NOC 65220: Pet groomers and animal care workers
Animal care workers feed, handle, train and groom animals and assist veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians and animal breeders. Pet groomers clip coats, bathe and otherwise groom pets. They are employed by animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, breeding and boarding kennels, zoos, laboratories, retail pet shops, dog training schools, pet grooming establishments, or may be self-employed.
Official Main Duties for NOC 65220
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 65220
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Pet groomers and animal care workers is categorized under TEER 5. Occupations in this tier typically require secondary school graduation or job-specific on-the-job training.
Express Entry Alignment
Classified under TEER 5, meaning this occupation does not qualify for direct Express Entry general pools. Candidates should focus on employer-driven Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) or federal pilot pathways.
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 65220.
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) | $15 | $18/hr | $25.5 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $16/hr | $16.1/hr | $26/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $16.5/hr | $16.5/hr | $17/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $16.5/hr | $16.5/hr | $25/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $15.65/hr | $16.25/hr | $24/hr |
| Quebec → | $16.1/hr | $18.57/hr | $25/hr |
| Ontario → | $17.6/hr | $19/hr | $26/hr |
| Manitoba → | $16/hr | $16/hr | $25/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $15.35/hr | $15.35/hr | $20/hr |
| Alberta → | $15/hr | $17/hr | $32.5/hr |
| British Columbia → | $17.85/hr | $19.5/hr | $25/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:
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Depending on the type of work performed, training courses in animal handling, grooming or dog training are usually required. Animal health or veterinary assistant college courses may be required for animal care workers.
Official Job Titles for NOC 65220
31 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:
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (See 32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians)View NOC 32104→
- Animal nutritionist (See 21110 Biologists and related scientists)View NOC 21110→
- Horseshoer (See 72999 Other technical trades and related occupations)View NOC 72999→
- Marine mammal trainer (See 21110 Biologists and related scientists)View NOC 21110→
- Sheep shearer (See 84120 Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators)View NOC 84120→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 65220 (Pet groomers and animal care 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 65220, explore your TEER 5 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.