NOC 32111: Dental hygienists and dental therapists
Dental hygienists provide dental hygiene treatment and services related to oral health promotion and disease and mouth injury prevention. They are employed in a variety of settings including dentists' offices, hospitals, private clinics, educational institutions, public health agencies or they may be self-employed. Dental therapists provide limited restorative dental treatment in addition to dental hygiene services. They are employed by the federal government and the provincial governments to provide services in rural and remote communities.
Official Main Duties for NOC 32111
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 32111
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Dental hygienists and dental therapists 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 32111.
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) | $32 | $45/hr | $60 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $25/hr | $50/hr | $74.27/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $39/hr | $46/hr | $48/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $35/hr | $38.1/hr | $44/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $35.58/hr | $42/hr | $46/hr |
| Quebec → | $30/hr | $39/hr | $46.19/hr |
| Ontario → | $33/hr | $44/hr | $53.67/hr |
| Manitoba → | $43/hr | $47/hr | $53.97/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $26.44/hr | $51/hr | $60/hr |
| Alberta → | $50/hr | $60/hr | $75/hr |
| British Columbia → | $43.59/hr | $55/hr | $65/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:
- Completion of a two- to three- year college dental hygiene program, approved by the governing board within the province or territory of residence, is usually required for dental hygienists.
- Dental therapists are required to complete a two- to three- year college diploma from an approved dental institution program.
- Licensing by the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory body is required for dental hygienists.
- Licensure is required for dental therapists in Saskatchewan, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Official Job Titles for NOC 32111
14 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:
- Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants (See 33100 Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants)View NOC 33100→
- Dental technologists and technicians (See 32112 Dental technologists and technicians)View NOC 32112→
- Dentists (See 31110 Dentists)View NOC 31110→
- Denturists (See 32110 Denturists)View NOC 32110→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 32111 (Dental hygienists and dental therapists)
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 32111, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.