NOC 31121: Dietitians and nutritionists
Dietitians and nutritionists assess nutrition related issues of individuals and groups and develop, implement and evaluate nutrition care plans to prevent, treat and manage disease. They manage food and nutrition service systems, and plan health promotion programs. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, home health-care agencies and extended care facilities, community health centres, the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, educational institutions, and government and sports organizations, or they may work as private consultants.
Official Main Duties for NOC 31121
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 31121
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Dietitians and nutritionists 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 31121.
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) | $22.53 | $41.63/hr | $50 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $25/hr | $40/hr | $46/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $30.77/hr | $40.38/hr | $44/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $28.89/hr | $41.94/hr | $53.94/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $20/hr | $40/hr | $46/hr |
| Quebec → | $26.75/hr | $40/hr | $50/hr |
| Ontario → | $20/hr | $42/hr | $50/hr |
| Manitoba → | $29.5/hr | $34.36/hr | $45/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $38.75/hr | $42/hr | $48/hr |
| Alberta → | $32.22/hr | $46.24/hr | $57.46/hr |
| British Columbia → | $32.85/hr | $44/hr | $50/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:
- Dietitians require a bachelor's degree in dietetics, nutrition or a related field such as food and nutritional science from a program accredited by the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP), and a period of supervised practical training.
- Successful completion of the Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE) is required in all provinces except Quebec.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces for dietitians.
- Membership in the national association, Dietitians of Canada, is voluntary.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for nutritionists in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Alberta. In the remaining provinces, nutritionists may require the same education and practical training as dietitians.
- Membership with the national association, Dietitians of Canada, and/or a provincial regulatory body is available for nutritionists who have the same education and practical training as dietitians.
Official Job Titles for NOC 31121
30 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:
- Dietary technician (See 32129 Other medical technologists and technicians)View NOC 32129→
- Director of dietetics (See 30010 Managers in health care)View NOC 30010→
- Food service supervisors (See 62020 Food service supervisors)View NOC 62020→
- Holistic nutritionist (See 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing)View NOC 32209→
- Home economist (See 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers)View NOC 41403→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 31121 (Dietitians and nutritionists)
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 31121, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.