• Assist ophthalmologists in performing ophthalmic procedures and surgeries
• Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications as directed by ophthalmologists
• Prepare specimens for culture and staining
• Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment
• May instruct and supervise other ophthalmic staff and perform various administrative duties
• May participate in research activities.

Physical rehabilitation therapists

• Collect and analyse information from clients' file upon referral from the physiotherapist or physician.
• Develop, implement and monitor treatment plans of clients in collaboration with the physiotherapist or physician.
• Use a variety of therapeutic modalities such as manual techniques (e.g. massage), exercises, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy and thermotherapy (ice or heat) to achieve treatment objectives.
• Advise clients on postures, lifestyle and exercises to help them improve their physical condition.

Physiotherapy assistants and occupational therapy assistants

• Under the direction of physiotherapists and/or occupational therapists, carry out treatment programs such as thermotherapy, traction, hydrotherapy and electrotherapeutic techniques to rehabilitate patients with various injuries or disabilities to maximize their ability to independently manage daily activities.

Employment requirements

• Hearing instrument practitioners require completion of a two or three-year college diploma in a hearing instrument specialist program, and a period of supervised training.
• Licensure with a regulatory body is required for hearing instrument practitioners in all provinces except in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Ontario. Ontario requires membership with the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Ontario (AHIP). Hearing instrument practitioners can prescribe and dispense hearing instruments except in Ontario where dispensing is dependent on a prescription from a physician or audiologist.
• Communicative disorders assistants and speech-language pathology assistants require completion of a three- to four-year college program.
• Ophthalmic medical technicians require completion of a one-year hospital based ophthalmic technician training program or a minimum of one year on-the-job training working as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.
• Ophthalmic medical technologists require completion of a two-year hospital-based training program in ophthalmic medical technology, or a 4 year bachelor's degree program in Ophthalmic Medical Technology or a minimum of two years of on-the-job training working as a Certified Ophthalmic technician under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.
• Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers.
• Physical rehabilitation therapists, who are only found in Quebec, require completion of a three-year physiotherapy or rehabilitation techniques college program and a period of internship.
• A permit to practice issued by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ) is required for physical rehabilitation therapists.
• Physiotherapy assistants require completion of a two-year physical therapy assistant (PTA) college program, or a two-year rehabilitation therapy assistant program and supervised practical training.
• Occupational therapy assistants require completion of a two-year occupational therapy assistant (OTA) college program.

Additional information

• Ophthalmic medical technicians may progress to ophthalmic medical technologists' positions with training, experience and certification.
• Certified Ophthalmic Technician and Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist may have additional specialty certification such as Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist (ROUB) or Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS).
• In most provinces occupational therapy assistants (OTA) and physiotherapy assistants (PTA) receive training through a single OTA/PTA program in community colleges.
• In Quebec, hearing instruments practitioners provide services to adults and children.

Is NOC 32109 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 2 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 32109 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

• Licensed practical nurses: 32101 Licensed practical nurses
• Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations: 33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
• Medical technologists and technicians: minor group 3212 Medical technologists and technicians (see the full list)
• Opticians: 32100 Opticians
• Other assisting occupations in support of health services: 33109 Other assisting occupations in support of health services
• Paramedical occupations: 32102 Paramedical occupations
• Physiotherapists: 31202 Physiotherapists
• Practitioners of natural healing: minor group 3220 Practitioners of natural healing (see the full list)
• Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists: 32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

Same minor group (3210 Technical occupations in therapy and assessment)

• 32100 Opticians, TEER 2
• 32101 Licensed practical nurses, TEER 2
• 32102 Paramedical occupations, TEER 2
• 32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists, TEER 2
• 32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians, TEER 2

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Using NOC 32109 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 32109 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 audiology technician?

NOC 32109, Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.

What TEER is NOC 32109?

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 32109 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 32109 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 32109 pay in Canada?

The Job Bank median across Canada is $26.85 an hour, with most wages between $17.62 and $36.71. Pay varies by province: see the table above.

Where is the official description?

On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 32109 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.
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