National Occupational Classification, TEER 2
NOC 32120: Medical laboratory technologists
Medical laboratory technologists conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and prevention of disease. Below are the main duties, all 32 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 32120?
NOC 32120 is the code for medical laboratory technologists in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include clinical genetics technologist, cytogenetics technologist - medical laboratory, histology technologist and medical laboratory cytotechnologist. 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 $39.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 32120
- 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
- $39.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 32120
Medical laboratory technologists conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and prevention of disease. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, blood banks, community and private clinics, research facilities and post-secondary educational institutions. Medical laboratory technologists who are supervisors are included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- clinical genetics technologist
- cytogenetics technologist - medical laboratory
- histology technologist
- medical laboratory cytotechnologist
- medical laboratory technologist
- medical laboratory technologists supervisor
All 32 job titles in the NOC index
advanced registered medical laboratory technologist, anatomical pathology technologist, autopsy technologist, blood bank technologist, clinical genetics technologist, clinical laboratory technologist, combined laboratory and x-ray technician, combined laboratory and x-ray technologist, cytogenetics technologist - medical laboratory, cytology technologist, electron microscopy technologist - medical laboratory, hematology technologist - medical laboratory, histology technologist, histology technologist - medical laboratory, histopathology technologist, histotechnologist - medical laboratory, immunology technologist - medical laboratory, medical laboratory biochemistry technologist, medical laboratory charge technologist, medical laboratory cytotechnologist, medical laboratory microbiology technologist, medical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technologist - anatomical pathology, medical laboratory technologist - core laboratory, medical laboratory technologists supervisor, medical laboratory tissue technologist, medical technologist, medical technologist - medical laboratory, medical technologists supervisor, registered medical technologist, registered technologist - medical, serology technologist.
Main duties of NOC 32120
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Set up, operate and maintain laboratory equipment
- Conduct and interpret chemical analyses of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal and other body fluids
- Study blood cells and other tissues to determine their relation to various physiological and pathological conditions
- Prepare tissue sections for microscopic examinations using techniques to demonstrate special cellular tissue elements or other characteristics
- Perform and interpret blood group, type and compatibility tests for transfusion purposes
- Validate, document and report test results
- Establish procedures for the analysis of specimens and for medical laboratory experiments
- Conduct quality control assessment of testing techniques
- May supervise and train other medical laboratory technical staff, students and helpers
- May assist pathologists during autopsies.
- Medical laboratory technologists may specialize in areas such as clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology, histotechnology, transfusion medicine or immunohematology, cytotechnology, cytogenetics and molecular genetics.
Employment requirements
- A two- or three-year college program in medical laboratory technology is required and a period of supervised practical training may be required.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
- Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is usually required by employers.
- Combined laboratory and X-ray technicians require completion of a combined laboratory X-ray technology program.
- Some employers may require a university science degree for specialized medical laboratory technologists.
Additional information
- In Quebec medical laboratory technologists are referred to as les technologistes médicaux and are regulated by l'Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec (OPTMQ).
Is NOC 32120 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 32120 |
|---|---|
| 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 32120 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 | $25.13 | $39.00 | $49.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $32.00 | $38.00 | $42.10 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 | $37.57 | $41.75 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.00 | $35.00 | $42.56 |
| New Brunswick | $30.50 | $35.78 | $44.95 |
| Quebec | $29.72 | $35.00 | $40.00 |
| Ontario | $23.00 | $42.00 | $50.00 |
| Manitoba | $36.00 | $38.00 | $41.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $32.00 | $38.00 | $44.90 |
| Alberta | $25.00 | $45.79 | $50.00 |
| British Columbia | $30.00 | $41.00 | $45.90 |
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 32120 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 32120 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 clinical genetics technologist?
NOC 32120, Medical laboratory technologists, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 32120?
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 32120 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 32120 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 32120 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $39.00 an hour, with most wages between $25.13 and $49.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 32120 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.