NOC 2021 · 31302 · TEER 1
NOC 31302: Nurse practitioners
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education, advanced knowledge and nursing experience, and a specialty of practice. They provide a range of health services to patients and deliver preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Nurse practitioners work in conjunction with physicians and collaboratively with other nursing colleagues and health-care providers, or they may work independently. They are employed in community health centres, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centres. Nurse practitioners may specialize in primary healthcare or acute care.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$61.54 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 1
+70 CRS for Canadian work, or 100 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
Healthcare and social services
Category-based draws (2026)
Express Entry
How NOC 31302 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 31302 is in tier 1 of IRCC's high-wage list, in effect from 3 November 2026.
| 12+ months of Canadian work | +70 points on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer (no LMIA) | 100 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 patients and take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
- Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
- Inoculate and vaccinate patients
- Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
- Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team such as family physicians, therapists and nutritionists to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
- Perform a patient advocacy role
- Prescribe and administer medications
- May coordinate or manage primary patient care.
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
- extended class registered nurse
- nurse practitioner
- pediatric nurse practitioner
All 11 job titles in NOC 31302
- acute care nurse practitioner
- adult care nurse practitioner
- advanced nurse practitioner
- advanced practice nurse
- anesthesia nurse practitioner
- cardiovascular nurse practitioner
- extended class registered nurse
- geriatric nurse practitioner
- nurse practitioner
- pediatric nurse practitioner
- primary health care nurse practitioner
Requirements
Employment requirements
- Nurse practitioners usually require a master's degree in nursing; or completion of a nursing program with additional advanced or extended primary health care nursing education; and several years of practice as a registered nurse.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for nurse practitioners in all provinces and territories.
Additional information
- There is little to no mobility between nurse practitioner specializations without further training.
Wages
Wages for NOC 31302 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 | $42.00 | $61.54 | $75.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $49.50 | $54.00 | $62.40 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Prince Edward Island | $37.74 | $50.65 | $59.54 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $41.41 | $55.88 | $67.63 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| New Brunswick | $50.00 | $59.00 | $66.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Quebec | $40.00 | $57.69 | $66.26 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $40.00 | $62.00 | $75.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $50.00 | $55.00 | $63.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $43.04 | $56.14 | $67.79 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Alberta | $38.88 | $53.25 | $67.85 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| British Columbia | $42.49 | $59.53 | $74.59 | 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 Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia.
Very goodPrince Edward Island
The employment outlook will be Very good for nurse practitioners (NOC 31302) in Prince Edward Island 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.
Here are some key facts about nurse practitioners in Prince Edward Island:
Approximately 50 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Nurse practitioners mainly work in the following sectors:
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 55%
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 45%
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: less than 5% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: more than 95% 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: 89% compared to 8% for all occupations
Very goodNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Very good for nurse practitioners (NOC 31302) 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.
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.
Recent graduates from fields of study related to this occupation have found it easy to find work.
Here are some key facts about nurse practitioners in Nova Scotia:
Approximately 250 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Nurse practitioners mainly work in the following sectors:
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 80%
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 20%
86% of nurse practitioners work all year, while 14% 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 48 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: less than 5% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: more than 95% 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: more than 95% compared to 10% for all occupations
Very goodOntario
The employment outlook will be Very good for nurse practitioners (NOC 31302) in Ontario 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.
What Types of Employers Are Out There?
The majority are employed in health care, notably in hospitals; offices of physicians and out-patient care centres are also key employers
What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?
Increased need for health-related services to support the growing and aging population in Ontario
Greater demand on the health care system because of the backlog of medical procedures and patient care needs
Major investments in health care facilities
What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?
Nurse practitioners are regulated by the College of Nurses of Ontario and the role is open to registered nurses (RNs) who have additional education and experience
What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?
Generally, Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in the province.
Here are some key facts about nurse practitioners in Ontario:
Approximately 3,750 people work in this occupation.
Nurse practitioners mainly work in the following sectors:
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 51%
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 40%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 87% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 13% compared to 19% for all occupations
78% of nurse practitioners work all year, while 22% 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.
5% of nurse practitioners are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 8% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 92% 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 25% 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: 6% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 92% compared to 13% for all occupations
Very goodSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Very good for nurse practitioners (NOC 31302) in Saskatchewan 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.
Here are some key facts about nurse practitioners in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 200 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Nurse practitioners mainly work in the following sectors:
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 69%
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 17%
Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 90% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 10% compared to 19% for all occupations
62% of nurse practitioners work all year, while 38% 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.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 12% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 88% 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: less than 5% compared to 33% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 9% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 16% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 67% compared to 7% for all occupations
Very goodAlberta
The employment outlook will be Very good for nurse practitioners (NOC 31302) in Alberta 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.
Alberta’s population and its proportion of residents aged 65+ are predicted to increase over the next decade, contributing to demand for this occupation.
As the province faces ongoing shortages of general practitioners, nurse practitioners are increasingly being integrated in an expanding role in addressing primary care gaps, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Government initiatives such as the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System (MAPS) plan support this shift by promoting team-based care and expanding the scope of practice for nurse practitioners. Their ability to provide comprehensive assessments, diagnostics, and treatment makes them vital contributors to the healthcare system’s capacity.
Here are some key facts about nurse practitioners in Alberta:
Approximately 600 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Nurse practitioners mainly work in the following sectors:
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 68%
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 21%
Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 7%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 83% compared to 80% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 17% compared to 20% for all occupations
79% of nurse practitioners work all year, while 21% 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 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
5% of nurse practitioners are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 11% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 89% 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: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 93% compared to 9% for all occupations
GoodQuebec
The employment outlook will be Good for nurse practitioners (NOC 31302) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of 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.
Here are some key facts about nurse practitioners in Quebec:
Approximately 750 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Nurse practitioners mainly work in the following sectors:
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 62%
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 32%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 91% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 9% compared to 18% for all occupations
65% of nurse practitioners work all year, while 35% 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 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 7% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 93% 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 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 92% compared to 11% for all occupations
GoodManitoba
The employment outlook will be Good for nurse practitioners (NOC 31302) in Manitoba 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.
Here are some key facts about nurse practitioners in Manitoba:
Approximately 250 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Nurse practitioners mainly work in the following sectors:
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 47%
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 44%
Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 9%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 88% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 12% compared to 19% for all occupations
82% of nurse practitioners work all year, while 18% 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 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 14% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 86% 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: 92% compared to 8% for all occupations
GoodBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Good for nurse practitioners (NOC 31302) in British Columbia 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.
In September 2025, the Government of British Columbia announced 65 new nurse practitioner seats at the University of British Columbia, the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Victoria.
In 2025, new medical facilities and urgent care clinics have opened up in 2025 in communities such as Williams Lake, Quesnel, Dawson Creek, and Langley; all of these facilities are looking to hire nurse practitioners.
Labour shortages continue to affect the delivery of health care services in various parts of the province, especially in northern and rural areas.
Demand for this occupation is expected to increase, as the provincial population continues to age; compared to 2020, there were 18.8% more people aged 65+ in the province in 2025.
Here are some key facts about nurse practitioners in British Columbia:
Approximately 650 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Nurse practitioners mainly work in the following sectors:
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 67%
Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 28%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 87% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 13% compared to 22% for all occupations
70% of nurse practitioners work all year, while 30% 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 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
19% of nurse practitioners are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 6% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 94% 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 28% 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 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: n/a
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.
UndeterminedNew Brunswick
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 31302 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.
- 31102 General practitioners and family physicians
- 30010 Managers in health care
- 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
- 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
- 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- 31101 Specialists in surgery
Same occupation group
Nursing and allied health professionals
Questions
NOC 31302: common questions
What is the NOC code for nurse practitioners?
What TEER category is NOC 31302?
Is NOC 31302 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 31302 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 31302 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 31302 in Canada?
Classification
Where it sits in NOC 2021
- 3Health occupationsBroad Category
- 31Professional occupations in healthMajor Group
- 313Nursing and allied health professionalsSub-major Group
- 3130Nursing and allied health professionalsMinor Group
- 31302Nurse practitioners
Enquiry
Is NOC 31302 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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