NOC 33101: Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
Medical laboratory assistants and workers in related technical occupations perform pre-analysis and pre-testing tasks such as collecting blood and other samples, processing specimens, and preparing special chemicals called reagents for use in testing. They conduct routine medical laboratory tests and set up, clean and maintain medical laboratory equipment. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, clinics, research facilities, post-secondary educational institutions and government research laboratories.
Official Main Duties for NOC 33101
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 33101
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations is categorized under TEER 3. 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 33101.
3212 continues as 33101 and part transferred to 31303 and 32120
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) | $19.18 | $27/hr | $36.11 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $21/hr | $26.5/hr | $33/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $20/hr | $28/hr | $35.74/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $20/hr | $25/hr | $33/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $23/hr | $25.2/hr | $34/hr |
| Quebec → | $21.55/hr | $29.02/hr | $37.03/hr |
| Ontario → | $17.62/hr | $26.25/hr | $36/hr |
| Manitoba → | $16/hr | $26/hr | $37.95/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $22/hr | $25.75/hr | $39.22/hr |
| Alberta → | $23.72/hr | $28.62/hr | $35.54/hr |
| British Columbia → | $20.5/hr | $28/hr | $31/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:
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical workers require completion of a college certificate program in medical laboratory science.
- Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is usually required by employers.
Official Job Titles for NOC 33101
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:
- Biological technologists and technicians (See 22110 Biological technologists and technicians)View NOC 22110→
- Chemical technologists and technicians (See 22100 Chemical technologists and technicians)View NOC 22100→
- Medical laboratory technologists (See 32120 Medical laboratory technologists)View NOC 32120→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 33101 (Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations)
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 33101, explore your TEER 3 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.