Is NOC 32111 (Dental hygienists and dental therapists) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?

Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 32111 is in the 1.5× tier of IRCC’s high-wage list, meaning its national median wage is at least 1.5 times, but less than 2 times, the median wage of the Canadian workforce (2023 to 2025 data).

How many CRS points does NOC 32111 give?

With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 32111, you add 40 points to your Canadian work-experience points. For example, a single candidate with 3 years of Canadian work goes from 64 to 104 points. A qualifying job offer in NOC 32111 is worth 70 points instead. You get the higher of the two routes, never both, capped at 150 points (140 with a spouse).

Do I need to earn 1.5× the median wage myself?

No. The tier comes from the occupation’s national median wage, not from your own salary. What matters is that your job’s main duties match NOC 32111 and that the work is skilled, paid, Canadian experience.

Can I combine months in different high-wage jobs?

Months here combine with months in 2× occupations for the 40-point add-on, and with any high-wage occupation for the 20-point add-on.

Which Express Entry programs accept NOC 32111?

As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Which category draws include NOC 32111?

It is on IRCC’s list for the Healthcare and social services category, so you can also be invited in those category draws.

1.5× median wageTEER 2NOC 2021 Version 1.0

NOC 32111: Dental hygienists and dental therapists

Dental hygienists provide dental hygiene treatment and services related to oral health promotion and disease and mouth injury prevention. They are employed in a variety of settings including dentists' offices, hospitals, private clinics, educational institutions, public health agencies or they may be self-employed. Dental therapists provide limited restorative dental treatment in addition to dental hygiene services. They are employed by the federal government and the provincial governments to provide services in rural and remote communities.

Express Entry eligibility

Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 2.
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 2: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory duties. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

Healthcare and social services
At least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in this occupation within the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad.

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

CRS points for work in NOC 32111

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

Canadian work CRS points with 12 or more months in NOC 32111
Years in Canada	Single, today	Single, Nov 3	With spouse, today	With spouse, Nov 3
1	40	80	35	75
2	53	93	46	86
3	64	104	56	96
4	72	112	63	103
5 or more	80	120	70	110

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Dental hygienists
Conduct patient screening and oral health assessments, including taking vital signs and documenting patient medical and health history
Take dental impressions
Take and develop X-rays
Perform preventative dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, scaling, gum stimulation and fluoride and sealant applications
Provide oral care instructions such as oral hygiene procedures, strategies to maintain and improve oral health and on the impact of nutrition on oral health
Consult with dentists on patient care
May perform restorative and orthodontic procedures under the direction of a dentist
May supervise dental assistants in their health care functions.
May participate in community- or school-based oral health initiatives such as oral screening.
Dental therapists
Perform routine dental check-ups, oral cancer examinations and emergency dental examinations
Take dental impressions
Take and develop X-rays
Perform preventative dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, gum stimulation and fluoride and sealant applications
Provide oral care instructions such as oral hygiene procedures, strategies to maintain and improve oral health and on the impact of nutrition on oral health
Perform routine teeth restorations and uncomplicated extractions and provide post extraction oral care instructions
Refer patients to other dental professionals for care beyond the scope of the dental therapist
Provide oral health promotion activities
May supervise dental assistants in their health care functions

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

Example job titles

dental hygienist
dental nurse
dental therapist
registered dental hygienist

Employment requirements

Completion of a two- to three- year college dental hygiene program, approved by the governing board within the province or territory of residence, is usually required for dental hygienists.
Dental therapists are required to complete a two- to three- year college diploma from an approved dental institution program.
Licensing by the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory body is required for dental hygienists.
Licensure is required for dental therapists in Saskatchewan, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Similar jobs with a different code

Common questions

Is NOC 32111 (Dental hygienists and dental therapists) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?: Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 32111 is in the 1.5× tier of IRCC’s high-wage list, meaning its national median wage is at least 1.5 times, but less than 2 times, the median wage of the Canadian workforce (2023 to 2025 data).
How many CRS points does NOC 32111 give?: With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 32111, you add 40 points to your Canadian work-experience points. For example, a single candidate with 3 years of Canadian work goes from 64 to 104 points. A qualifying job offer in NOC 32111 is worth 70 points instead. You get the higher of the two routes, never both, capped at 150 points (140 with a spouse).
Do I need to earn 1.5× the median wage myself?: No. The tier comes from the occupation’s national median wage, not from your own salary. What matters is that your job’s main duties match NOC 32111 and that the work is skilled, paid, Canadian experience.
Can I combine months in different high-wage jobs?: Months here combine with months in 2× occupations for the 40-point add-on, and with any high-wage occupation for the 20-point add-on.
Which Express Entry programs accept NOC 32111?: As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Which category draws include NOC 32111?: It is on IRCC’s list for the Healthcare and social services category, so you can also be invited in those category draws.

Other 1.5× high-wage occupations

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Find any NOC code · All high-wage occupations · Source: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0

See your CRS score with NOC 32111

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