National Occupational Classification, TEER 2
NOC 32111: Dental hygienists and dental therapists
Dental hygienists provide dental hygiene treatment and services related to oral health promotion and disease and mouth injury prevention. Below are the main duties, all 14 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 32111?
NOC 32111 is the code for dental hygienists and dental therapists in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include dental hygienist, dental nurse, dental therapist and registered dental hygienist. 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 $45.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 32111
- 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
- $45.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 32111
Dental hygienists provide dental hygiene treatment and services related to oral health promotion and disease and mouth injury prevention. They are employed in a variety of settings including dentists' offices, hospitals, private clinics, educational institutions, public health agencies or they may be self-employed. Dental therapists provide limited restorative dental treatment in addition to dental hygiene services. They are employed by the federal government and the provincial governments to provide services in rural and remote communities.
Main job titles
- dental hygienist
- dental nurse
- dental therapist
- registered dental hygienist
All 14 job titles in the NOC index
community dental hygienist, dental hygiene technician, dental hygienist, dental hygienist technician, dental nurse, dental therapist, expanded duty dental hygienist, expanded duty dental nurse, licensed dental therapist, orthodontic hygienist, periodontal hygienist, registered dental hygienist, registered dental therapist, restorative dental hygienist.
Main duties of NOC 32111
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Dental hygienists
- Conduct patient screening and oral health assessments, including taking vital signs and documenting patient medical and health history
- Take dental impressions
- Take and develop X-rays
- Perform preventative dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, scaling, gum stimulation and fluoride and sealant applications
- Provide oral care instructions such as oral hygiene procedures, strategies to maintain and improve oral health and on the impact of nutrition on oral health
- Consult with dentists on patient care
- May perform restorative and orthodontic procedures under the direction of a dentist
- May supervise dental assistants in their health care functions.
- May participate in community- or school-based oral health initiatives such as oral screening.
Dental therapists
- Perform routine dental check-ups, oral cancer examinations and emergency dental examinations
- Take dental impressions
- Take and develop X-rays
- Perform preventative dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, gum stimulation and fluoride and sealant applications
- Provide oral care instructions such as oral hygiene procedures, strategies to maintain and improve oral health and on the impact of nutrition on oral health
- Perform routine teeth restorations and uncomplicated extractions and provide post extraction oral care instructions
- Refer patients to other dental professionals for care beyond the scope of the dental therapist
- Provide oral health promotion activities
- May supervise dental assistants in their health care functions
Employment requirements
- Completion of a two- to three- year college dental hygiene program, approved by the governing board within the province or territory of residence, is usually required for dental hygienists.
- Dental therapists are required to complete a two- to three- year college diploma from an approved dental institution program.
- Licensing by the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory body is required for dental hygienists.
- Licensure is required for dental therapists in Saskatchewan, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Is NOC 32111 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 32111 |
|---|---|
| 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 32111 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 | $32.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.00 | $50.00 | $74.27 |
| Prince Edward Island | $39.00 | $46.00 | $48.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $35.00 | $38.10 | $44.00 |
| New Brunswick | $35.58 | $42.00 | $46.00 |
| Quebec | $30.00 | $39.00 | $46.19 |
| Ontario | $33.00 | $44.00 | $53.67 |
| Manitoba | $43.00 | $47.00 | $53.97 |
| Saskatchewan | $26.44 | $51.00 | $60.00 |
| Alberta | $50.00 | $60.00 | $75.00 |
| British Columbia | $43.59 | $55.00 | $65.00 |
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 32111 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 32111 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 dental hygienist?
NOC 32111, Dental hygienists and dental therapists, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 32111?
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 32111 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 32111 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 32111 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $45.00 an hour, with most wages between $32.00 and $60.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 32111 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.