NOC 42202: Early childhood educators and assistants
Early childhood educators plan, organize and implement programs for children between the ages of infancy and 12 years. Early childhood educator assistants provide care for infants and preschool- to school-age children under the guidance of early childhood educators. Early childhood educators and assistants lead children in activities to stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical and emotional growth and ensure their security and well-being. They are employed in child-care centres, daycare centres, kindergartens, agencies for exceptional children and other settings where early childhood education services are provided. Supervisors of early childhood educators and assistants are included in this unit group.
Official Main Duties for NOC 42202
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 42202
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Early childhood educators and assistants 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
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 42202.
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) | $16.95 | $22.3/hr | $30.03 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador โ | $16/hr | $20/hr | $27.33/hr |
| Prince Edward Island โ | $16.5/hr | $21.55/hr | $31.33/hr |
| Nova Scotia โ | $16.5/hr | $21.49/hr | $28.21/hr |
| New Brunswick โ | $16.9/hr | $23.47/hr | $25.6/hr |
| Quebec โ | $18/hr | $24/hr | $30.03/hr |
| Ontario โ | $17.6/hr | $22/hr | $31/hr |
| Manitoba โ | $16/hr | $18/hr | $25.9/hr |
| Saskatchewan โ | $15.35/hr | $18.75/hr | $26.92/hr |
| Alberta โ | $15.6/hr | $19/hr | $28.85/hr |
| British Columbia โ | $19/hr | $24/hr | $30/hr |
| Yukon โ | $20/hr | $30/hr | $33.5/hr |
| Northwest Territories โ | $17.99/hr | $26.65/hr | $37.15/hr |
| Nunavut โ | $19/hr | $25/hr | $41.39/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:
- Early childhood educators
- Completion of a two- to four-year college program in early childhood education or A bachelor's degree in child development is required.
- Licensing is required in Ontario and certification is required in British Columbia for early childhood educators. Licensing for early childhood educators is usually required in all other provinces and territories.
- Early childhood educator assistants
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Experience in child care is required.
- Completion of an early childhood education assistant certificate program or post-secondary courses in early childhood education may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association as an early childhood educator may be required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 42202
33 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:
- Child-care centre administrator (See 40030 Managers in social, community and correctional services)View NOC 40030โ
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (See 43100 Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants)View NOC 43100โ
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (See 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers)View NOC 41221โ
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 42202 (Early childhood educators and assistants)
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 42202, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.