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NOC 22212: Drafting technologists and technicians

Official definition ยท Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 ยท statcan.gc.ca โ†—

Drafting technologists and technicians prepare engineering designs, drawings and related technical information, such as building information models (BIM), in multidisciplinary engineering teams or in support of engineers, architects or industrial designers, or they may work independently. They are employed by consulting and construction companies, utility, resource and manufacturing companies, all levels of government and by a wide range of other establishments.

Median Pay$31.79/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 2Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles80 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 22212

Select the duties you perform in your actual job. Under IRCC guidelines, you must perform at least 60% of these duties for a successful work permit or PR reference letter.

80 official aliases
Checklist (14 official duties):Click each to toggle
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IRCC Reference Letter Rule:

Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description โ€” officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.

Live Match Scoreโš  Needs 9 More
0%
0 of 14 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 22212, your employer letter should verify at least 9 main duties. Select 9 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed9 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 22212

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Drafting technologists and technicians is categorized under TEER 2. Occupations in this tier typically require completion of a 2- to 3-year post-secondary diploma, apprenticeship training, or specialized technical certifications.

Express Entry Alignment

Qualifies directly for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. Work experience must be full-time (or equivalent part-time) and continuous for at least one year.

Target Category Status

Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).

NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency

Open Full NOC Converter Toolโ†’

Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, this occupation was mapped under the following 4-digit code(s). When preparing your Express Entry profile or work reference letters, you must use the new 5-digit code NOC 22212.

Former NOC 22534-Digit Legacy
Drafting technologists and technicians
VC1 - Code Change
Job Bank Open Data (2025/2026)

Regional Wages Across Canada

Legal Benchmark for LMIA

Under Canadian immigration law, an employer hiring you under an LMIA must pay you at least the median wage listed below for your province.

Province / TerritoryLow WageMedian WageHigh Wage
Canada (National Average)$21.5$31.79/hr$48.38
Newfoundland and Labrador โ†’$25/hr$36/hr$56.73/hr
Prince Edward Island โ†’$20.61/hr$26.91/hr$35.01/hr
Nova Scotia โ†’$19.63/hr$29.85/hr$45.01/hr
New Brunswick โ†’$23.32/hr$30/hr$40.11/hr
Quebec โ†’$21/hr$29.81/hr$42.31/hr
Ontario โ†’$20/hr$31.25/hr$48.08/hr
Manitoba โ†’$22/hr$30.03/hr$48.56/hr
Saskatchewan โ†’$23.47/hr$35.78/hr$48.98/hr
Alberta โ†’$25.48/hr$36/hr$53.85/hr
British Columbia โ†’$20/hr$33.65/hr$51/hr

๐Ÿ™๏ธTop Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)

Economic Region Benchmarks

Official ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.

Montrรฉal
$29.11/hr
$21.83 - $41.59
Ottawa
$33.1/hr
$22.35 - $47.61
Toronto
$32.5/hr
$23.08 - $45.45
Calgary
$33.65/hr
$22 - $50
Edmonton
$35.73/hr
$24.3 - $51.81
Vancouver
$32.21/hr
$20 - $52.88

Employment Requirements

These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a two- to three-year college program in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field is usually required for drafting and design technologists.
  • Completion of a one- to two-year college program in drafting or completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or four to five years of related experience plus completion of college or industry courses in drafting are usually required for drafting technicians.
  • Trade certification for draftspersons is available, but voluntary in Ontario.
  • Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians may be required by employers.
  • A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.

Official Job Titles for NOC 22212

80 Titles Listed

If your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:

architectural draftspersonbuilding information modelling (BIM) technologistcomputer-aided design and drafting (CADD) technologistcomputer-assisted drafting (CAD) techniciandesign and drafting technologistdrafting office supervisordrafting techniciandrafting technologistdraftspersonelectrical draftspersonelectromechanical draftspersonelectronic draftspersonengineering design and drafting technologistmechanical draftspersonsteel detailer - draftingstructural draftspersonstructural steel drafter-detaileraeronautical draftspersonair conditioning systems draftspersonbuilding information modelling (BIM) coordinatorbuilding information modelling (BIM) designerbuilding information modelling (BIM) specialistbuilding information modelling (BIM) technicianbuilding systems draftspersonchief draftspersoncivil draftspersoncommercial draftspersoncomputer-aided design (CAD) specialist - draftingcomputer-aided design (CAD) technologistcomputer-aided drafting (CAD) techniciancomputer-assisted design and drafting (CADD) operatorcomputer-assisted drafting (CAD) draftsperson - printed circuit boardscomputer-assisted drafting (CAD) operatorcomputer-assisted electromechanical design draftspersondesign draftspersondesign technician - draftingdesign technologist - draftingdetail draftspersondetailerdetailer - structural steel drafterdrafterdrafting checkerdrafting clerkdrafting design checkerdrafting group leaderdrafting supervisordrafting tracerdraftsman/womandraftsperson - computer-assisted designdraftspersons supervisorelectrical drafting supervisorelectrical marine draftspersonengineering draftspersongeneral draftspersongeological draftspersongeophysical draftspersonheating and ventilation systems draftspersonheating systems draftspersonhull draftsperson - shipbuilding and repairhydraulic machinery draftspersonmarine drafting supervisormechanical building draftspersonmechanical design draftspersonmine draftspersonmunicipal draftspersonoptical draftspersonpetroleum exploration draftspersonpiping draftspersonprocess piping draftspersonrefrigeration systems draftspersonship detail draftspersonshipbuilding draftspersonsteel frame draftsman/womansteel frame draftspersonstructural steel detailerstructural steel draftspersonsurvey draftspersontechnical illustrator - draftingtool checker - draftingtool design draftsperson

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:

  • Architectural design technologist (See 22210 Architectural technologists and technicians)View NOC 22210โ†’
  • Civil engineering design technologist (See 22300 Civil engineering technologists and technicians)View NOC 22300โ†’
  • Electrical engineering design technologist (See 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians)View NOC 22310โ†’
  • Electronics engineering design technologist (See 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians)View NOC 22310โ†’
  • Industrial designers (See 22211 Industrial designers)View NOC 22211โ†’
  • Mechanical engineering design technologist (See 22301 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians)View NOC 22301โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 22212 (Drafting technologists and technicians)

Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.

Yes. Because NOC 22212 is classified as TEER 2, it qualifies for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
For an LMIA work permit, your employer must offer at least the median wage of $31.79/hr (or the prevailing median rate in your specific Canadian province of employment).
Under Section 75(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), your employment reference letter must confirm you perform the actions in the lead statement and a substantial number (recommended at least 60%) of the official main duties listed above. You do not need to perform 100% of the duties.
Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, Drafting technologists and technicians was categorized under NOC 2253 (Drafting technologists and technicians). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 22212 under TEER 2.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 22212 is $29.11/hr in Montrรฉal, $33.1/hr in Ottawa, $32.5/hr in Toronto, $33.65/hr in Calgary, $35.73/hr in Edmonton.
Next Steps for NOC 22212

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Last verified: September 2026