NOC 42201: Social and community service workers
Social and community service workers administer and implement a variety of social assistance programs and community services, and assist clients to deal with personal and social problems. They are employed by social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, group homes, shelters, substance abuse centres, school boards, correctional facilities and other establishments.
Official Main Duties for NOC 42201
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 โ officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 42201
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Social and community service workers 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 โ. 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 42201.
4155 continues as 41311 and part transferred to 42201
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 | $26/hr | $36.06 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador โ | $17/hr | $24.86/hr | $34.71/hr |
| Prince Edward Island โ | $20/hr | $27/hr | $33/hr |
| Nova Scotia โ | $18.29/hr | $23.32/hr | $33.27/hr |
| New Brunswick โ | $18/hr | $23.08/hr | $32.85/hr |
| Quebec โ | $19.27/hr | $26.59/hr | $36/hr |
| Ontario โ | $19.79/hr | $26.5/hr | $37.23/hr |
| Manitoba โ | $16/hr | $21/hr | $36.34/hr |
| Saskatchewan โ | $17.31/hr | $23.08/hr | $33.33/hr |
| Alberta โ | $18/hr | $24.23/hr | $37.21/hr |
| British Columbia โ | $21/hr | $27/hr | $35/hr |
| Yukon โ | $25/hr | $30/hr | $44.62/hr |
| Northwest Territories โ | $16.7/hr | $32/hr | $45.75/hr |
| Nunavut โ | $22/hr | $35/hr | $51/hr |
๐๏ธTop 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 college or university program in social work, child and youth care, psychology or other social science or health-related discipline is usually required.
- Previous work experience in a social service environment as a volunteer or in a support capacity may replace formal education requirements for some occupations in this unit group.
- Social service workers may be required to be a member of a provincial regulatory body in some provinces.
Official Job Titles for NOC 42201
110 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:
- Activities leader - seniors (See 54100 Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness)View NOC 54100โ
- Educational counsellors (See 41320 Educational counsellors)View NOC 41320โ
- Instructors of persons with disabilities (See 42203 Instructors of persons with disabilities)View NOC 42203โ
- Managers in social, community and correctional services (See 40030 Managers in social, community and correctional services)View NOC 40030โ
- Social workers (See 41300 Social workers)View NOC 41300โ
- Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies (See 41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies)View NOC 41301โ
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 42201 (Social and community service workers)
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 42201, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.