NOC 2021 · 31200 · TEER 1
NOC 31200: Psychologists
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Psychologists assess and diagnose behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders, counsel clients, provide therapy, conduct research and apply theory relating to behaviour and mental processes. Psychologists help clients work toward the maintenance and enhancement of psychological, physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal functioning. They work in private practice or in clinics, correctional facilities, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centres, community service organizations, businesses, schools and universities, and in government and private research agencies.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$52.88 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 2
+40 CRS for Canadian work, or 70 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
Healthcare and social services
Category-based draws (2026)
Express Entry
How NOC 31200 counts for Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of continuous skilled (TEER 0–3) work in the last 10 years and 67 points on the FSW grid.
- Canadian Experience Class: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of skilled (TEER 0–3) work in Canada in the last 3 years.
- Federal Skilled Trades: not eligibleNeeds 2 years of work in an eligible trade group in the last 5 years, plus a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
High-wage CRS points
NOC 31200 is in tier 2 of IRCC's high-wage list, in effect from 3 November 2026.
| 12+ months of Canadian work | +40 points on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer (no LMIA) | 70 points |
You get whichever option scores higher, not both.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
- Healthcare and social services
At least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equal part-time) in the past 3 years in one listed occupation, plus Express Entry eligibility and the round instructions.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Examine and assess behaviour, diagnose behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders, counsel clients and provide therapy
- Help clients manage physical illness and disorders
- Counsel individuals and groups to achieve more effective personal, social and vocational development and adjustment, and offer mediation services
- Use standard psychological tests for assessment
- Plan intervention programs and conduct program evaluation
- Apply psychological theory and principles regarding behaviour and mental processes such as learning, language development, memory and perception to develop treatment programs
- Formulate hypotheses and experimental designs, review literature, conduct studies and publish research papers, educational texts and articles
- Deliver presentations at conferences, workshops or symposia
- Provide consultation services to government and other organizations.
- Conduct applied psychology and/or experimental research.
- Sub-specialties include behavioural psychology, child psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, industrial psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology or sports psychology.
For Express Entry, your experience must match the lead statement and most of these duties, not only the job title.
Job titles
Example job titles
- clinical psychologist
- psychological associate
- psychologist
- research psychologist
All 12 job titles in NOC 31200
- chartered psychologist
- child psychologist
- clinical psychologist
- educational psychologist
- neuropsychologist
- provisional psychologist
- psychological associate
- psychologist
- registered psychologist
- research psychologist
- school psychologist
- sports psychologist
Requirements
Employment requirements
- A doctoral degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychologist" in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
- A master's degree in psychology is required for the designation "Psychologist" in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- A master's degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychological Associate" in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
- A period of supervised practical experience is required in most jurisdictions.
- Successful completion of the written Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is required in most provinces.
- Oral examinations and board interviews are required in some provinces.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- Written ethics and jurisprudence exams may be required in some jurisdictions.
- Psychologists can become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.
Additional information
- Psychological associates may be granted permission by provincial regulatory authorities to perform duties normally restricted to psychologists, specifically diagnosing psychological disorders and communicating diagnoses to clients.
Wages
Wages for NOC 31200 in Canada
Low, median and high wages per hour in Canadian dollars, from ESDC Job Bank's 2025 wage data.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $37.65 | $52.88 | $77.43 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $35.75 | $48.31 | $56.71 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $33.95 | $48.91 | $63.23 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| New Brunswick | $32.68 | $45.10 | $55.12 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Quebec | $38.60 | $50.00 | $60.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $34.62 | $51.82 | $70.71 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Manitoba | $33.65 | $48.08 | $64.10 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $36.35 | $51.00 | $65.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Alberta | $43.87 | $58.00 | $109.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| British Columbia | $33.09 | $49.09 | $66.84 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
Provinces with too little data are not shown. Wages vary by city and employer; see Job Bank for regional figures.
Job outlook
Job outlook by province, 2025–2027
Job Bank rates the 3-year outlook as good or very good in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia.
Very goodNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Very good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Recent graduates from fields of study related to this occupation have found it easy to find work.
Factors behind the good outlook for psychologists include a growing public interest in mental health and the expected implementation of billing codes for private psychologists under Nova Scotia's public health insurance program.
Many graduates begin their career in hospital settings and later move to private practice to have a greater degree of autonomy with respect to their caseload.
Once registered, new psychologists should have little trouble finding work, while those with experience are in even higher demand. However, the number of individuals seeking a clinical practicum in the province sometimes exceeds the number of spaces available.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in Nova Scotia:
Approximately 700 people work in this occupation.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 46%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 28%
Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 14%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 86% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 14% compared to 18% for all occupations
72% of psychologists work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
39% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 17% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 83% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 10% for all occupations
Very goodNew Brunswick
The employment outlook will be Very good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in New Brunswick for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Psychologists in New Brunswick are most often employed in one of the province’s health networks (Horizon or Vitalité) or within a private practice.
Mental health has been an issue of increasing importance, and this has led to higher demand for psychologists. In addition, opportunities will continue to arise through replacement of retirees.
School psychologists are in short supply in certain regions, so being willing to relocate for work will improve prospects.
Opportunities will also be greater for those who are fluent in both official languages of New Brunswick.
A PhD in Psychology with 1,600 hours of supervised experience is required to be licensed through the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick. This supervised work experience could be in private practice, the school system, mental health facility or hospital. Psychologists can become specialized in a particular area through training and experience, and this may improve one’s chances of obtaining employment. Psychologists who are licensed to practice in other provinces can apply to transfer their licensure to New Brunswick, even if they only have a Master’s degree.
Given the expanding application of virtual care, candidates should be comfortable with all relevant technologies.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in New Brunswick:
Approximately 450 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 52%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 26%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 10%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 87% compared to 84% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 13% compared to 16% for all occupations
64% of psychologists work all year, while 36% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
41% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 10% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 15% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 85% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 5% compared to 16% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 95% compared to 7% for all occupations
Very goodSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Very good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 450 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 32%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 21%
Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 16%
Social assistance (NAICS 624): 11%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 83% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 17% compared to 19% for all occupations
66% of psychologists work all year, while 34% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
32% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 25% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 75% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: n/a
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 7% for all occupations
GoodPrince Edward Island
The employment outlook will be Good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Psychologists in P.E.I. continue to be employed in government departments such as Health and Wellness and Education and Lifelong Learning, as well as in private practice. Demand in both the public and private sector is outpacing the supply of available psychologists. P.E.I. continues to invest in mental health supports, but recruitment remains a challenge. For individuals, this means strong prospects if they pursue the required doctoral-level education and licensing, with opportunities in both public and private sectors. Skills in clinical practice, assessment, counselling, and interdisciplinary collaboration are especially valued.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in Prince Edward Island:
Approximately 50 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 69%
Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 23%
Other schools and instruction (NAICS 6115-6117): 7%
80% of psychologists work all year, while 20% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 51 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
50% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 40% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 60% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: n/a
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 92% compared to 8% for all occupations
GoodQuebec
The employment outlook will be Good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Employment in this occupation depends primarily on the need for psychological care and government spending on these services.
In recent years, demand has increased significantly due to growing awareness of mental health issues and a reduction in the stigma associated with these issues in the public sphere. To meet this growing demand, the government is investing in expanding and improving mental health services for the entire population.
Expanded insurance coverage for psychological care and the increased availability of employee assistance programs are also continuing to stimulate demand for professionals in private practice.
In recent years, vacant positions in the public sector have been difficult to fill, due to the pull of private practice. To support recruitment and train more professionals, the government has introduced several measures, including a scholarship program for doctoral students in psychology who have an internship in the public network.
In Quebec, only doctoral graduates are allowed to use the title of psychologist.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in Quebec:
Approximately 7,500 people work in this occupation.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 51%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 22%
Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 11%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 71% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 28% compared to 18% for all occupations
60% of psychologists work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
50% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 21% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 79% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 11% for all occupations
GoodOntario
The employment outlook will be Good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in Ontario:
Approximately 5,950 people work in this occupation.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 56%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 17%
Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 9%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 79% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 21% compared to 19% for all occupations
64% of psychologists work all year, while 36% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
50% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 24% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 76% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 6% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 94% compared to 13% for all occupations
GoodManitoba
The employment outlook will be Good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in Manitoba:
Approximately 550 people work in this occupation.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 30%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 26%
Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 25%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 77% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 23% compared to 19% for all occupations
66% of psychologists work all year, while 34% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
27% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 22% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 78% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 95% compared to 8% for all occupations
GoodAlberta
The employment outlook will be Good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in Alberta:
Approximately 4,500 people work in this occupation.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 61%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 11%
Social assistance (NAICS 624): 11%
Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 7%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 76% compared to 80% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 24% compared to 20% for all occupations
60% of psychologists work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
52% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 19% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 81% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 9% for all occupations
GoodBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Good for psychologists (NOC 31200) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
As the province has experienced robust population growth in the past couple of years, the Government of British Columbia has invested into expanding health care services around the province. The demand for mental health care professionals, such as psychologists, will also be strong in the short to medium term.
Here are some key facts about psychologists in British Columbia:
Approximately 1,950 people work in this occupation.
Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 49%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 18%
Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 14%
Social assistance (NAICS 624): 7%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 75% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 25% compared to 22% for all occupations
61% of psychologists work all year, while 39% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
50% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 24% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 76% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 7% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 93% compared to 12% for all occupations
UndeterminedNewfoundland and Labrador
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNorthwest Territories
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNunavut
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
Source: ESDC Job Bank, 3-year employment outlooks 2025–2027 (released December 2025).
Provinces
Provincial Nominee Programs
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Most provinces run occupation-targeted draws or in-demand lists, and some accept TEER 4 and 5 occupations that Express Entry does not.
Provincial lists change often, sometimes between draws. We check whether NOC 31200 is being targeted by any province as part of a consultation.
Similar occupations
Related NOC codes
Classified elsewhere
If your duties fit one of these better, use that code instead.
- 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
- 41200 University professors and lecturers
- 12113 Statistical officers and related research support occupations
- 41409 Other professional occupations in social science
- 41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
Same occupation group
Therapy and assessment professionals
- 31201 Chiropractors
- 31202 Physiotherapists
- 31203 Occupational therapists
- 31204 Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
- 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
Questions
NOC 31200: common questions
What is the NOC code for psychologists?
What TEER category is NOC 31200?
Is NOC 31200 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 31200 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 31200 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 31200 in Canada?
Classification
Where it sits in NOC 2021
- 3Health occupationsBroad Category
- 31Professional occupations in healthMajor Group
- 312Therapy and assessment professionalsSub-major Group
- 3120Therapy and assessment professionalsMinor Group
- 31200Psychologists
Enquiry
Is NOC 31200 your occupation? Ask us about your options.
Tell us your duties, experience and language scores. We will confirm your NOC code and the Canadian routes that fit.
Sources: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0, Job Bank wages (2025), Job Bank outlooks 2025–2027 and IRCC. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Checked 21 October 2026.
NOC 2026 is due from Statistics Canada in December 2026. IRCC still uses NOC 2021 codes, and this page will show any change once IRCC switches.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, IRCC or ESDC.
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