NOC 31103: Veterinarians
Veterinarians prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing and general care of animals. They can also perform surgical procedures. They work in private practice or may be employed by animal clinics, farms, laboratories, government or industry.
Official Main Duties for NOC 31103
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 31103
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Veterinarians 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 31103.
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) | $34.15 | $60/hr | $84.13 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $40.13/hr | $57.35/hr | $76.72/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $29.33/hr | $51.82/hr | $71.23/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $49.31/hr | $52.2/hr | $71.23/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $29.33/hr | $51.82/hr | $71.23/hr |
| Quebec → | $25/hr | $64.1/hr | $70/hr |
| Ontario → | $29.81/hr | $60/hr | $86.54/hr |
| Manitoba → | $38.46/hr | $50.48/hr | $72.12/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $38.65/hr | $52.88/hr | $65/hr |
| Alberta → | $40.75/hr | $62.5/hr | $88.94/hr |
| British Columbia → | $35.58/hr | $60/hr | $86.54/hr |
🏙️Top Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)
Economic Region BenchmarksOfficial ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Doctor of veterinary medicine
- Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required.
- A provincial licence to practice is required.
- Veterinary specialists
- Completion of a degree in veterinary medicine and three to four years of additional postgraduate studies or residency program in the specialty of their choice are required.
- Veterinary specialists must be accredited by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) or the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). In Quebec, they must be accredited by the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec and only 18 specialties are recognized.
- A provincial license to practice is required.
- Research veterinarian
- Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required.
- Entry into research positions may require postgraduate study.
- A provincial licence to practice is required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 31103
41 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:
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (See 32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians)View NOC 32104→
- Biologists and related scientists (See 21110 Biologists and related scientists)View NOC 21110→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 31103 (Veterinarians)
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 31103, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.