NOC 31101: Specialists in surgery
Specialists in surgery perform and supervise surgical procedures. Specialists in surgery usually work in hospitals. Residents in training to become specialists in surgery are included in this unit group.
Official Main Duties for NOC 31101
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.
Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 31101
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Specialists in surgery is categorized under TEER 1. Occupations in this tier typically require a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate) or substantial managerial tenure.
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
Designated under IRCC's Healthcare Priority Stream →. Candidates with 6 months of qualifying Canadian or foreign experience in this NOC can receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) at significantly lower CRS cutoff thresholds.
NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency
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 31101.
3111 expired and the denotations distributed among emerging items 31100, 31101 and 41310
Regional Wages Across Canada
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 / Territory | Low Wage | Median Wage | High Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (National Average) | $144482 | $419180/yr | $766730 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $143704/yr | $434053/yr | $699989/yr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $73872/yr | $530709/yr | $309016/yr |
| Nova Scotia → | $175086/yr | $418516/yr | $597217/yr |
| New Brunswick → | $175076/yr | $421734/yr | $634999/yr |
| Quebec → | $165663/yr | $397319/yr | $642495/yr |
| Ontario → | $118538/yr | $403957/yr | $749689/yr |
| Manitoba → | $161289/yr | $457991/yr | $826328/yr |
| Alberta → | $180159/yr | $508561/yr | $984111/yr |
| British Columbia → | $146214/yr | $441788/yr | $819593/yr |
| Yukon → | — | $403299/yr | — |
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- A bachelor's degree or in Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
- Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required.
- Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
- Five to six years of specialty residency training are required.
- Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 31101
39 Titles ListedIf your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:
Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)
Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:
- Chiropractors (See 31201 Chiropractors)View NOC 31201→
- Dental surgeon (See 31110 Dentists)View NOC 31110→
- General practitioners and family physicians (See 31102 General practitioners and family physicians)View NOC 31102→
- Immunologist (See 21110 Biologists and related scientists)View NOC 21110→
- Managers in health care (See 30010 Managers in health care)View NOC 30010→
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (See 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)View NOC 31209→
- Physicians assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (See 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals)View NOC 31303→
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (See 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine)View NOC 31100→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 31101 (Specialists in surgery)
Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.
Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs
Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 31101, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.