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NOC 31202: Physiotherapists

Official definition · Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 · statcan.gc.ca ↗

Physiotherapists assess clients and plan and carry out individually designed treatment programs to maintain, improve or restore physical functioning and mobility, alleviate pain and prevent physical dysfunction in clients. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, industry, sports organizations, rehabilitation centres and extended care facilities, or may work in private practice.

Median Pay$46.15/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 1Express Entry pool
Priority StreamHealthcare PriorityCategory draws
Official Titles16 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 31202

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.

16 official aliases
Checklist (11 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 — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.

Live Match Score⚠ Needs 7 More
0%
0 of 11 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 31202, your employer letter should verify at least 7 main duties. Select 7 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed7 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 31202

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Physiotherapists 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

Open Full NOC Converter Tool

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 31202.

Former NOC 31424-Digit Legacy
Physiotherapists
RC5 - Transfer

3142 continues as 31202 and part transferred to 32109

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)$30$46.15/hr$56.21
Newfoundland and Labrador$38.75/hr$45.67/hr$54.09/hr
Prince Edward Island$19.23/hr$41.88/hr$45/hr
Nova Scotia$35/hr$42/hr$60.44/hr
New Brunswick$36/hr$42.31/hr$49.04/hr
Quebec$31.25/hr$48.08/hr$54.91/hr
Ontario$25.64/hr$46/hr$54/hr
Manitoba$28.33/hr$39.93/hr$57.69/hr
Saskatchewan$37.6/hr$46/hr$53.33/hr
Alberta$34.62/hr$46/hr$62.03/hr
British Columbia$28/hr$50/hr$72.12/hr

🏙️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.

Montréal
$44.79/hr
$32.13 - $51.92
Ottawa
$46.7/hr
$37.5 - $50
Toronto
$47/hr
$25.64 - $54
Calgary
$46/hr
$29.33 - $62.03
Edmonton
$45/hr
$40 - $49.65
Vancouver
$46.7/hr
$25.64 - $60

Employment Requirements

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

  • A master's degree in physiotherapy and a period of supervised practical training are required.
  • A licence or registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories.
  • Completion of a physiotherapist competency examination is required in all provinces and territories.

Official Job Titles for NOC 31202

16 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:

physical therapistphysiotherapistregistered physiotherapistresearch physiotherapistclinical physical therapistclinical physiotherapistconsultant physical therapistconsultant physiotherapistphysical therapy clinical coordinatorphysical therapy clinical specialistphysical therapy supervisorphysiotherapy clinical coordinatorphysiotherapy officer - Canadian Armed Forcesphysiotherapy supervisorregistered physical therapistresearch physical therapist

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

  • Director of physiotherapy (See 30010 Managers in health care)View NOC 30010
  • Physical rehabilitation therapist (See 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)View NOC 32109
  • Physiotherapy assistant (See 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)View NOC 32109

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 31202 (Physiotherapists)

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

Yes. Because NOC 31202 is classified as TEER 1, 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 $46.15/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, Physiotherapists was categorized under NOC 3142 (Physiotherapists). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 31202 under TEER 1.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 31202 is $44.79/hr in Montréal, $46.7/hr in Ottawa, $47/hr in Toronto, $46/hr in Calgary, $45/hr in Edmonton.
No. You do not need a provincial medical or nursing license just to submit your Express Entry profile or receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, you must complete foreign credential evaluation (ECA) and will need licensing after landing in Canada to practice clinically.
Next Steps for NOC 31202

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Last verified: September 2026