NOC 21109: Other professional occupations in physical sciences

Professionals in other physical sciences occupations conduct theoretical and applied research in fields of physical science. Metallurgists, soil scientists and physical scientists and researchers are included in this unit group. They are employed by governments, educational institutions and a wide range of industrial establishments.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 1.
• Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: not one of the eligible trades.
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): yes, 1.5× tier.

TEER 1: Occupations that usually need a university degree. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 21109 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 21109

With 12+ months of Canadian work here, from November 3, 2026, by years of skilled Canadian work:

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Metallurgists
• Conduct studies into the properties and production of metals and alloys.
• Soil scientists
• Conduct research into the composition, distribution and evolution of soils.
• Materials scientists
• Conduct research into the properties, composition and production of materials such as ceramics and composite materials.
• Astronauts
• Command, pilot or serve as crew members of a spacecraft to conduct scientific experiments and research, and participate in space missions as mission specialists to maintain spacecraft, install and repair space station equipment and launch and recapture satellites.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

• astronaut
• ballistics examiner
• materials scientist
• metallurgist
• physical metallurgist
• research scientist - ceramics
• research scientist - composite materials
• soil scientist

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in metallurgy, physics, chemistry, or a related physical science discipline is required.
• A master's or doctoral degree is usually required for employment as a research scientist.
• Advanced degrees in a broad range of applied science areas, such as engineering or medicine or Licences may be required for some occupations in this unit group.

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