NOC 32103: Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. Clinical perfusionists provide technical support to patients undergoing cardiac surgery and patients requiring cardio-respiratory support. Cardiopulmonary technologists assist physicians in the technical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Respiratory therapists are employed in hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centres, sleep, private or dental clinics and respiratory home care companies. Clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists are primarily employed in hospitals. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this unit group.
Official Main Duties for NOC 32103
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 32103
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists 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
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 32103.
3124 continues as 31303 and part transferred to 32103 and part split off to emerging item 31302
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) | $30.16 | $41/hr | $51 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $30.96/hr | $40.29/hr | $53.67/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $30.22/hr | $40.22/hr | $45.42/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $31/hr | $37.1/hr | $48.46/hr |
| Quebec → | $30/hr | $39.4/hr | $50.39/hr |
| Ontario → | $27.39/hr | $44.66/hr | $53.81/hr |
| Manitoba → | $26/hr | $44/hr | $51/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $21/hr | $43/hr | $49/hr |
| Alberta → | $41.63/hr | $48/hr | $56/hr |
| British Columbia → | $32/hr | $39/hr | $47/hr |
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Respiratory therapists require the completion of a three-year college or university degree program in respiratory therapy, both including clinical training.
- Licensing is required for respiratory therapists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
- A national certification for respiratory therapists is available for therapists working in Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- In Quebec, a certificate is required for respiratory therapists to prescribe smoking cessation medication.
- Clinical perfusionists require the completion of a respiratory therapy or registered nursing program with a minimum of one year of work experience as a respiratory therapist or registered nurse and completion of a college or university program in clinical perfusion, including clinical training.
- Certification with the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion is required for clinical perfusionists.
- Cardiopulmonary technologists require a two-year college diploma in an allied health discipline such as respiratory therapy, nursing diploma, or a university degree in a related science and completion of a college post-diploma program in cardiovascular technology and additional training in pulmonary technology through courses or supervised on-the-job clinical training.
- Registration with the Canadian Association of Cardio-pulmonary Technologists (CACPT) may be required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 32103
35 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:
- Other medical technologists and technicians (See 32129 Other medical technologists and technicians)View NOC 32129→
- Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (See 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)View NOC 32109→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 32103 (Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists)
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 32103, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.