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NOC 41302: Religious leaders

Official definition ยท Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 ยท statcan.gc.ca โ†—

Religious leaders conduct religious services, administer the rites of a religious faith or denomination, provide spiritual and moral guidance and perform other functions associated with the practice of a religion. They perform these duties in churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship. They may also work in other institutions such as schools, hospitals and correctional facilities.

Median Pay$27.53/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 1Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles26 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 41302

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.

26 official aliases
Checklist (8 official duties):Click each to toggle
๐Ÿ’ก
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 โ€” officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.

Live Match Scoreโš  Needs 5 More
0%
0 of 8 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 41302, your employer letter should verify at least 5 main duties. Select 5 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed5 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 41302

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Religious leaders is categorized under TEER 1. Occupations in this tier typically require a university degree (bachelorโ€™s, masterโ€™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

Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).

NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency

Open Full NOC Converter Toolโ†’

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 41302.

Former NOC 41544-Digit Legacy
Professional occupations in religion
VC1 - Code Change
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)$17.31$27.53/hr$44.07
Newfoundland and Labrador โ†’$16/hr$23.56/hr$31/hr
Prince Edward Island โ†’$20/hr$27.03/hr$43.27/hr
Nova Scotia โ†’$16.5/hr$25.39/hr$40.87/hr
New Brunswick โ†’$15.65/hr$24.04/hr$33.42/hr
Quebec โ†’$16.83/hr$23.08/hr$35.9/hr
Ontario โ†’$18.46/hr$28.85/hr$57.69/hr
Manitoba โ†’$16/hr$24.62/hr$33.65/hr
Saskatchewan โ†’$15.38/hr$26.67/hr$38.46/hr
Alberta โ†’$19.23/hr$26.25/hr$44.07/hr
British Columbia โ†’$17.85/hr$30/hr$39.42/hr
Yukon โ†’$24.49/hr$34.01/hr$54.66/hr
Northwest Territories โ†’$21.61/hr$36.69/hr$50.44/hr

๐Ÿ™๏ธ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.

Ottawa
$28.57/hr
$19.23 - $38.46
Toronto
$31.25/hr
$20.45 - $69.71
Calgary
$26.25/hr
$20 - $43.99
Vancouver
$30/hr
$17.85 - $43.59

Employment Requirements

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

  • Completion of college, university or other program in religious studies is usually required. Some occupations in this unit group may require a master's of divinity or theology.
  • A period of study with a senior minister is usually required.

Official Job Titles for NOC 41302

26 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:

archbishopbishopcardinalchaplainevangelistgranthiimamministermoderator - religionpastorpriestrabbiarchdeaconassistant minister - religionchancellor - religionchaplain - Canadian Armed Forcesclergyman/womancurateminister - religionofficiating clergyman/womanparish priestpreacherpresbyterreverendSalvation Army commissioned officertelevision evangelist

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 41302 (Religious leaders)

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

Yes. Because NOC 41302 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 $27.53/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, Religious leaders was categorized under NOC 4154 (Professional occupations in religion). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 41302 under TEER 1.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 41302 is $28.57/hr in Ottawa, $31.25/hr in Toronto, $26.25/hr in Calgary, $30/hr in Vancouver.
Next Steps for NOC 41302

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Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 41302, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026