National Occupational Classification, TEER 1
NOC 41321: Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education)
Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) provide assistance and information to job seeker clients on all aspects of employment search and career planning. Below are the main duties, all 39 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 41321?
NOC 41321 is the code for career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include career counsellor (except education), career development counsellor, career development practitioner and outplacement counsellor. 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. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $29.95 an hour.
- NOC code
- 41321
- TEER
- 1: University degree
- Broad category
- Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $29.95 an hour
Job titles under NOC 41321
Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) provide assistance and information to job seeker clients on all aspects of employment search and career planning. They also provide advice and information to employer clients regarding employment issues and human resources. They are employed by public or private employment agencies, rehabilitation centres, hospitals, human resource departments of establishments, consulting firms, correctional facilities and by federal and provincial governments. Supervisors of career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) are included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- career counsellor (except education)
- career development counsellor
- career development practitioner
- outplacement counsellor
- rehabilitation counsellor
- relocation consultant
- vocational rehabilitation counsellor
All 39 job titles in the NOC index
Aboriginal employment developer, Aboriginal employment officer, Aboriginal employment worker, career coach, career counsellor (except education), career development counsellor, career development facilitator, career development practitioner, career group facilitator, career resource centre coordinator, employment assistance officer, employment consultant, employment counsellor - government services, employment group counsellor, employment outreach counsellor, employment outreach program coordinator, employment outreach program counsellor, employment services assessment officer, employment services group counsellor, employment services officer, guidance counsellor (except education), job counsellor, job counsellor - government services, job search trainer, labour market information consultant, outplacement consultant, outplacement counsellor, rehabilitation counsellor, relocation consultant, relocation counsellor, vocational counsellor (except education), vocational evaluator, vocational guidance counsellor (except education), vocational rehabilitation consultant, vocational rehabilitation counsellor, vocational rehabilitation professional, vocational rehabilitation specialist, workforce adjustment officer, workforce development officer.
Also included in this group
- Aboriginal employment developer
- employment consultant
- relocation counsellor
- vocational rehabilitation specialist
- workforce development officer
Main duties of NOC 41321
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Interview clients to obtain employment history, educational background and career goals
- Identify barriers to employment and assist clients with such matters as job readiness skills, job search strategies, writing résumés and preparing for job interviews
- Assess need for assistance such as rehabilitation, financial aid or further training and refer clients to the appropriate services
- Provide established workers with information and strategies for maintaining a job or moving within an organization, dealing with job dissatisfaction, making mid-career changes and adjusting to workplace transitions
- Collect labour market information for clients regarding job openings, entry and skill requirements and other occupational information
- Advise employers on human resource and other employment-related issues
- Provide consulting services to community groups and agencies, businesses, industry and other organizations involved in providing community-based career planning support or resources
- May administer and interpret tests designed to determine the interests, aptitudes and abilities of clients.
- May provide advocacy and adjudication services related to employment legislation or contractual agreements.
- May arrange for, or conduct physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing clients' needs and to develop employment and rehabilitation plans.
- Vocational counsellors provide specialized career development services to individuals with physical illnesses or injuries, mental health illnesses and individuals with disabilities. They require additional knowledge and experience to assess employment capabilities and develop associated employment plans.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree or college diploma in employment counselling, career development or in a related field, such as human resources development, psychology, education or social services is required.
- A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work may be required.
- Vocational rehabilitation professional certification may be required by employers.
- In Quebec, membership in l'Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation du Québec is mandatory to use the titles ''vocational counsellor'' and "vocational guidance counsellor".
- In New Brunswick, membership in the College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick is mandatory to use the title "Licensed career counsellor".
- In Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, Certified Career Development Professional/Practitioner (CCDP) certification may be required by employers.
Additional information
- Mobility to positions in personnel or training is possible.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible through experience.
Is NOC 41321 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 1 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 41321 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation 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 41321 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 | $22.56 | $29.95 | $43.41 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.67 | $33.00 | $53.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $21.00 | $25.50 | $35.90 |
| Nova Scotia | $21.75 | $27.20 | $43.08 |
| New Brunswick | $24.75 | $35.25 | $45.00 |
| Quebec | $25.02 | $30.53 | $41.03 |
| Ontario | $21.33 | $29.23 | $45.00 |
| Manitoba | $20.00 | $28.57 | $43.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $21.00 | $27.85 | $40.00 |
| Alberta | $21.00 | $26.44 | $43.59 |
| British Columbia | $25.00 | $29.30 | $41.83 |
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 41321 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 41321 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 career counsellor (except education)?
NOC 41321, Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education), a TEER 1 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 41321?
TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 41321 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 41321 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 41321 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $29.95 an hour, with most wages between $22.56 and $43.41. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 41321 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.