NOC 41321: Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education)
Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) provide assistance and information to job seeker clients on all aspects of employment search and career planning. They also provide advice and information to employer clients regarding employment issues and human resources. They are employed by public or private employment agencies, rehabilitation centres, hospitals, human resource departments of establishments, consulting firms, correctional facilities and by federal and provincial governments. Supervisors of career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) are included in this unit group.
Official Main Duties for NOC 41321
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 41321
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) is categorized under TEER 1. Occupations in this tier typically require a university degree (bachelor’s, master’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
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 41321.
4153 continues as 41301 with part transferred to 31303 and 41321
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) | $22.56 | $29.95/hr | $43.41 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $22.67/hr | $33/hr | $53/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $21/hr | $25.5/hr | $35.9/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $21.75/hr | $27.2/hr | $43.08/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $24.75/hr | $35.25/hr | $45/hr |
| Quebec → | $25.02/hr | $30.53/hr | $41.03/hr |
| Ontario → | $21.33/hr | $29.23/hr | $45/hr |
| Manitoba → | $20/hr | $28.57/hr | $43/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $21/hr | $27.85/hr | $40/hr |
| Alberta → | $21/hr | $26.44/hr | $43.59/hr |
| British Columbia → | $25/hr | $29.3/hr | $41.83/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:
- A bachelor's degree or college diploma in employment counselling, career development or in a related field, such as human resources development, psychology, education or social services is required.
- A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work may be required.
- Vocational rehabilitation professional certification may be required by employers.
- In Quebec, membership in l'Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation du Québec is mandatory to use the titles ''vocational counsellor'' and "vocational guidance counsellor".
- In New Brunswick, membership in the College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick is mandatory to use the title "Licensed career counsellor".
- In Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, Certified Career Development Professional/Practitioner (CCDP) certification may be required by employers.
Official Job Titles for NOC 41321
39 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:
- Educational counsellors (See 41320 Educational counsellors)View NOC 41320→
- Employment insurance officer (See 12104 Employment insurance and revenue officers)View NOC 12104→
- Human resources and recruitment officers (See 12101 Human resources and recruitment officers)View NOC 12101→
- Job coach for persons with disabilities (See 42203 Instructors of persons with disabilities)View NOC 42203→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 41321 (Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education))
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 41321, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.