NOC 32201: Massage therapists
Massage therapists assess soft tissues and joints of the body for treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders. They work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and educational institutions.
Official Main Duties for NOC 32201
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 32201
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Massage 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 32201.
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) | $32867 | $32867/yr | $62400 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | — | $36400/yr | — |
| Prince Edward Island → | — | $40800/yr | — |
| Nova Scotia → | $35128/yr | $35128/yr | $56000/yr |
| New Brunswick → | $33481/yr | $33481/yr | $56000/yr |
| Quebec → | $33109/yr | $33109/yr | $49200/yr |
| Ontario → | $37561/yr | $37561/yr | $57200/yr |
| Manitoba → | $34810/yr | $34810/yr | $50400/yr |
| Saskatchewan → | $34747/yr | $40800/yr | $67500/yr |
| Alberta → | $32867/yr | $32867/yr | $63600/yr |
| British Columbia → | $37929/yr | $43600/yr | $81000/yr |
🏙️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:
- Massage therapists usually require completion of an 18- to 24-month or 18- to 36-month program in massage therapy from an accredited school and a period of supervised practical training.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and British Columbia.
Official Job Titles for NOC 32201
8 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:
- Medical technologists and technicians (See 3212 Medical technologists and technicians)
- Other practitioners of natural healing (See 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing)View NOC 32209→
- Physiotherapy assistant (See 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)View NOC 32109→
- Technical occupations in therapy and assessment (See 3210 Technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (See 32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists)View NOC 32200→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 32201 (Massage 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 32201, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.